See all 4 routes on Pine River
Minnesota | Brainerd Lakes Area
Pine River
Rock Dam to Harvey Drake
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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Need to know
Why this call
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
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
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
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at Pine River Rock Dam and take out at Harvey Drake Public Water Access for the DNR lower Pine day trip. The Jenkins DNR gauge gives this wooded route an official level ladder.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Pine River Rock Dam public water accessRock Dam and Harvey Drake are official Minnesota public-water-access sites, but both are rural landings where parking, mud, and loading space should be checked on arrival.
Take-out
Harvey Drake Public Water AccessThe route begins at the Rock Dam area; review the DNR map and avoid improvising around dam or rock-riffle infrastructure.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Rock Dam and Harvey Drake are official Minnesota public-water-access sites, but both are rural landings where parking, mud, and loading space should be checked on arrival.
- The route begins at the Rock Dam area; review the DNR map and avoid improvising around dam or rock-riffle infrastructure.
- Harvey Drake sits near a bridge crossing and is easier to identify on the map than from the road at speed.
Watch for
- Low-water scraping when the Jenkins gauge falls toward the 35 cfs scrapable floor.
- Wood, sweepers, and narrow-channel debris on wooded bends after storms.
- Long-route fatigue and cold-water exposure outside midsummer.
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.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
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.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
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 |
| 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 |
| 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.
- DNR bands35 / 50-200 / 500 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Jenkins gauge 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.
- Recommended trip14.4 river miles
MN DNR lists Rock Dam to Harvey Drake access as a recommended Pine River trip. Public access records place Rock Dam at river mile 15.3 and Harvey Drake at river mile 0.9.
- Public access recordsDNR access IDs WAS02986 and WAS01001
Minnesota public-water-access data identifies the put-in as Pine River, Rock Dam Public Water Access Site and the take-out as Pine River, Harvey Drake Public Water Access Site.
- Route characterWooded full-day route
The Pine River State Water Trail flows through jack pine forest and lake-country wetlands. Treat the lower route as a full-day wooded river paddle with normal strainers and low-water checks.
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
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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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 Rock Dam public water access and ends at Harvey Drake Public Water Access, about 14.4 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.