Minnesota | Duluth Area
Cloquet River
Island Lake Dam to Bachelor Road
Check current paddling conditions for this Cloquet 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
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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 below Island Lake Dam and finish at Bachelor Road for the DNR-recommended lower Cloquet day. Use the direct gauge to avoid scrape-level releases, then make the on-river call based on rapids, scouting comfort, and same-day conditions.
Put-in
Island Lake Dam carry-in access Open mapThe official DNR map clearly names both endpoints, but the saved coordinates are still arrival guidance rather than a substitute for same-day signage and map checks.
Take-out
Bachelor Road trailer access Open mapBachelor Road is a real public trailer access on the official Cloquet water-trail map, but it is not backed here by a richer standalone facility page with parking rules and amenities.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats
- The official DNR map clearly names both endpoints, but the saved coordinates are still arrival guidance rather than a substitute for same-day signage and map checks.
- Bachelor Road is a real public trailer access on the official Cloquet water-trail map, but it is not backed here by a richer standalone facility page with parking rules and amenities.
- The put-in is below a dam and the segment depends on releases, so same-day conditions can differ more than the raw number suggests.
Watch for
- Class I-II rapids that deserve scouting and occasional portaging.
- Scraping and short river walks when releases hover near the 175 cfs floor.
- Fresh wood, cold water, and fast current changes after storms or release shifts.
Route gallery
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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 score Today'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.
Outlook Tomorrow 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 score Gauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Cloquet River near Island Lake, MN |
| 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 175 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Data confidence behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | MN DNR Cloquet River release guidance for Island Lake Dam to Bachelor Road |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
Notes 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 route 8.1 river miles
MN DNR treats Island Lake Dam carry-in access to Bachelor Road access as the recommended Cloquet River day trip on Map 1.
- Official low-flow guidance 350 cfs in May-June; 175 cfs in summer
MN DNR says 350 cfs in May and June offers good paddling, while 175 cfs during the rest of the summer still usually allows floating down the rapids with some scraping and occasional river walking.
- Access support Carry-in dam launch to trailer access
MN DNR Map 1 names Island Lake Dam carry-in access at river mile 28.6 and Bachelor Road trailer access at river mile 20.5.
- Primary hazards Class I-II rapids and release swings
MN DNR says rapids are Class I-II, advises scouting before proceeding, and notes that flow depends on Island Lake Dam releases.
- Camping context Primitive DNR watercraft campsites
MN DNR says this stretch includes numerous primitive first-come watercraft campsites on DNR-managed property.
Verify it yourself Check 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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Quick answers
Cloquet River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Cloquet River?
Paddle Today watches Cloquet River near Island Lake, MN and uses 175 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Cloquet River route start and end?
This route starts at Island Lake Dam carry-in access and ends at Bachelor Road trailer access, about 8.1 mi on the water.
Is this Cloquet 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.