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 snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
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.
Put-in
Pine River #1 Public Water Access SiteOpen mapPine 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 SiteOpen mapThe route approaches the Cross Lake dam system; review the DNR map and do not improvise around controlled outlets or dam infrastructure.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
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
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Pine River nr Jenkins, CSAH15 |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 50 cfs to 200 cfs |
| Low threshold | 35 cfs |
| High threshold | 500 cfs |
| Data confidence 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 |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
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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.
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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.