Minnesota | Northeastern Minnesota

Vermilion River

Twomile Creek to Eightmile Creek

Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.

Route location

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DistanceAbout 7 mi
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 3 hr to 5 hr depending on wind
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Vermilion River flows through Vermilion Gorge in northern Minnesota.
River contextVermilion River at Vermilion Gorge river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Tony Webster

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Gauge history and hourly forecast

Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.

Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Recent trend

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Hourly forecast

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Short-route forecast

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Quick facts and what's next

Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.

DifficultymoderateDNR describes the Twomile-to-Eightmile day as wide, easy water with a gentle current, but the remote setting, lake-like sections, cold water, and mandatory Eightmile exit make it more serious than a casual town float.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow DNR public-access rules, Kabetogama State Forest rules, Superior National Forest rules where applicable, and Minnesota boating/PFD requirements.
CampingOptions nearbyDNR Map 1 marks designated watercraft campsites in the broader corridor. Use only mapped/designated sites or separately verified public-land camping rules; do not assume private-bank or riverbed camping.
SeasonMay-OctDNR says the Vermilion rises and falls slowly because Lake Vermilion supplies much of its flow, and it is usually canoeable well into autumn. Wind, remote access, and low-band scraping still control the day.

Upcoming outlook

These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.

TomorrowChecking

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WeekendChecking

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Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Access and shuttle

Launch at Two Mile Creek for DNR’s easier Vermilion recommended day through the Chain of Lakes reach, then take out by paddling up Eightmile Creek before Table Rock Falls. The Buyck gauge is downstream and must be paired with local visual checks.

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Start

Put-in

Two Mile Creek Public Water Access Site
Open map

Two Mile Creek and Eightmile Creek are remote carry-in access sites, not full-service ramps.

Finish

Take-out

Vermilion River, 8 Mile Creek Public Water Access Site
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Eightmile Creek is the planned exit. Missing it commits the group toward Table Rock Falls and a much more serious downstream hazard zone.

Plan this segment

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Two Mile Creek and Eightmile Creek are remote carry-in access sites, not full-service ramps.
  • Eightmile Creek is the planned exit. Missing it commits the group toward Table Rock Falls and a much more serious downstream hazard zone.
  • The Buyck gauge is downstream of the route. Pair it with DNR map guidance, local visual checks, and wind conditions on wider water.

Watch for

  • Wind on wider Chain of Lakes water, low-band scraping, cold water, fresh wood, and remote rescue exposure.
  • Private-bank limits and designated-campsite-only assumptions.
  • The mandatory Eightmile Creek exit before Table Rock Falls and the County Road 24 whitewater/portage corridor.

Data and sources

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
Checking live inputs.

Pulling the latest gauge and weather. Usually under 10 seconds.

Gauge inputChecking

Waiting on the gauge read.

Weather inputChecking

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Next stepChecking

Waiting on enough data to give the next step.

Today'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.
Gauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteVermilion River at Buyck, CSAH 24
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Rain last 24hChecking
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Rain timingChecking
Target band200 cfs to 1,300 cfs
Low threshold70 cfs
High threshold1,600 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreMN DNR river-level interpretation bands for Vermilion River at Buyck
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What to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Official recommended tripTwomile Creek to Eightmile Creek, 7 river miles

    MN DNR Vermilion segments page lists Twomile Creek access at river mile 37.8 to Eightmile Creek access at river mile 32 as the recommended day trip.

    Source

  • Public access recordsWAS02075 to WAS00377

    Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Two Mile Creek and Vermilion River, 8 Mile Creek as DNR-administered public access sites with coordinates and directions.

    Source

  • Official DNR bands70 / 200-1300 / 1600 cfs

    MN DNR interprets the Buyck gauge as Scrapable below 70 cfs, Low from 70 to 200, Medium from 200 to 1300, High from 1300 to 1600, and Very High above 1600.

    Source

  • Current gauge check154 cfs at 2026-07-22 21:45 CDT

    The current MN DNR feed placed Buyck in the official low band during this run, below the preferred medium band.

    Source

  • Hazard boundaryExit before Table Rock Falls

    DNR Map 1 places Eightmile Creek upstream of Table Rock Falls and the County Road 24 / CCC campsite portage corridor, making Eightmile the mandatory finish for this easier day trip.

    Source

Check the source links

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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 Two Mile Creek Public Water Access Site and ends at Vermilion River, 8 Mile Creek Public Water Access Site, about About 7 mi on the water.

Is this Vermilion 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.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.