Minnesota | Twin Cities North Metro

Rum River

Martin's Landing to North County Park

Check current paddling conditions for this Rum River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

Route location

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Distance10.9 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 3 hr 45 min to 5 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Rum River reflects a green canopy as it passes Riverside Park in Princeton, Minnesota.
River contextRum River in Princeton river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Tony Webster

Need to know

Why this call
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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 history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Recent trend

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Hourly forecast

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Short-route forecast

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Quick facts and what's next

Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.

DifficultyeasyGenerally beginner-friendly with wider, deeper current than the smallest creeks, but flood debris and cold shoulder-season water still deserve respect.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow posted access, parking, and boating rules at both public landings.
CampingDay tripNo route camping is indicated for this day trip. Corridor camping rules vary by ownership and are not simple enough to assume from the landings alone.
SeasonApr-OctLate spring through early fall is the main window. Summer can still work well, but very low water slows the day down fast and post-rain debris still matters.

Upcoming outlook

These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.

TomorrowChecking

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WeekendChecking

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Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Access and shuttle

Put in at Martin's Landing and take out at Rum River North County Park. This is a straightforward scenic shuttle day when the St. Francis gauge is comfortably above scrape level.

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Start

Put-in

Martin's Landing trailer access
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The take-out is a county park, so local park hours or parking rules can matter more than on a roadside access.

Finish

Take-out

Rum River North County Park access
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Do not assume flood-stage debris cleanup has already happened after recent storms just because the route is usually easy.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • The take-out is a county park, so local park hours or parking rules can matter more than on a roadside access.
  • Do not assume flood-stage debris cleanup has already happened after recent storms just because the route is usually easy.

Watch for

  • Low-water scraping and slower pace when the gauge falls toward the 600 cfs floor.
  • Fresh strainers and debris after heavy rain or spring runoff.
  • Cold-water exposure outside midsummer, even on a mellow current day.

Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
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Gauge inputChecking

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Today'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.
Gauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteRum River near St. Francis, MN
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Target band1,000 cfs to 2,000 cfs
Low threshold600 cfs
High threshold3,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreMN DNR river-level interpretation bands for Rum River near St. Francis
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
What to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • DNR bands600 / 1,000 / 2,000 / 3,000 cfs

    MN DNR interprets this gauge as Scrapable below 600 cfs, Low from 600 to 1,000, Medium from 1,000 to 2,000, High from 2,000 to 3,000, and Very High above 3,000.

    Source

  • Route characterEasy scenic day

    MN DNR treats Martin's Landing to Rum River North County Park as a recommended paddling trip with few rapids and a wider, deeper lower-river feel.

    Source

  • Access confidenceVerified

    Martin's Landing and Rum River North County Park are both documented public endpoints for this corridor.

  • Primary cautionFlood debris

    Rising post-rain water can add debris and make an easy scenic route feel less forgiving.

    Source

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Paddler reports

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Rum River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Rum River?

Paddle Today watches Rum River near St. Francis, MN and treats 1,000 cfs to 2,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this Rum River route start and end?

This route starts at Martin's Landing trailer access and ends at Rum River North County Park access, about 10.9 mi on the water.

Is this Rum River 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.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.