Canoeing The Red Lake River

INTERACTIVE MAP MENU

Use your mouse to point and click on a location along the river for a more detailed map and description of that river segment. The river trail is broken into seven segment maps: (1) Lower Red Lake To High Landing, (2) High Landing to Thief River Falls, (3) Thief River Falls to Red Lake Falls, (4) Red Lake Falls to Huot, (5) Huot to Crookston, (6) Crookston to Fisher, and (7) Fisher to East Grand Forks. Also, mouse over and click on Thief River Falls, Red Lake Falls, Crookston, and East Grand Forks for more detailed maps of the cities.

For a comprehensive table of point-to-point distances click here.
Red River Canoe and Boat Route St. Hilaire Map Click for Information Click for Information Click for Information Click for Information Click for Information Red River Canoe and Boat Route Pine to Prairie Birding Trail East Grand Forks/Red River Greenway East Grand Forks/Red River Greenway The Nature Conservancy's Glacial Ridge Project The Nature Conservancy's Glacial Ridge Project Thief River Falls Red Lake Falls Crookston Crookston Red Lake Falls Thief River Falls Fisher to East Grand Forks Crookston to Fisher Huot to Crookston Red Lake Falls to Huot Thief River Falls to Red Lake Falls High Landing to Thief River Falls Lower Red Lake To High Landing
Segments

Distance
(km / mi)

 Comments (Huot-Vickery ©)
excerpts from "The Red Lake River" - 2001 - in green
Red Lake River
308 / 191
The Red Lake River--with its length, wildlife habitat, rapids, history, and natural beauty--is one of the finest rivers in Minnesota. The river drains a watershed of nearly 6000 square miles and is the largest tributary and sub basin of the Red River of the North in the United States.
Lower Red Lake to High Landing
52 / 32
The river begins at an outlet along the west shore of Lower Red Lake (remnant of glacial Lake Agassiz) in Clearwater County. The first 15 miles of the river flow west/northwest through a vast marshland, known by some as part of the "Big Bog," where gulls, snipe, blackbirds, herons, and other birds are abundant. Stretches have been channelized. Soon the river passes through prairie with scattered trees then begins to wind through farmland near High Landing. The portion of the river within the Red Lake Indian Reservation is not open to the public.
High Landing to Thief River Falls
52 / 33
Continuing westward the river passes through more farms, scattered riparian areas, and shoreline woods of elm, willow, and oak for over 20 miles; recently great blue herons, Franklin's gulls, and bald eagles were seen along this stretch. Current speeds in the last stretch (about 2 miles) of this segment slow dramatically as backwater effects occur due to the hydro-electric dam in Thief River Falls.
Thief River Falls to Red Lake Falls
57 / 36
Reaching Thief River Falls, where the Thief River enters the Red Lake River from the north, the Red Lake River turns abruptly south where it begins flowing through a "gorge" of gravel, sand, and boulders of an ancient Lake Agassiz beach (Campbell Beach). Bluff and cliffs, some 80 feet high, and slump areas line the banks. The river's average gradient of about 2 feet/mile increases to 8 feet/mile. There are intermittent Class I-II rapids for about 20 miles from St. Hilaire to Red Lake Falls, where the Clearwater River enters the Red Lake River.
Red Lake Falls to Huot
22 / 13.5
Downstream of Red Lake Falls there are more scattered rapids for another 25 miles to approximately the mouth of Gentilly Creek. Parks in Red Lake Falls and in Huot provide easy access and camping amenities. This section is perhaps one of the more beautiful sections of the river.
Huot to Crookston
36 / 23
Here the river flattens out into the low plains of farmland where, for 65 miles, the slow, turbid river is nevertheless often lined by woods. Meanders increase and water current slows. Currently there is limited access between the endpoints, but one bridge crossing at County Hwy. 11 provides carry-in possibilities. Watch for a dam to portage at ~RM 63.
Crookston to Fisher
43 / 27
This section only has public access in Crookston and Fisher. The distance is possible to cover by canoe in a very long day. Small motorboat use is recommended because of the distance. Fishing is excellent below the dam in Crookston and near the rock riffles in town (walleye, pike, smallmouth bass, catfish, drum, suckers, and goldeye).
Fisher to East Grand Forks
46 / 29

At the end of this section, the river enters the Red River of the North at East Grand Forks-Grand Forks on the Minnesota-North Dakota border. This section also currently has no public access between communities. The distance is possible to cover by canoe in a very long day. Small motorboat use is recommended because of the distance.