Cedar River — Austin to Lansing: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Oct 17, 1:00 PM UTC
High — use caution — rising fast
Flows are above the comfortable range. Expect strong current, pushy water, cold temperatures and fewer places to stop. Experienced paddlers only — many should wait.
690 cfs
4.4 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 05457000
Runnable 50 – 1,670 cfs
What this means today
the Cedar River is at 690 cfs right now, inside the range for this reach — but it is rising fast enough that the number above is not the number you will put on the water. On a reach climbing this quickly, check it again immediately before you launch.
Over the last 24 hours it has gone from 516 cfs to 690 cfs, 34% up. Daily means over the past 7 days have run between 272 cfs and 574 cfs, 72% higher at the end of the week than the start.
Paddling Austin to Lansing
Cedar River at Austin to Lansing is a Class I run in Minnesota — easygoing moving water with light riffles and nothing technical. Most paddlers put in at Austin (Ramsey Mill Pond) and take out at Lansing access.
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at 50–1,670 cfs. Much below that and the Cedar River gets low and bony, so you end up scraping gravel and walking the shallows; well above the top of the range it turns fast, cold and pushy, which is a more serious day than most casual boaters want. We read USGS gauge 05457000 about every 30 minutes and compare the live number to that window, so the verdict at the top of this page reflects conditions right now rather than a monthly average.
Flows here are usually most dependable April–September. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt, and late summer often drops too low to float well — but the gauge always beats the calendar, so check today's reading before you go.
7-day flow trend
Section facts
- Difficulty
- Class I
- Length
- —
- Float time
- —
- Best months
- April–September
- Put-in
- Austin (Ramsey Mill Pond)
- Take-out
- Lansing access
Reading USGS gauge 05457000 — CEDAR RIVER NEAR AUSTIN, MN ↗
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Cedar River — Austin to Lansing?
- This section is generally runnable at 50–1,670 cfs. Below that it gets too low and bony; well above the top of the range it becomes pushy and then dangerous. We compare the live USGS reading to that range to produce today's verdict.
- How do I check Cedar River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 05457000 — the same public data USGS publishes — about every 30 minutes and compare it to the runnable range for this reach. You can also view the raw gauge yourself at waterdata.usgs.gov.
- Is Cedar River — Austin to Lansing good for beginners?
- This section is rated Class I. At good levels it suits confident beginners and up, but it can have riffles or small rapids. Scout anything you can't see, and stay off it at high water.
- When is the best time to paddle Cedar River here?
- Typically April–September, when flows are most reliable for this section. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt; late summer can drop too low. Always check today's gauge reading rather than assuming.