Michigan | Mid-Michigan
Red Cedar River
Red Cedar Roadside Park to MSU Canoe & Kayak Launch
Check current paddling conditions for this Red Cedar 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
A Red Cedar River Water Trail reach from Red Cedar Roadside Park through Okemos to the seasonal MSU launch, using direct USGS 04112500 telemetry near the take-out. The 30 cfs screen is a planning aid, not a safety guarantee.
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
Red Cedar Roadside Park public launchRed Cedar Roadside Park is a public launch with vault toilets; verify current parking and access conditions.
Take-out
MSU Canoe & Kayak Launch near Jenison Field HouseThe MSU Canoe & Kayak Launch is seasonal; confirm campus access, hours, parking, and construction restrictions before staging.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Red Cedar Roadside Park is a public launch with vault toilets; verify current parking and access conditions.
- The MSU Canoe & Kayak Launch is seasonal; confirm campus access, hours, parking, and construction restrictions before staging.
- Urban bridges, wood, current changes, and weather can change the line; use only named public endpoints and do not assume private-bank exits.
Watch for
- Low water, shallow sections, fallen trees, and bridge hazards.
- Rapid rises after storms, cold water, and urban current changes.
- Seasonal MSU access and shuttle timing.
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.
No approved route photos yet
Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
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 | Red Cedar River at East Lansing, MI |
| 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 30 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | USGS 04112500 long-term daily discharge statistics |
| 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.
- Route definitionRed Cedar Roadside Park to MSU Canoe & Kayak Launch
The Red Cedar River Water Trail presents these named waypoints and describes the river as a developing canoe/kayak recreational destination.
- Public endpoints and coordinatesRed Cedar Roadside Park to seasonal MSU launch
The water-trail page publishes coordinates for Red Cedar Roadside Park and the MSU launch, including the seasonal access note.
- Live gauge and thresholdUSGS 04112500; 30 cfs conservative minimum-only screen
USGS provides direct discharge telemetry at Farm Lane Bridge near the downstream endpoint and long-term daily statistics. The 30 cfs floor is a planning screen, not a paddling or safety guarantee.
- Safety and river characterUrban/suburban water trail with bridges, wood, variable current, and seasonal launch conditions
The water-trail landings and MSU seasonal launch support the corridor; same-day checks control around bridges, wood, weather, and any posted urban or campus restrictions.
- Camping and logisticsDay route with shuttle between named public launches; no on-route camping assumed
Arrange a shuttle and use designated nearby lodging or campgrounds; do not camp on campus, park, or private river frontage.
- Image decisionNo external image copied
Use the product's rights-clean map/route presentation until a permissioned image is separately cleared.
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
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Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
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Quick answers
Red Cedar River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Red Cedar River?
Paddle Today watches Red Cedar River at East Lansing, MI and uses 30 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Red Cedar River route start and end?
This route starts at Red Cedar Roadside Park public launch and ends at MSU Canoe & Kayak Launch near Jenison Field House, about Approximately 8 to 10 river miles planning reach on the water.
Is this Red Cedar 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.