See all 8 routes on St. Louis River
Minnesota | Northeastern Minnesota
St. Louis River
Paupores to Brookston
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
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
Launch at Paupores and take out at Brookston for the official 7.9-mile MN DNR Map 2 day trip. Use the upstream Floodwood gauge conservatively and make a same-day visual call for shallow rapids and wood.
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
St. Louis River, Paupores Public Water Access SitePaupores and Brookston resolve as DNR Division of Parks and Trails public access sites in Minnesota public-water-access GIS.
Take-out
St. Louis River, Brookston Public Water Access SiteThe Floodwood gauge is upstream of this route. It is the official same-map gauge used for scoring, but local depth and wood at the launch still control.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Paupores and Brookston resolve as DNR Division of Parks and Trails public access sites in Minnesota public-water-access GIS.
- The Floodwood gauge is upstream of this route. It is the official same-map gauge used for scoring, but local depth and wood at the launch still control.
- Railroad tracks follow parts of the river corridor. Do not use rail property, private banks, or unmarked landings as routine exits.
Watch for
- Class I-II rapids, some dangerous in high water, plus shallow rocky lines when the Floodwood gauge is below the official low band.
- Downed trees, strainers, cold water, fast rises after rain, muddy banks, and rural rescue spacing.
- Watercraft-campsite availability and rules if planning more than a day trip.
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
Data and sources
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 | St. Louis River at Floodwood, CSAH8 |
| Stage | 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 | 28.00 ft to 37.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 24.40 ft |
| High threshold | 42.00 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 at Floodwood |
| 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.
- Current gauge check23.25 ft at 2026-07-22 17:45 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Floodwood below the official scrapable floor during this run, so this route should score as too low until levels recover.
- Official DNR bands24.4 / 28-37 / 42 ft
MN DNR interprets Floodwood as Scrapable below 24.4 ft, Low from 24.4 to 28, Medium from 28 to 37, High from 37 to 42, and Very High above 42.
- Recommended day trip7.9 river miles
MN DNR recommends Paupores trailer access at river mile 61.8 to Brookston trailer access at river mile 53.9.
- Public access recordsWAS00609 and WAS02081
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Paupores and Brookston as DNR Division of Parks and Trails public access sites with river-mile values, parking, and launch information.
- Camping and hazardsWatercraft campsites; Class I-II rapids
DNR describes watercraft campsites on this segment and warns that Class I-II rapids can be dangerous in high water.
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
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More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
St. Louis River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling St. Louis River?
Paddle Today watches St. Louis River at Floodwood, CSAH8 and treats 28.00 ft to 37.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this St. Louis River route start and end?
This route starts at St. Louis River, Paupores Public Water Access Site and ends at St. Louis River, Brookston Public Water Access Site, about 7.9 mi on the water.
Is this St. Louis River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.