Root River — Rushford to Houston: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Oct 17, 10:45 PM UTC
Good to paddle
Levels are within the typical runnable range for this section.
4.0 ft
887 cfs
USGS gauge 05385000
Runnable 3 – 7 ft
What this means today
At 4 ft the Root River is sitting in the middle of the 3 ft–7 ft range for this reach, with 1 ft of margin to the nearer edge — the most forgiving part of the window on the numbers alone.
Over the last 24 hours it has barely moved, 4 ft to 4 ft. Daily average flow — a different measurement from the gauge height this reach is graded on — has run between 823 cfs and 902 cfs, ending roughly where it started.
Paddling Rushford to Houston
Root River at Rushford to Houston is a Class I run in Minnesota — easygoing moving water with light riffles and nothing technical. Most paddlers put in at Rushford access and take out at Houston (Root River access).
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at 3–7 ft. Much below that and the Root 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 05385000 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–October. 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–October
- Put-in
- Rushford access
- Take-out
- Houston (Root River access)
Reading USGS gauge 05385000 — ROOT RIVER NEAR HOUSTON, MN ↗
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Root River — Rushford to Houston?
- This section is generally runnable at 3–7 ft. 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 Root River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 05385000 — 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 Root River — Rushford to Houston 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 Root River here?
- Typically April–October, 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.