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See all 4 routes on Pine River

Minnesota | Brainerd Lakes Area

Pine River

Pine River #1 to Cross Lake

Check current paddling conditions for this Pine River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

Route location

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Open access map
Distance17.3 mi
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 6 hr to 8 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
A paddler floats the Pine River along the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway in Minnesota.
River contextPine River float river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by U.S. National Archives

Need to know

Why this call
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Conditions

Gauge history and hourly forecast

The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.

Gauge detail

Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Short-route forecast

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Route overview

Quick facts and what's next

Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.

Quick facts

On-water distance17.3 miPine River #1 to Cross Lake
DifficultymoderateThis is a longer shuttle through river and lake-chain water with wind, wake, and dam-system checks, despite generally nontechnical current.
ShuttleCar shuttleLong 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.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow posted city, DNR, and USACE public-access rules at the landings.
CampingDay tripTreat this as a long day trip unless you separately confirm a legal overnight plan. Crosslake-area campgrounds can work as nearby base camps, but they are not assumed as on-route river campsites.
SeasonApr-OctDNR says Pine River levels usually peak in mid to late May and fall through summer, while the river below Cross Lake Dam is generally runnable through summer. Wind on the lake-chain portions can be the deciding factor even when flow is acceptable.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

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TomorrowChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

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.

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Prepare this trip

Take the plan with you

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Start

Put-in

Pine River #1 Public Water Access Site
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Pine River #1 and Cross Lake are official public-water-access sites, with the DNR access data supporting a 17.3-mile river-mile difference.

Finish

Take-out

Pine River, Cross Lake Public Water Access Site
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The route approaches the Cross Lake dam system; review the DNR map and do not improvise around controlled outlets or dam infrastructure.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Pine River #1 and Cross Lake are official public-water-access sites, with the DNR access data supporting a 17.3-mile river-mile difference.
  • The route approaches the Cross Lake dam system; review the DNR map and do not improvise around controlled outlets or dam infrastructure.
  • Low water can turn this from a long paddle into a scrape-and-drag day, so do not rely on distance alone for timing.

Watch for

  • Wind waves and motorboat wake on the Whitefish Chain and broader connected water.
  • Scraping, exposed boulders, and slow progress when Jenkins is below the DNR medium band.
  • Wooded-river strainers, private banks, and cold-water exposure.
  • Dam, portage, or controlled-outlet decisions near Cross Lake.

Route gallery

See this route on the water

Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.

A paddler floats the Pine River along the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway in Minnesota.
Pine River float river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by U.S. National Archives
Public domain

Score & sources

Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
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Pulling the latest gauge and weather. Usually under 10 seconds.

Gauge inputChecking

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Weather inputChecking

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Next stepChecking

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Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking

Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.

Why
  • Checking evidence-strength notes.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge sitePine River nr Jenkins, CSAH15
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Target band50 cfs to 200 cfs
Low threshold35 cfs
High threshold500 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreMN DNR river-level interpretation bands for Pine River near Jenkins
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
NotesWhat to know before you go

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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • Current gauge check13 cfs at 2026-07-23 20:45 CDT

    The current MN DNR feed placed Jenkins below the official scrapable floor during this run, so the route should score as too low until conditions improve.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

More in Minnesota

All 232 routes
Minnesota route guideBrowse every tracked Minnesota route.Brainerd Lakes AreaJump to routes in this region.

More on Pine River

All 4
Cross Lake to Rock DamBrainerd Lakes AreaEasy · 4.5 miNorway Lake to Pine River #1Brainerd Lakes AreaEasy · 1.7 miRock Dam to Harvey DrakeBrainerd Lakes AreaModerate · 14.4 mi

Nearby routes by distance

Mississippi RiverTrommald to Lum Park · about 21 mi awayModerate · About 13.6 miCrow Wing RiverLittle White Dog County Park to Cottingham County Park · about 22 mi awayEasy · 9.8 miCrow Wing RiverAnderson's Crossing to Cottingham County Park · about 23 mi awayModerate · 21.3 miCrow Wing RiverStigman's Mound to Little White Dog · about 23 mi awayEasy · 6.4 mi

Quick answers

Pine River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Pine River?

Paddle Today watches Pine River nr Jenkins, CSAH15 and treats 50 cfs to 200 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this Pine River route start and end?

This route starts at Pine River #1 Public Water Access Site and ends at Pine River, Cross Lake Public Water Access Site, about 17.3 mi on the water.

Is this Pine River route good for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.

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