See all 3 routes on North Fork Crow River
Minnesota | Twin Cities Northwest Metro
North Fork Crow River
Riverside County Park to Dayton
Check current paddling conditions for this North Fork Crow 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 Riverside County Park near Hanover and take out at the Dayton-area Crow/Mississippi access. This is a long lower-river shuttle day where level still matters because low water drags the pace down quickly.
Put-in
Riverside County Park carry-in access Open mapThis route is long enough that shuttle timing, parking rules, and daylight matter more than on a quick half-day paddle.
Take-out
Mississippi/Crow rivers trailer access Open mapUse posted rules at both landings rather than assuming old forum or trip-report parking details are still current.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats
- This route is long enough that shuttle timing, parking rules, and daylight matter more than on a quick half-day paddle.
- Use posted rules at both landings rather than assuming old forum or trip-report parking details are still current.
Watch for
- Low-water dragging and a slower-than-expected pace when the river falls toward 345 cfs.
- Fresh wood, strainers, and debris after storms or rising water.
- Fatigue, cold-water exposure, and wind on a 15-mile day even if the gauge looks okay.
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.
No approved route photos yet
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 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 | North Fork Crow River nr Rockford, Farmington Ave |
| 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 | 500 cfs to 1,500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 345 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,750 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 North Fork Crow River near Rockford |
| 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.
- DNR bands 345 / 500–1,500 / 1,750 cfs
MN DNR interprets the lower North Fork Crow gauge as Scrapable below 345 cfs, Low from 345 to 500, Medium from 500 to 1,500, High from 1,500 to 1,750, and Very High above 1,750.
- Trip length 15.3 miles
This is a long lower-river day. Low water and fatigue matter more here than on a short metro paddle.
- Access confidence Verified
Both Riverside County Park and the Dayton/Crow-Mississippi access are backed by DNR access-guide material and local manager pages.
- Primary caution Wood after rain
Treat storms and recent high water as a stronger caution signal than the gauge alone, especially on a long route with fewer quick exit options.
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.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
Share your trip
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
North Fork Crow River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling North Fork Crow River?
Paddle Today watches North Fork Crow River nr Rockford, Farmington Ave and treats 500 cfs to 1,500 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this North Fork Crow River route start and end?
This route starts at Riverside County Park carry-in access and ends at Mississippi/Crow rivers trailer access, about 15.3 mi on the water.
Is this North Fork Crow 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.