Minnesota | Southeast Minnesota

Whitewater River

Elba to Highway 74

Check current paddling conditions for this Whitewater River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

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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

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Quick facts

On-water distance About 10.4 river mi Elba to Highway 74

Difficulty moderate Not big whitewater, but the tight channel, deadfall, strainers, and occasional logjam portages make it a moderate boat-handling day.

Shuttle Car shuttle Short road shuttle between Elba and the Highway 74 take-out. Because these are less polished roadside-style accesses, confirm legal parking and the exact take-out before launching.

Permits None noted No special paddling permit is known for the Minnesota DNR Whitewater River State Water Trail. Follow posted WMA, roadside parking, and boating rules.

Camping Options nearby MN DNR says there are no campsites or rest areas on the Whitewater River State Water Trail. Use off-river options such as Whitewater State Park if you need an overnight base.

Season Apr-Sep Spring and rain-supported windows are best. This narrow river can become scrape-heavy when low and much less forgiving around wood when levels jump.

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

Put in at Elba and take out where the river comes back to Highway 74. This is a narrow, wood-sensitive creek route, so the DNR gauge is only the first screen; current strainers and logjams still decide the day.

Directions Apple Maps OpenStreetMap

Start

Put-in

Elba / Highway 26 and Center Street access Open map

The access story is still less polished than named park landings. MilesPaddled and Post Bulletin reports support the same access pair, but verify legal parking and the exact take-out before committing to the shuttle.

Finish

Take-out

Highway 74 roadside take-out near Whitewater WMA Open map

MN DNR notes ecological sensitivity in the Whitewater WMA, so stay on legal accesses and avoid creating informal stops.

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Access caveats

The access story is still less polished than named park landings. MilesPaddled and Post Bulletin reports support the same access pair, but verify legal parking and the exact take-out before committing to the shuttle.
MN DNR notes ecological sensitivity in the Whitewater WMA, so stay on legal accesses and avoid creating informal stops.

Watch for

Deadfall, strainers, and occasional logjam portages.
Fast current and fewer recovery options when the Beaver gauge rises into high water.
Scraping and extra dragging when the gauge drops below the medium band.

Route gallery

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Sources

Check the data behind today's call.

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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.

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Outlook Tomorrow and weekend

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Data behind the score Gauge, 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
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Rain last 24h	Checking
Rain last 72h	Checking
Air temp	Checking
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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

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 690 / 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. This is not river depth.

Source
Route support Elba to Highway 74

MN DNR Whitewater trail material describes the river from Elba downstream and identifies the Elba-to-Highway-74 stretch as a strong practical run.

Source
Access notes Roadside access pair

MilesPaddled reports good parking at the Highway 26 / Center Street put-in and gives the same Highway 74 take-out coordinates used here; Post Bulletin trip reports also describe the County Road 26 put-in and Highway 74 / County Road 30 take-out access.

Source
Hazard context Not novice below Beaver/Weaver

MN DNR warns the lower stretch between Beaver and Weaver is not suitable for novice paddlers because of many trees and occasional log jams.

Source

Verify it yourself Check the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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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 Elba / Highway 26 and Center Street access and ends at Highway 74 roadside take-out near Whitewater WMA, about About 10.4 river 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.

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Whitewater River

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