See all 3 routes on Vermilion River
Minnesota | Northeastern Minnesota
Vermilion River
Twomile Creek to Eightmile Creek
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 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.
Put-in
Two Mile Creek Public Water Access SiteOpen mapTwo Mile Creek and Eightmile Creek are remote carry-in access sites, not full-service ramps.
Take-out
Vermilion River, 8 Mile Creek Public Water Access SiteOpen mapEightmile Creek is the planned exit. Missing it commits the group toward Table Rock Falls and a much more serious downstream hazard zone.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
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.
Route gallery
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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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
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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 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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.