See all 2 routes on Vermilion River
Minnesota | Northeastern Minnesota
Vermilion River
Vermilion Dam to County Road 24
Check current paddling conditions for this Vermilion River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
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
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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 immediately below Vermilion Dam beside the Buyck gauge and continue through the Twomile and Eightmile corridors to County Road 24.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
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
Vermilion Dam downstream portage / whitewater put-inThe practical put-in is below Vermilion Dam after the mapped 430-yard right-bank portage. Never launch above the dam intending to run it.
Take-out
Vermilion River, Co Rd 24 Public Water Access SiteTwomile Creek is a remote carry-in take-out. Learn the lake-to-creek turn before launching so the group does not miss it late in the day.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The practical put-in is below Vermilion Dam after the mapped 430-yard right-bank portage. Never launch above the dam intending to run it.
- Twomile Creek is a remote carry-in take-out. Learn the lake-to-creek turn before launching so the group does not miss it late in the day.
- The app's Buyck gauge is downstream. A usable proxy reading does not override the DNR staff gauge below the dam, fresh wood, or an unfavorable scout.
- The Eightmile Creek launch requires creek access and a remote road approach.
- County Road 24 / CCC campsite is the mandatory finish for this card. Scout it before launch so the group does not continue into unplanned lower-river rapids.
- The Buyck gauge is downstream of the route and cannot substitute for scouting Table Rock Falls, portage landings, or canyon conditions.
Watch for
- Shively Falls Class III, Liftover Falls Class II, Everett Rapids Class I-II, and the mapped long portages.
- Dam hydraulics, horizon lines, strainers, cold water, slippery carries, and remote rescue exposure.
- Wind and route-finding on the final lake water plus the upstream paddle in Twomile Creek.
- Table Rock Falls Class IV-VI, a 1,900-yard portage, vertical ledges, and continuous canyon rapids.
- Remote rescue exposure, slippery portage footing, cold water, and limited communication.
- High water increasing consequence around the falls and low water making rocky approaches slow or hazardous.
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
Why this score
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 | Vermilion River at Buyck, CSAH 24 |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | 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 | 200 cfs to 1,300 cfs |
| Low threshold | 70 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,600 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | MN DNR interpreted bands at Buyck, paired with the Map 1 below-dam staff-gauge rule |
| 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.
- Qualifying gauge relationshipVermilion River at Buyck, CSAH 24
DNR site 342 at Buyck is colocated with the downstream-of-dam put-in, making its interpreted discharge reading direct for this route.
- Public-access continuityVermilion Dam to County Road 24
The route joins adjacent researched segments whose shared endpoint coordinates and official public-access records match.
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.
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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
Vermilion River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Vermilion River?
Paddle Today watches Vermilion River at Buyck, CSAH 24 and treats 200 cfs to 1,300 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Vermilion River route start and end?
This route starts at Vermilion Dam downstream portage / whitewater put-in and ends at Vermilion River, Co Rd 24 Public Water Access Site, about About 13.8 mi on the water.
Is this Vermilion River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.