Little Fork River — Big Falls to Littlefork: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 19, 9:30 AM UTC
Too low to paddle
Not enough water to float well — expect scraping and walking. Wait for rain or a dam release.
90 cfs
2.2 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 05131500
Runnable 400 – 2,100 cfs
What this means today
At 90 cfs the Little Fork River is 310 cfs short of the 400 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, 97 cfs to 90 cfs. Daily means over the past 7 days have run between 67 cfs and 94 cfs, 26% higher at the end of the week than the start.
Paddling Big Falls to Littlefork
Little Fork River at Big Falls to Littlefork is a Class II run in Minnesota — bouncy wave trains and the occasional small rapid. Most paddlers put in at Big Falls access and take out at Littlefork access.
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at 400–2,100 cfs. Much below that and the Little Fork 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 05131500 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 May–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 II
- Length
- —
- Float time
- —
- Best months
- May–September
- Put-in
- Big Falls access
- Take-out
- Littlefork access
Reading USGS gauge 05131500 — LITTLE FORK RIVER AT LITTLEFORK, MN ↗
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Little Fork River — Big Falls to Littlefork?
- This section is generally runnable at 400–2,100 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 Little Fork River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 05131500 — 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 Little Fork River — Big Falls to Littlefork 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 Little Fork River here?
- Typically May–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.