See all 4 routes on Pine River
Minnesota | Brainerd Lakes Area
Pine RiverPine River #1 to Cross Lake
Long upper Pine and Whitefish-chain connector from the city Pine River #1 landing to the USACE Cross Lake access. This fills a missing official-access pair, but the day should be planned around low-water scraping, dam-regulated outflow, wind, and motorboat exposure on connected lake water.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Pine River #1 and paddle downstream toward Cross Lake for the missing upper Pine public-access day. The route mixes wooded river travel with Whitefish-chain wind and boat-wake exposure.
Access map
Put-in
Pine River #1 Public Water Access SitePine River #1 and Cross Lake are official public-water-access sites, with the DNR access data supporting a 17.3-mile river-mile difference.
Take-out
Pine River, Cross Lake Public Water Access SiteThe route approaches the Cross Lake dam system; review the DNR map and do not improvise around controlled outlets or dam infrastructure.
Road shuttle
Long lake-country shuttle between Pine River and the USACE Cross Lake access. Confirm outflow, lake wind, and take-out loading conditions before committing to the full distance.
Additional access notes
- Low water can turn this from a long paddle into a scrape-and-drag day, so do not rely on distance alone for timing.
More route and safety guidance
- DNR warns that large waves can build on the Whitefish Chain during wind or heavy boat traffic; stay near shore when needed.
- At very low Jenkins readings, expect scraping, slower travel, and possible walking around shallow riffles before committing to the long shuttle.
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Detailed weather
Weather
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Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Pine River nr Jenkins, CSAH15 |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Preferred range | 50 cfs to 200 cfs |
| Low threshold | 35 cfs |
| High threshold | 500 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | MN DNR river-level interpretation bands for Pine River near Jenkins |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Public access recordsPine River #1 WAS00726 / Cross Lake WAS01002
Minnesota public-water-access GIS places Pine River #1 at river mile 37.1 and Cross Lake at river mile 19.8, supporting a 17.3-mile public-access segment.
- Official DNR bands35 / 50-200 / 500 cfs
MN DNR interprets Jenkins as scrapable below 35 cfs, low from 35 to 50, medium from 50 to 200, high from 200 to 500, and very high above 500.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-2313 cfs at 2026-07-23 20:45 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Lake-chain and dam cautionWind waves and dam checks
MN DNR says the Pine is a gravel-bottomed river with occasional boulders, flags dams and portages, and warns that large waves may develop on the Whitefish Chain in wind or heavy boat traffic.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on Pine River
All 4Nearby routes within 75 miles
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