A STATE WA TER TRAIL GUIDE T O THE RED L AKE RIVER Middle Thief Bay Pool Adolph Elseth River Grygla Grygla W.M.A. Wapiti Red Lake W.M.A. New W.M.A. W.M.A. W.M.A. Old Mill Folden Beltrami State Park Agassiz Moose River W.M.A. Island Carry-in Access Dam River 32 Agassiz 89 State National Mud Forest Trailer Access Drinking Water Pool River Eckvoll W.M.A. Green Valley Outfitter New Folden Wildlife W.M.A. Rest Area W.M.A. Stump Pool River Benville 59 W.M.A. Designated Public Lands 89 Campsite Refuge 219 Grygla
Fishing Pier Tribal Lands Snake Moylan Espelie Steenerson Lost W.M.A. W.M.A. River Mile W.M.A. Gun-dog Thief 89 Elm Lake Saw-Whet W.M.A. Warren W.M.A. Rapids River W.M.A. Snake Viking Sharp River Branch Willow Run Wolf Trail Fireweed 0 1 2 3 Miles W.M.A. W.M.A. NORTH 2 Adger W.M.A. W.M.A. W.M.A. South 1 2 Elm Creek Lee 0 1 2 3 Kilometers W.M.A. Carmelee Snowshoe Sem W.M.A. W.M.A. W.M.A. MARSHALL CO. W.M.A. Hamre Moylan W.M.A. W.M.A.
MARSHALL CO.
219 PENNINGTON CO. Thief River
POLK CO.
Falls BELTRAMI CO. Red 89 Hwy 59 Centennial Park Goodridge 63 63 1 63
75 PENNINGTON CO. 130 Thief River Falls Dam 1 Portage right 84 1 Smiley 22 125 Bridge 32 LaFave Lake 220 Beach 59 135 62 7 Kratka Goodridge 140 23 W.M.A. Thief River 7 Crossing Falls Regional 85 Airport 24 Black 150 145 High 27 6 Jacksnipe 155 Landing Pembina W.M.A. RED 120 17 58 Indian W.M.A. 160 58 21 88 165 3 City Park Co. Rd. 3 97 89 Bridge 3 Red Lake Higinbotham Hazel 22 Neptune Bridge Reservation DNR Grand W.M.A. 3 24 Belgium St. Hilaire 3 permit and 170 Cahill BELTRAMI CO. W.M.A. 12 115 guide are Lake Roosevelt required to Lake CLEARWATER CO. River LAKE paddle this Oriniak 175 W.M.A. 2 section Reservation East Grand Forks (RM 193 - RM 175.1) PENNINGTON CO. 23 94 Dam Portage right RED LAKE CO. 27 L. 110 PENNINGTON CO. 96 Lower Red Lake Dam Marais POLK CO. 180 9 RED LAKE CO. Black 1 RIVER II Intermittent Class I-II rapids Creek Clearwater 190 from river mile 114 to 66 River 185 R. Browns 59 Red River 13 51 195 State Emmardville Lower Recreation Creek 2 W.M.A. 3 Sportsmen’s Park 105 Red Area 5 2 32 5 POLK CO. 2 Lake 57 13 Plummer 10 95 Moran Crane Gully W.M.A. 18 100 W.M.A. W.M.A. Red 13 90 Hout Red Lake 15 W.M.A. Falls 58 75 108 Huot Park 80 1 Crookston 85 Voyageur’s View Clearwater Municipal Huot 11 Route Description of the Red Lake River Airport 17 220 Gervais 20 W.M.A. 59 Cyr Beau River NOTE: (R) and (L) represent right and left banks of the river when 84.7 (L) Confluence of Cyr Creek. 18 57 112 RED 25 Fisher Landing Stipa facing downstream. 75 W.M.A. 82.1-79.9(R) Part of Huot Wildlife Management Area. 11 Lower 92 Red Lake Terrebonne 212 Creek Falls 80.0 (R) Confluence of the Black River. 13 Creek Municipal 15 Fisher 2 RIVER MILE
Airport Gerlot 61 Dam Kripple 79.5 (R) Huot Park trailer access. Site of an 1863 treaty in which 30 Portage Crookston 70 Cr. River 35 61 Highway 75 right Badger 195.5 Lower Red Lake Dam at Highway 89. 223 40 45 Central Park the Ojibwe ceded almost 10 mil.acres of land. This same Burnham 11 Gentilly 188.2 Red Lake Indian Reservation Road bridge. site is the historic crossing point for the Red River oxcart RIVER Marcoux Creek 60 65 W.M.A. Creek 183.1 Dam, portage right. LAKE III 32 drivers, freighting goods between Winnipeg and St. Paul. 9 50 175.1 (R) Neptune Bridge trailer access at County Road 27. 9 55 79.0 County Road 3 bridge. 2 217 166.8 (R) County Road 3 bridge carry-in access. River RED LAKE CO. 69.8 (L) Confluence of the Gentilly River. 16 163.4 (R) High Landing trailer access at County Road 24. This site 214 POLK CO. 67.5 County Road 11 bridge. Malmberg Creek 248 46 Prairie S.N.A. is an historic timber landing from the early 1800s. Dalea 63.1 Dam, portage right. 75 W.M.A. 102 Kertsonville 158.5 County Road 23 bridge. W.M.A. 55.5 (R) Central Park trailer access, has a rest area and campsites. 2 150.6 (R) Kratka Crossing carry-in access at County Road 22 bridge. of City of Crookston. 140.9 (R) Smiley carry-in access at County Road 7 bridge. Tympanuchus Pembina 55.4 Highway 2 bridge. 9 W.M.A. Trail 128.6 (R) Centennial Park trailer access at the Highway 1 bridge. Eldred Reserve Mentor 53.8 Highway 75 bridge. S.N.A. NORTH Park has a picnic shelter, restrooms, drinking water, Dougdale Tilden 53.8 Rock riffles - rapids. DAKOTA W.M.A. W.M.A. fishing pier and public parking facilities. 51.0 (R) Highway 75 bridge trailer access. 220 Oak Ridge 128.1 (L) LaFave Beach has restrooms, drinking water, and public Marsh W.M.A. 32.7 (L) Confluence of Burnham Creek. Shypoke parking facilities. Maple W.M.A. Lake 27.9 County Road 15 bridge. Burnham Meadows 127.5 Dam, portage right. W.M.A. 27.9 (R) Fisher Landing carry-in access. Drinking water is available Trail Maple W.M.A. 123.3 (L) Thief River Falls Regional Airport. the Creek Rydell at the town of Fisher. This is an historic steamboat landing Burnham 117.1 County Road 3 bridge. W.M.A. National Climax that was greatly used in the 1800s, prior to the entrance of Godfrey Wildlife 114.8 (R) Town of St. Hilaire trailer access, camping and rest area. W.M.A. Refuge railroads at the turn of the century. Onstad Union Drinking water and supplies in town. Sand Chicog W.M.A. W.M.A. Lake 24.0 (R) Confluence of Grand Marais Creek. Woodside 114.5-66 Intermittent class I-II rapids. 32 W.M.A. 14.0 Township road bridge. 102 Creek 97.8 County Highway 32 bridge. Maple 5.6 Highway 220 bridge. 75 Kittleson Kittleson Hill Creek Lake Halverson 93.9 (L) Voyageur’s View carry-in access at County Road 3.0-0 Red River State Recreation Area. Lake 13 bridge. Lake 0.3 (R) Trailer access. River Fertile Municipal Arthur 93.0 (R) Sportsmen’s Park trailer access and the confluence of the Beltrami Liberty River 1 W.M.A. Airport 0.2 Rock riffles - rapids. North Nielsville 1 Clearwater River (river left). This park has a rest area, 1 Fertile 0.0 Trailer access. Sand Hill campsites, and drinking water. This is also an historic 0.0 Confluence with the Red River of the North. 1 sturgeon spawning site, as well as the site of the original
POLK CO. 9 Raff Red Lake Falls Sawmill. Agassiz Dunes Lake MAHNOMEN CO. S.N.A. 85.0 (R) Part of Huot Wildlife Management Area. Agassiz-Olson W.M.A. 32 Ranum W.M.A. STATE WATER TRAIL MAP A STATE WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE RED LAKE RIVER Red Lake River
The river holds a variety of secrets just waiting for you to explore. Bring your binoculars, a field guide or just your curiosity and enjoy the river’s magic.
DAVID The Red Lake River Just downstream • Get acquainted with your route. Plan your trip are estimates based on observations at low or from Huot is the Old with a map before you depart and advise moderate water levels or on secondhand reports. Marshy wilderness, flat farmland, towering Crossing Treaty State someone of your plans including planned eroded cliffs and steep, wooded banks Historical Wayside departure and arrival times. CLASS I. Easy rapids with small waves and few characterize the Red Lake River. Park, where in 1868 • Travel with a companion or group. obstructions. Warroad the Ojibway Indians • Choose a distance that is comfortable for you, CLASS II. Rapids with waves up to three feet Roseau One of the few canoeing rivers in northwest ceded almost 10 most people paddle two to three river miles per high. Some maneuvering is required. Baudette Rainy Minnesota, the Red Lake flows westward to join million acres of land hour. CLASS III. Difficult rapids with high, irregular Thief Rapid
Snake 59 the Red River in East Grand Forks. for white settlement of • Wear a U. S. Coast Guard approved personal waves capable of swamping an open canoe. North Upper Red Thief Lake the Red River Valley. flotation device that state law requires be on Narrow chutes may require extensive River Falls Lake Above the dam at river mile 181 the Red Lake This also was an board the boat for each person. maneuvering. Usually considered the limit DAVID ARSCOT DAVID VERVAIN; BLUE 75 the Red Clearwater 71 flows through marshland in the Red Lake Indian important crossing of • Bring a first aid kit that includes waterproof for an experienced paddler in an open CENTRAL PARK; DAVID ARSCOT DAVID CENTRAL PARK; Lower Red
of 2 Lake Reservation. White and yellow water lilies, wild the Red River Oxcart Trails, the tracks of which matches. canoe. rice and cattails thrive here; blackbirds, snipes, are still partially visible. • Be cautious of river obstructions, such as CLASS IV. Long, turbulent rapids with high, Sand Hill Mississippi
River Bemidji wrens, gulls, great blue herons and many ducks overhanging and dead trees. irregular waves, constricted passages, and blind • Respect private property. Stop only at Mahnomen 2 Rice inhabit the marsh. In its lower reaches the river meanders through • Bring an extra paddle in your canoe. drops. Decked canoes and kayaks only; open designated sites; much of the shoreland is Red Wild Otter Tail Buffalo Walker farmland, often screened from the river by stands • You must pack out all trash. canoes should be portaged. private property. 59 71 Leech Lake Below the dam, the river is flanked by a prairie of elm, willow and cottonwood. • Leave only footprints; take only photographs! CLASS V. Long, violent rapids with complex 10 Detroit Lakes that is at times bright with wildflowers. Trees are routes and steep drops or waterfalls. Hazard to • Be sanitary! Use designated toilet facilities or 75 52 Red Eye Pine 10 Crow Wing sparse and small on the low grassy banks. Near Wildlife along the Red Lake River is varied and Water levels can speed or slow you down. You life in the event of a mishap. Runnable only by bury human waste away from the river. High Landing the trees become larger and the abundant. Wooded bottomlands provide excellent can get information about water levels from the experts in decked boats.
“The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources river meanders through farmland; stands of habitat for wood duck and deer. Fox, grouse, regional DNR office, or check the DNR website, CLASS VI. Cannot be attempted without great is an Equal Opportunity Employer” willow, elm and cottonwood are interspersed with beaver, mink, muskrat, weasel, coyote, squirrel, or the DNR Information Center. Remember that risk to life. Sustainable Ecosystems open fields. Residential development is extensive rabbit and raccoon range through the region. much of the shorelands are privately owned. Outdoor recreation is dependent on a healthy along the banks at Thief River Falls. Bottomlands and scattered oxbows attract Respect and protect the water and shorelands. and attractive natural environment. Sustainable This information is available in alternative mallards, blue-winged teal, great blue herons, outdoor recreation enables people to enjoy the format upon request. shorebirds, owls and numerous species of Boating Information outdoors without negative impacts on the songbirds. Otters and fishers make the riverway environment. their home. • Register your watercraft. All watercraft more Communities working together can improve Minnesota State Parks and Trails than 9 feet in length, including nonmotorized Regional Unit water resources by promoting environmentally The river supports several species of game fish, canoes and kayaks, must be registered in 123 Main Ave North sensitive land use practices along rivers and Thief River Falls, MN 56701 including northern pike walleye and channel Minnesota or your state of residence. throughout watersheds. 218-681-0889 catfish. The Red Lake River is particularly noted for its channel catfish angling. Some of the most Natural shoreline buffers improve water Online water trail information and quality by filtering out pollutants and sediments. maps can be found at popular fishing areas are located below the mndnr.gov/watertrails Ottertail power dams in both Crookston and Red Healthy and diverse native shoreline plant DAVID ARSCOT DAVID OLD TREATY CROSSING PARK; DAVID ARSCOT DAVID PARK; CROSSING TREATY OLD Lake Falls, and near the junctions of the Red communities are attractive and provide important Lake with the Thief, Clearwater and Black rivers. shoreline habitat for birds and wildlife. DNR Information Center Smallmouth bass may be found in the upper The DNR’s Information Center is available to provide free publications of facilities and services as well as answers questions Below St. Hilaire the banks steepen and are reaches. Rest Areas and Camping Sites pertaining to DNR recreational opportunities in Minnesota. heavily wooded to Red Lake Falls. A chain of boulder-field rapids and pools interrupts the Red According to the most recent Minnesota • Public rest areas are available along the route to Natural 500 Lafayette Road Shorelands St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 Lake in this 17-mile stretch where the river drops Department of Health Advisory, children under rest, picnic and explore. 40% evaporation 651-296-6157 Metro Area 10% runoff 1-888-646-6367 MN Toll-Free 110 feet. six and women of child-bearing years should eat no fish from this river. Others may eat one meal a MARIA ALBY • Camp only in designated campsites, which are 50% infiltration mndnr.gov High, nearly vertical, eroded cliffs and the first month. available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Altered Shorelands of many huge slump areas are encountered near • Few portions of this water trail are suitable 30% evaporation 55% runoff Red Lake Falls. Entire hillsides have moved Planning A Safe River Trip for motor use. • Bring drinking water. It is only available at a 15% infiltration down to the river. The natural process of flood limited number of rest areas. Drinking river Red Lake River Corridor Enhancement Group and drought cycles changes the landscape A successful river trip is safe. To enjoy a safe Rating Whitewater water is not recommended, but if you do it quickly. journey, you should be prepared by doing the must be treated. following: Rivers and rapids are rated according to the
© 2016 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources International Scale of River Difficulty. Ratings