See all 5 routes on Red River of the North
Minnesota | Red River Valley
Red River of the NorthKidder Recreation Area to Brushvale Bridge Recreation Area
Official MN DNR Red River day trip from Kidder Recreation Area to Brushvale Bridge, using the RR1 DNR gauge at the take-out river mile and big-river border-route caveats.
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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
Launch at Kidder Recreation Area and take out at Brushvale Bridge Recreation Area for MN DNR’s 10.4-mile Red River day trip. The RR1 gauge is at the take-out river mile and has official DNR bands.
Access map
Put-in
Kidder Recreation AreaDNR says there are boat ramps at both the Kidder put-in and Brushvale take-out, but the route is on the Minnesota/North Dakota border and the access records are not in the Minnesota public-water-access GIS layer.
Take-out
Brushvale Bridge Recreation AreaUse the RR1 gauge as the primary same-day level check, then inspect both ramps for mud, debris, closure signs, bank condition, and current.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Brushvale Bridge Recreation Area, then drive back to Kidder Recreation Area. Confirm both ramps before launching because they are border-river accesses outside the Minnesota public-water-access GIS layer used for many other MN routes.
Additional access notes
- The Red touches two states. Avoid private banks, farm approaches, and unmarked shore stops unless current public access is clear.
More route and safety guidance
- DNR warns that Red River water levels fluctuate widely and that low water may not be suitable for boating. Treat rising or flood-stage water as a no-go for general paddlers.
- The route ends at Brushvale Bridge Recreation Area. Confirm the take-out from shore before launching so a missed exit does not turn the day into an unplanned long downstream float.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Detailed weather
Weather
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Tomorrow and the weekend
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Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Red River - RR1 |
| Stage | 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 |
| Preferred range | 4.00 ft to 9.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 3.80 ft |
| High threshold | 9.50 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 River RR1 |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-224.47 ft at 2026-07-22 17:30 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.
- Official DNR bands3.8 / 4.0-9.0 / 9.5 ft
MN DNR interprets RR1 as Scrapable below 3.8 ft, Low from 3.8 to 4.0, Medium from 4.0 to 9.0, High from 9.0 to 9.5, and Very High above 9.5.
- Recommended day trip10.4 river miles
MN DNR recommends Kidder Recreation Area at river mile 555.5 to Brushvale Bridge Recreation Area at river mile 545.1 and says both the put-in and take-out have boat ramps.
- Safety contextSnags, low water, flooding
DNR warns that Red River hazards include dams, widely fluctuating water levels, flooding during spring, summer and fall, unsuitable low-water conditions, and common snags.
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 River of the North
All 5Nearby routes within 75 miles
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