See all 4 routes on Snake River
Minnesota | Pine City Area
Snake RiverCounty Road 9 carry-in access to Snake Bit Access
Lower Snake run below Cross Lake with one key first check: is the Pine City gauge high enough for the shallow rapids below County Road 9? MN DNR documents the route, gauge, and low-water warning, so start with the official level before staging the shuttle.
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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 County Road 9 and finish near Snake Bit at the Snake/St. Croix confluence. This lower Snake route has a strong official low-water warning, so use the Pine City gauge first and do not expect a worthwhile run when it is hugging the floor.
Access map
Put-in
County Road 9 bridge carry-in accessMN DNR marks County Road 9 as a carry-in access and puts the gauge on the bridge. Expect a simple bridge access, not a developed park launch.
Take-out
Snake Bit Access (near St. Croix/Snake River public water access)MN DNR maps Snake Bit at the St. Croix confluence. Before launching, confirm the finish using the nearby official Snake/St. Croix public access and any posted signs at the landing.
Road shuttle
Longer Pine City-to-Chengwatana shuttle. A two-car shuttle is the practical choice because the finish sits near the St. Croix confluence rather than back in town.
More route and safety guidance
- Treat the first low-water-sensitive rapids below County Road 9 as a portage-or-skip decision if the line is not clearly safe for the group.
- Fresh wood, strainers, and debris can stack up quickly after storms or rapid snowmelt.
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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.
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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 |
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| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 2.30 ft |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| 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 |
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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 floor2.3 ft
MN DNR interprets Pine City as Scrapable below 2.3 ft and Low from 2.3 to 3.3 ft. Paddle Today uses 2.3 ft as the practical floor because no better route-specific ideal range is published for this lower rapids stretch.
- Official route shape11.7 river miles
The Snake River map names County Road 9 bridge/carry-in access at river mile 11.7 and Snake Bit Access at the St. Croix confluence.
- Low-water warning11.7 to 10.9 not canoeable much of the year
MN DNR explicitly warns that the first rapids section below County Road 9 is low-water limited much of the year, which is the main reason this route is modeled as minimum-only.
- CR 9 dam/drop hazardScout before running
Pine City describes the east Cross Lake access as off County Road 9 by the dam. A July 18, 2026 paddler report observed a manmade drop with a large center grate immediately after leaving Cross Lake, followed by rocky current, and noted that there is a portage around it; treat this as a scout, portage, or skip feature unless conditions and group skill make the line clearly safe.
- Route characterScattered Class I rapids to the St. Croix
MN DNR describes the County Road 9 to mouth corridor as scattered Class I rapids below the initial low-water-sensitive section.
- Take-out locationSnake/St. Croix confluence
The DNR map names Snake Bit at the St. Croix confluence. For staging the finish, also check the nearby official Snake/St. Croix public-water-access record and follow posted signs on arrival.
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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