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Minnesota | Northeast Minnesota
St. Louis RiverCounty Road 95 to Forbes
Upper St. Louis connector from the County Road 95 carry-in to Forbes, filling the public-access gap between the DNR County-Road-4 day trip and the existing Forbes-to-Zim card.
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at County Road 95 and take out at Forbes for the downstream upper St. Louis section below the existing County-Road-4-to-95 card. The Forbes DNR gauge is direct at the take-out corridor, but low-water scraping, boulder beds, wood, and Forbes Dam discipline drive the trip call.
Access map
Put-in
St. Louis River, County Rd 95 Public Water Access SiteCounty Road 95 resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS02152 at DNR river mile 144.5.
Take-out
St. Louis River, Forbes Public Water Access SiteForbes resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS00614 near DNR river mile 125.9.
Road shuttle
Stage the Forbes take-out first, then drive upstream to the County Road 95 DNR access. Identify the Forbes access and downstream dam boundary before launch so the day ends at the public access, not at dam structures.
Additional access notes
- Forbes Dam is downstream of the take-out corridor. Do not miss the public access or continue without a separate portage and dam plan.
More route and safety guidance
- DNR Map 1 warns about Class I-III rapids, boulder beds, and a dam below Highway 53 on the upper St. Louis. Low readings can mean dragging, while rising water reduces recovery time around wood.
- Use the named DNR public accesses only. Expect remote banks, cold water, limited services, and few clean bailout options.
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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 | St. Louis River nr Forbes, US53 |
| 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 | 3.70 ft to 7.60 ft |
| Low threshold | 3.00 ft |
| High threshold | 8.00 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 St. Louis River near Forbes |
| 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.
- Map sequenceCounty Road 95 RM 144.6 to Forbes RM 125.9
MN DNR St. Louis Map 1 places County Road 95, the Embarrass River, Mud Hen Creek, the Highway 53 river-level gauge, Townline Road, Forbes Dam, and Forbes carry-in access in downstream order.
- Public access recordsWAS02152 to WAS00614
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves County Road 95 and Forbes as DNR-administered St. Louis River public access sites with river-mile records and coordinates.
- Official DNR bands3.0 / 3.7-7.6 / 8.0 ft
MN DNR interprets the Forbes gauge as Scrapable below 3.0 ft, Low from 3.0 to 3.7, Medium from 3.7 to 7.6, High from 7.6 to 8.0, and Very High above 8.0.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-172.91 ft at 2026-07-17 12:45 AM
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Upper-river hazardsBoulder beds, logjams, Forbes Dam
DNR warns that the upper St. Louis has Class I-III rapids, boulder beds that may damage watercraft, consistent logjams near the upper corridor, and a dam below Highway 53.
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 St. Louis River
All 9Nearby routes within 75 miles
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