Long Prairie River — Long Prairie to Motley: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 25, 8:15 PM UTC
Too low to paddle
Not enough water to float well — expect scraping and walking. Wait for rain or a dam release.
48 cfs
1.5 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 05245100
Runnable 53 – 650 cfs
What this means today
At 48 cfs the Long Prairie River is 5 cfs short of the 53 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, 48 cfs to 48 cfs. Daily means over the past 7 days have run between 47 cfs and 54 cfs, 13% lower at the end of the week than the start.
Paddling Long Prairie to Motley
Long Prairie River at Long Prairie to Motley is a Class I run in Minnesota — easygoing moving water with light riffles and nothing technical. Most paddlers put in at Long Prairie access and take out at Motley area access.
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at 53–650 cfs. Much below that and the Long Prairie 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 05245100 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
- Long Prairie access
- Take-out
- Motley area access
Reading USGS gauge 05245100 — LONG PRAIRIE RIVER AT LONG PRAIRIE, MN ↗
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Long Prairie River — Long Prairie to Motley?
- This section is generally runnable at 53–650 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 Long Prairie River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 05245100 — 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 Long Prairie River — Long Prairie to Motley 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 Long Prairie 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.