See all 8 routes on St. Louis River
Minnesota | Northeastern Minnesota
St. Louis River
Paupores to Brookston
Check current paddling conditions for this St. Louis River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
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.
Put-in
St. Louis River, Paupores Public Water Access SiteOpen mapPaupores 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 SiteOpen mapThe 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.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
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
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
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 |
| Data confidence 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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
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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
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.
Flag a change
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.