See all 5 routes on Red River of the North
Minnesota | Red River Valley
Red River of the North
Lindenwood Park to M.B. Johnson Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Red River of the North 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
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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 from Lindenwood's public ADA kayak dock, portage Midtown Dam left and North Dam right, and finish at M.B. Johnson for the complete 9.3-mile Fargo-Moorhead urban water trail.
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
Lindenwood Park ADA kayak launchLindenwood's launch is confirmed by Fargo Parks on the North Dakota bank and is not represented in Minnesota public-water-access GIS.
Take-out
M.B. Johnson Park trailer accessM.B. Johnson Park is the planned finish. Do not continue casually toward downstream dams or private banks without a separate route plan.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Lindenwood's launch is confirmed by Fargo Parks on the North Dakota bank and is not represented in Minnesota public-water-access GIS.
- M.B. Johnson Park is the planned finish. Do not continue casually toward downstream dams or private banks without a separate route plan.
- The Fargo gauge is direct for the metro reach, but it cannot show same-day snags, muddy landing slope, urban stormwater, or dam-area turbulence.
Watch for
- Midtown Dam and North Dam constructed-rock rapids; use the DNR-mapped left/right portages and stay clear of hydraulics.
- Snags, muddy banks, poor underwater visibility, bridge current, and faster water after rain or flood releases.
- Border-river rules, private banks, cold water, and urban water quality after storms.
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 | Red River of the North at Fargo, ND |
| 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 | 425 cfs to 1,110 cfs |
| Low threshold | 364 cfs |
| High threshold | 3,240 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 Red River of the North at Fargo |
| 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 DNR routeLindenwood Park RM 461.4 to M.B. Johnson Park RM 452.1, 9.3 mi
MN DNR's statewide recommended one-way list and Map 2 define the full Fargo-Moorhead route.
- Map 2 access and dam contextTwo constructed-rock dam portages; multiple urban accesses
MN DNR Red River Map 2 marks Lindenwood, Midtown Dam, Hjemkomst, North Dam, and M.B. Johnson in sequence, including left/right portage instructions.
- Public launch and finishFargo Parks ADA launch to M.B. Johnson WAS02269
Fargo Parks confirms Lindenwood's public adaptive kayak launch; Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves the Moorhead finish.
- Official DNR bands364 / 425-1,110 / 3,240 cfs
MN DNR interprets Fargo as Scrapable below 364 cfs, Low from 364 to 425, Medium from 425 to 1,110, High from 1,110 to 3,240, and Very High above 3,240.
- Current gauge check511 cfs at 2026-07-23 02:15 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Fargo inside the official medium band during this run.
- Local safety contextModified low-head dams and rock slopeways
RiverKeepers Fargo-Moorhead safety material identifies the local modified low-head dams and advises portaging unless paddlers are experienced and familiar with the rapids.
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 River of the North paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Red River of the North?
Paddle Today watches Red River of the North at Fargo, ND and treats 425 cfs to 1,110 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Red River of the North route start and end?
This route starts at Lindenwood Park ADA kayak launch and ends at M.B. Johnson Park trailer access, about 9.3 mi on the water.
Is this Red River of the North 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.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.