See all 3 routes on Vermilion River
Minnesota | Northeastern Minnesota
Vermilion River
Eightmile Creek to County Road 24
Check current paddling conditions for this Vermilion River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
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 from Eightmile Creek and descend only with a deliberate Table Rock Falls plan, then take out at County Road 24 / CCC campsite. For most paddlers, this card is a portage-and-scout segment rather than a runnable float.
Put-in
Vermilion River, 8 Mile Creek Public Water Access SiteOpen mapThe Eightmile Creek launch requires creek access and a remote road approach.
Take-out
Vermilion River, Co Rd 24 Public Water Access SiteOpen mapCounty 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.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- 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
- 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.
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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 | 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 |
| 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 Vermilion River at Buyck |
| 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.
- Map routeEightmile Creek RM 32.0 to County Road 24 RM 30.7
DNR Map 1 places the Eightmile Creek access upstream of Table Rock Falls and the County Road 24 carry-in / watercraft campsite below the portage zone.
- Primary hazardTable Rock Falls Class IV-VI; portage 1,900 yards
DNR describes Table Rock Falls as a 20-foot cascade with vertical ledges followed by a steep narrow canyon and continuous rapids.
- Public access recordsEightmile WAS00377 to County Road 24 WAS00594
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves the Eightmile Creek carry-in and the Vermilion River County Road 24 / CCC campsite access with DNR administration and coordinates.
- Official DNR bands70 / 200-1,300 / 1,600 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Buyck gauge as Scrapable below 70 cfs, Low from 70 to 200, Medium from 200 to 1,300, High from 1,300 to 1,600, and Very High above 1,600.
- Current gauge check187 cfs at 2026-07-17 01:45 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Buyck in the official low band during this run, below the preferred medium band.
- Camping supportWatercraft campsites at and above the route
DNR Map 1 marks campsites just above Table Rock and at the County Road 24 access. Use only designated sites and confirm public-land rules.
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
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 River, 8 Mile Creek Public Water Access Site and ends at Vermilion River, Co Rd 24 Public Water Access Site, about 1.3 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.
Flag a change
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.