Kettle River — Rutledge to Banning State Park: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 22, 3:00 AM UTC
Too low to paddle
Not enough water to float well — expect scraping and walking. Wait for rain or a dam release.
71 cfs
3.8 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 05336700
Runnable 800 – 2,000 cfs
What this means today
At 71 cfs the Kettle River is 729 cfs short of the 800 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 barely moved, 73 cfs to 71 cfs. Daily means over the past 7 days have run between 67 cfs and 78 cfs, ending roughly where it started.
Paddling Rutledge to Banning State Park
Kettle River at Rutledge to Banning State Park is a Class II run in Minnesota — bouncy wave trains and the occasional small rapid. Most paddlers put in at Rutledge access and take out at Banning State Park (Sandstone).
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at 800–2,000 cfs. Much below that and the Kettle 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 05336700 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–July. 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 II
- Length
- —
- Float time
- —
- Best months
- April–July
- Put-in
- Rutledge access
- Take-out
- Banning State Park (Sandstone)
Reading USGS gauge 05336700 — KETTLE RIVER BELOW SANDSTONE, MN ↗
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Kettle River — Rutledge to Banning State Park?
- This section is generally runnable at 800–2,000 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 Kettle River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 05336700 — 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 Kettle River — Rutledge to Banning State Park good for beginners?
- This section is rated Class II. 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 Kettle River here?
- Typically April–July, 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.