West Fork Des Moines River — Windom to Jackson: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 27, 2:00 PM UTC
Too low to paddle
Not enough water to float well — expect scraping and walking. Wait for rain or a dam release.
13 cfs
6.6 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 05476000
Runnable 75 – 1,800 cfs
What this means today
At 13 cfs the Des Moines River is 62 cfs short of the 75 cfs this reach needs to float — that is the gap between today's reading and the bottom of the runnable range, not a small margin you can paddle through.
Over the last 24 hours it has gone from 14 cfs to 13 cfs, 10% down. Daily means over the past 7 days have run between 14 cfs and 21 cfs, 32% lower at the end of the week than the start.
Paddling West Fork Windom to Jackson
Des Moines River at West Fork Windom to Jackson is a Class I run in Minnesota — easygoing moving water with light riffles and nothing technical. Most paddlers put in at Windom access and take out at Jackson (river access).
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at 75–1,800 cfs. Much below that and the Des Moines 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 05476000 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
- Windom access
- Take-out
- Jackson (river access)
Reading USGS gauge 05476000 — DES MOINES RIVER AT JACKSON, MN ↗
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling West Fork Des Moines River — Windom to Jackson?
- This section is generally runnable at 75–1,800 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 Des Moines River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 05476000 — 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 West Fork Des Moines River — Windom to Jackson 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 Des Moines 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.