See all 9 routes on Red Lake River
Minnesota | Northwest Minnesota
Red Lake RiverHighway 1 / Centennial Park to St. Hilaire City Park
Upper Red Lake River connector from the Highway 1 / Centennial Park access to St. Hilaire, using the current Red Lake Falls DNR gauge as a downstream official proxy because the Thief River Falls gauge is stale.
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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
Put in at Highway 1 / Centennial Park and take out at St. Hilaire for the upper Red Lake River gap above the existing St. Hilaire-to-Sportsman's card. The Red Lake Falls gauge is current and official, but it is downstream of the route, so local visual checks matter.
Access map
Put-in
Red Lake River, Highway 1 Public Water Access SiteMinnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Highway 1 as WAS02414 at river mile 128.6 and St. Hilaire City Park as WAS00808 at river mile 114.8.
Take-out
Red Lake River, St. Hilaire City Park Public Water Access SiteThe nearby Thief River Falls gauge is stale in the current DNR feed; this card uses the downstream Red Lake Falls CR 13 gauge only as an official corridor proxy.
Road shuttle
Stage St. Hilaire City Park first, then drive upstream to the Highway 1 access in Thief River Falls. Check both endpoints before launching because the route uses a downstream proxy gauge.
Additional access notes
- Intermediate farm crossings and private banks should not be treated as exits unless separately confirmed legal and public.
More route and safety guidance
- The direct Thief River Falls DNR gauge is stale in the current feed, so make a local depth and wood check before committing to the downstream proxy.
- Expect low-water scraping, wood, rural rescue spacing, and faster current after rain.
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Conditions
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Photos and recent reports
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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.
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route shapeHighway 1 river mile 128.6 to St. Hilaire river mile 114.8
MN DNR Red Lake River Map 2 places the Highway 1 / Centennial Park access and St. Hilaire City Park in sequence on the broader recommended downstream corridor.
- Public access recordsWAS02414 to WAS00808
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves the Highway 1 and St. Hilaire Red Lake River accesses with source-backed coordinates and river-mile records.
- Official DNR bands5 / 8-11 / 15 ft
MN DNR interprets the Red Lake Falls CR 13 gauge as Scrapable below 5 ft, Low from 5 to 8, Medium from 8 to 11, High from 11 to 15, and Very High above 15.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-1710.09 ft at 2026-07-17 02:30 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.
- Route-source contextRed Lake River official water trail
MN DNR describes the Red Lake River as a northwest Minnesota state water trail with flat farmland, wooded banks, steep bluffs, and changing river conditions.
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 Red Lake River
All 9Nearby routes within 75 miles
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