See all 2 routes on Whitewater River
Minnesota | Southeast Minnesota
Whitewater River
County Highway 26 / Elba to Beaver
Check current paddling conditions for this Whitewater River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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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 the Elba / County Highway 26 access and take out at Beaver for DNR's 6.2-mile recommended Whitewater section. The Beaver gauge is direct and currently medium, but wood and logjams remain the real field check.
Put-in
Whitewater River, Elba Public Water Access SiteOpen mapElba and Beaver resolve as Minnesota public-water-access GIS records, but both are small carry-in sites with limited services.
Take-out
Whitewater River, Beaver Public Water Access SiteOpen mapThis route stops at Beaver before the lower Beaver-to-Weaver reach that DNR calls unsuitable for novice paddlers.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Elba and Beaver resolve as Minnesota public-water-access GIS records, but both are small carry-in sites with limited services.
- This route stops at Beaver before the lower Beaver-to-Weaver reach that DNR calls unsuitable for novice paddlers.
- Do not use informal private banks or WMA edges as routine stops.
Watch for
- Strainers, tight bends, deadfall, and occasional logjam portages.
- Fast rises after rain and pushy current around wood when the Beaver gauge climbs.
- Low-water scraping, cold water, and ecological sensitivity in the Whitewater 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.
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Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
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 | Whitewater River nr Beaver, CSAH30 |
| Gauge elevation | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 | 692.30 ft to 697.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 690.00 ft |
| High threshold | 698.00 ft |
| 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 Whitewater River near Beaver |
| 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 routeCounty Hwy 26 RM 16.4 to Beaver RM 10.2, 6.2 miles
MN DNR's recommended paddling list identifies County Highway 26 to Beaver as a 6.2-mile Whitewater River recommended section.
- Public access recordsWAS00252 to WAS02183
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves the Elba / County 26 access and Beaver access with coordinates and river-mile context.
- Official DNR bands690 / 692.3-697 / 698 ft gauge elevation
MN DNR interprets the Beaver gauge elevation as Scrapable below 690 ft, Low from 690 to 692.3, Medium from 692.3 to 697, High from 697 to 698, and Very High above 698.
- Current gauge check693.25 ft at 2026-07-23 21:45 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Beaver inside the official medium band during this run.
- Camping and safetyNo campsites or rest areas
MN DNR says the Whitewater has no campsites or rest areas, asks users to protect the ecological integrity of the river, and warns about trees and occasional log jams below Beaver.
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
Whitewater River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Whitewater River?
Paddle Today watches Whitewater River nr Beaver, CSAH30 and treats 692.30 ft to 697.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Whitewater River route start and end?
This route starts at Whitewater River, Elba Public Water Access Site and ends at Whitewater River, Beaver Public Water Access Site, about 6.2 mi on the water.
Is this Whitewater 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
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.