See all 5 routes on Root River
Minnesota | Southeast Minnesota
Root RiverParsley Bridge to Moen's Bridge
Upper North Branch Driftless day with riffles, bluffs, and a cleaner gauge question than most small rivers: is Pilot Mound at or above the lower edge of the published preferred band without recent rain turning a pretty easy run into a wood-and-current check?
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Parsley Bridge and finish at Moen's Bridge for an upper-North-Branch Root day with riffles, bluffs, and a more secluded feel than the bigger lower Root routes.
Access map
Put-in
Parsley Bridge carry-in accessBoth endpoints are bridge carry-ins rather than polished ramp launches, so expect a short carry and verify where parking is actually acceptable before unloading boats.
Take-out
Moen's Bridge carry-in accessMoen's Bridge is the cleaner endpoint and the DNR map notes a toilet facility there, but it is still best to look at the take-out before launching.
Road shuttle
Two-car shuttle is simplest. The road shuttle is around 10 miles on hillier Driftless roads, so it is less bike-friendly than the lower Root corridor.
Additional access notes
- Do not assume shoulder parking at Parsley is generous or obvious without checking the site in person.
More route and safety guidance
- Pilot Mound's 8.25 ft threshold is only the lower edge of a community-published preferred band. It is not a manager-published upper cutoff, so recheck same-day rainfall, level, and current rather than treating a passing gauge score as a complete safety range.
- Use the mapped carry-ins and designated campsites. The DNR map says much of the shoreland is private, prohibits riverbed camping next to private property, and directs paddlers to stay off private land.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampDetailed weather
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Root River near Pilot Mound, MN. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Share a recent access update, hazard observation or photo.
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.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Root River near Pilot Mound, 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 |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 8.25 ft |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | MilesPaddled Root River North Branch guidebook range note |
| 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.
- Official route context13.3 river miles
MN DNR recommends Parsley Bridge to Moen's Bridge as a full-day North Branch Root trip, from Parsley Bridge carry-in access at river mile 78.4 to Moen's Bridge carry-in access at river mile 65.3.
- Published preferred band8.25 to 9.25 ft at Pilot Mound
MilesPaddled cites an older guidebook preferred range for the North Branch and reports a trip day of 8.7 ft / 550 cfs as close to ideal.
- Access supportDNR carry-in accesses at both ends
DNR Map 1 names Parsley Bridge carry-in access at river mile 78.6 and Moen's Bridge carry-in access at river mile 65.3, with a toilet facility and river-level gauge at Moen's Bridge.
- Route characterGentle to moderate flow with riffles
MN DNR describes the Root River as having a gentle to moderate flow with some riffles, while warning that levels vary substantially with rainfall. Its 2026 Map 1 says recommended sections have fewer woody obstructions at typical levels, directs paddlers to avoid obstacles and overhanging or dead trees, and limits shore use to designated sites because much of the shoreland is private.
- On-route campsite supportPilot Mound campsites
DNR Map 1 lists Pilot Mound campsites on this reach with picnic tables and pit toilets, which supports treating this as a possible overnight corridor even though the product fit is still mainly day-trip.
- Conservative low-water floor8.25 ft
The trail guide publishes a preferred range but no separate hard minimum. Treat its lower edge as a cautious planning cue; the source does not establish conditions below it.
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 Root River
All 5Nearby routes within 75 miles
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.