See all 4 routes on Snake River
Minnesota | Pine City Area
Snake River
Canary Road to Cross Lake / Pine City
Check current paddling conditions for this Snake River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
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
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
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
Put in at the Canary Road carry-in and take out at the Cross Lake / Pine City landing. This is the DNR-recommended lower Snake day, and the Pine City gauge gives it one of the cleaner official go-no-go stories in the app.
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
Snake River #1 / Canary Road public water accessBoth endpoints are now backed by Minnesota public-water-access records, which is a much better trust story than the earlier approximate-coordinate version.
Take-out
Snake River / Cross Lake public water access (Pine City)Pine City recreation materials are useful for parking context at the take-out, but same-day signage still wins if anything looks different on arrival.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Both endpoints are now backed by Minnesota public-water-access records, which is a much better trust story than the earlier approximate-coordinate version.
- Pine City recreation materials are useful for parking context at the take-out, but same-day signage still wins if anything looks different on arrival.
Watch for
- Fast fluctuations after rain or snowmelt.
- Low-water trouble below Cross Lake when the Pine City gauge sinks toward 2.3 ft.
- Fresh wood or strainers after storms, especially on bends and in faster current.
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 | Snake River near Pine City, 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 |
| Target band | 3.30 ft to 5.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 2.30 ft |
| High threshold | 6.30 ft |
| 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 Snake River near Pine City |
| 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 bands2.3 / 3.3 / 5.0 / 6.3 ft
MN DNR interprets this gauge as Scrapable below 2.3 ft, Low from 2.3 to 3.3, Medium from 3.3 to 5.0, High from 5.0 to 6.3, and Very High above 6.3.
- Recommended trip10.2 river miles
MN DNR treats Canary Road access to Cross Lake/Pine City as the recommended Snake River day trip for this lower corridor.
- Endpoint authorityDNR access records for both landings
Minnesota public-water-access data identifies the exact Snake River #1 Canary Road carry-in at river mile 22.1 and the Snake River Cross Lake landing in Pine City at river mile 11.9.
- Low-water caveatBelow Cross Lake can stop working
MN DNR notes that canoeing the stretch below Cross Lake may not be possible during low water, which reinforces the official low-end ladder.
- State-water-trail obstruction guidanceFewer woody obstructions does not mean none
MN DNR says recommended sections have fewer woody obstructions at typical levels and warns that river conditions can change even on recommended routes.
- Tree-hazard guidanceAvoid overhanging and dead trees
MN DNR directs state-water-trail paddlers to be cautious of river obstacles and avoid overhanging and dead trees.
- Take-out contextPine City landing with trailer parking
Pine City recreation materials describe the Snake River landing across Highway 61 from Voyageur Park as a landscaped access with parking for vehicles and trailers.
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
Snake River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Snake River?
Paddle Today watches Snake River near Pine City, MN and treats 3.30 ft to 5.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Snake River route start and end?
This route starts at Snake River #1 / Canary Road public water access and ends at Snake River / Cross Lake public water access (Pine City), about 10.2 mi on the water.
Is this Snake 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.