See all 10 routes on Rum River
Minnesota | Twin Cities North Metro
Rum River
North County Park to Central Regional Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Rum River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
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 at Rum River North County Park and finish at Rum River Central Regional Park for a shorter lower-Rum county-corridor day. The official St. Francis gauge sits right on this corridor, so the level call is cleaner than on many metro-adjacent rivers.
Put-in
Rum River North County Park accessOpen mapBoth endpoints are managed county parks, so park hours, parking rules, and seasonal vehicle-permit expectations deserve a same-day check.
Take-out
Rum River Central Regional Park accessOpen mapDo not assume low-hazard character means zero cleanup issues; flood debris and fresh wood can still change the route after storms.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Both endpoints are managed county parks, so park hours, parking rules, and seasonal vehicle-permit expectations deserve a same-day check.
- Do not assume low-hazard character means zero cleanup issues; flood debris and fresh wood can still change the route after storms.
Watch for
- Low-water scraping when the gauge falls toward the 600 cfs floor.
- Fresh strainers or snags after heavy rain or spring runoff.
- Cold-water exposure outside midsummer even on an otherwise easy-feeling river day.
Route gallery
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Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
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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 | Rum River near St. Francis, MN |
| 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 | 1,000 cfs to 2,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 600 cfs |
| High threshold | 3,000 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 Rum River near St. Francis |
| 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.
- DNR bands600 / 1,000 / 2,000 / 3,000 cfs
MN DNR interprets the St. Francis 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.
- Official route contextAbout 9.4 river miles
The DNR Rum River Map 3 PDF places Rum River North County Park at river mile 23.2 and the Rum River Central Regional Park trailer access at river mile 13.8.
- Corridor supportNorth County to Central is the county canoe corridor
Anoka County says Rum River North County Park is the northern access to the Rum River Canoe Corridor and that the corridor passes by Rum River Central Regional Park before ending in Anoka.
- Central park amenitiesWatercraft campsites, toilets, drinking water
DNR Map 3 lists Rum River Central Regional Park with trailer access, watercraft campsites, toilets, and drinking water at river mile 13.8.
- Primary cautionWood and flood debris
The lower Rum is generally approachable, but DNR still flags downed trees and snags as the relevant hazard pattern on this corridor.
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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
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
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 Rum River North County Park access and ends at Rum River Central Regional Park access, about 9.4 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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.