See all 5 routes on Red River of the North
Minnesota | Red River Valley
Red River of the North
Fargo North Dam 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 snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch below the Fargo North Dam carry-in/re-entry and take out at M.B. Johnson Park for the official short DNR Map 2 Red River trip. The direct Fargo DNR gauge was in the official medium band during this run.
Put-in
North Dam carry-in access / re-entryOpen mapNorth Dam is a DNR-mapped carry-in/re-entry by river mile rather than a Minnesota public-water-access GIS record; use posted signs and the legal launch path on arrival.
Take-out
M.B. Johnson Park trailer accessOpen mapM.B. Johnson Park is the planned finish. Do not continue casually toward downstream dams or private banks without a separate route plan.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- North Dam is a DNR-mapped carry-in/re-entry by river mile rather than a Minnesota public-water-access GIS record; use posted signs and the legal launch path on arrival.
- 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
- The North Dam / constructed rock-slopeway context; portage or avoid dam hydraulics unless the group has appropriate whitewater skill and current local guidance.
- 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
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
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 |
| Data confidence 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 routeFargo North Dam RM 455.2 to M.B. Johnson Park RM 452.1, 3.1 mi
MN DNR lists Fargo North Dam to M.B. Johnson Park as a recommended short Red River trip and describes the wooded/residential Fargo-Moorhead corridor.
- Map 2 access and dam contextNorth Dam constructed rock rapids; M.B. Johnson trailer accesses
MN DNR Red River Map 2 marks the North Dam carry-in/re-entry and M.B. Johnson Park access amenities in sequence.
- 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
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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 North Dam carry-in access / re-entry and ends at M.B. Johnson Park trailer access, about 3.1 mi on the water.
Is this Red River of the North route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
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