See all 9 routes on Red Lake River
Minnesota | Northwest Minnesota
Red Lake River
Huot Park to Central Park Crookston
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
Loading the route coverage map.
Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
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.
Loading today's forecast.
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 Huot Park and take out at Crookston Central Park for a long lower Red Lake River connector. The Crookston DNR gauge is nearby and official but downstream of the take-out, and today it is only in the low band.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
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 Lake River, Huot Park Public Water Access SiteHuot Park resolves as WAS02137 at river mile 79.5 and Central Park resolves as WAS00549 at river mile 55.5 in Minnesota public-water-access GIS.
Take-out
Red Lake River, Central Park Public Water Access SiteThe Crookston DNR gauge is downstream of Central Park and below additional bridge/rapid context, so use it as a near-downstream proxy and make visual checks at both endpoints.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Huot Park resolves as WAS02137 at river mile 79.5 and Central Park resolves as WAS00549 at river mile 55.5 in Minnesota public-water-access GIS.
- The Crookston DNR gauge is downstream of Central Park and below additional bridge/rapid context, so use it as a near-downstream proxy and make visual checks at both endpoints.
- Take out at Central Park for this card. DNR Map 2 maps constructed rock rapids downstream in Crookston; do not continue without a separate scouted plan.
Watch for
- Long mileage, low-water scraping, boulder fields, shallow bends, wood, and private banks.
- Constructed rapids downstream of the planned Central Park finish; missing the take-out changes the hazard profile.
- Wind across open farmland bends, cold water, farm runoff after storms, rising water, and sparse rescue access.
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
Data and sources
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 Lake River at Crookston, MN |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 | 5.00 ft to 8.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 3.00 ft |
| High threshold | 12.00 ft |
| 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 Red Lake River at Crookston |
| 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.
- Official route shapeHuot Park RM 79.5 to Central Park RM 55.5
MN DNR Red Lake River Map 2 places Huot Park and Crookston Central Park in sequence, with Crookston access and constructed-rapid cautions downstream.
- Public access recordsWAS02137 to WAS00549
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Huot Park and Central Park as Red Lake River public access sites with coordinates and river-mile records.
- Official DNR bands3 / 5-8 / 12 ft
MN DNR interprets Crookston as Scrapable below 3 ft, Low from 3 to 5, Medium from 5 to 8, High from 8 to 12, and Very High above 12.
- Current gauge check3.67 ft at 2026-07-22 15:00 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Crookston in the official low band during this run, below the preferred medium band.
- Camping and take-out contextCentral Park campground; downstream rapids
DNR Map 2 identifies Central Park with trailer access, rest area, and campsites, and maps constructed rock rapids downstream in Crookston.
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.
Share your trip
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
Red Lake River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Red Lake River?
Paddle Today watches Red Lake River at Crookston, MN and treats 5.00 ft to 8.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Red Lake River route start and end?
This route starts at Red Lake River, Huot Park Public Water Access Site and ends at Red Lake River, Central Park Public Water Access Site, about About 24.0 mi on the water.
Is this Red Lake River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.