See all 2 routes on Vermilion River
Minnesota | Northeastern Minnesota
Vermilion River
Twomile Creek to Eightmile Creek
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
Loading the route coverage map.

Need to know
Why this call
Safety
Route safety
CautionThis route has hazards or access considerations that require extra verification.
Safety details
Take out by paddling up Eightmile Creek. Missing that exit sends paddlers toward Table Rock Falls and the much more serious County Road 24 whitewater/portage segment.
- Remote access, cold water, wind on wider pools, and limited rescue spacing make this a committed day even though DNR describes the main reach as easy.
- Use only mapped public accesses and designated or legal campsites. Do not assume private banks or unmarked shoreline stops are available.
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge note
Proxy gauge: Vermilion River at Buyck, CSAH 24. Regional signal only; verify local water.
Gauge context
This route uses Vermilion River at Buyck, CSAH 24 as a proxy gauge. It is a regional signal, not a measurement of this reach. Verify local water and hazards before launching.
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
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
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 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.
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
Two Mile Creek Public Water Access SiteTwo 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 SiteEightmile 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
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
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
Data and sources
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 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
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
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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.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.
