See all 4 routes on Snake River
Minnesota | Pine City Area
Snake RiverCanary Road to Cross Lake / Pine City
Clean lower Snake day with one of the better official flow stories in the app. The Pine City gauge and the DNR-recommended route pair make this a stronger decision than many small-river adds, but quick level swings and low water below Cross Lake still matter.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Put in at the Canary Road carry-in and take out at the Cross Lake / Pine City landing for the DNR-recommended lower Snake day. Use the Pine City gauge as an official same-river reference and check its level, trend, and recent rain before launch.
Access map
Put-in
Snake River #1 / Canary Road public water accessMinnesota public-water-access records list both landings. Confirm the current parking area and launch path at Canary Road and Cross Lake before setting the shuttle.
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.
Road shuttle
Short Pine City-area car shuttle. A bike shuttle is possible, but only if you are comfortable with the roads and have already checked parking at both ends.
More route and safety guidance
- Recommended status means fewer woody obstructions at typical levels, not an obstruction-free channel. Scan ahead for fallen, overhanging, or dead trees and do not force a blocked line.
- Use the named Canary Road and Cross Lake public accesses. If the reading is rising quickly or trees are difficult to see and avoid, postpone the trip rather than relying on the route's easy rating.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Detailed weather
Weather
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Next 8 hours
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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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.
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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 | 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 |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 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 |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
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.
Other routes nearby
More on Snake River
All 4Nearby routes within 75 miles
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