Root River
Fillmore / Houston Co. · 80 mi · Class I
1,950CFS/ 5.59 ft
Above Optimal
Stable
Optimal: 200–1200 CFS · USGS #05385000
Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification·Know this river?
80 mi
Length
Class I
Difficulty
200–1200 cfs
Optimal
580 cfs
Avg Flow
522 cfs
Hist. Median
#05385000
USGS Gauge
Root River State Trail · Minnesota Driftless Area

Southeast Minnesota's Driftless Area gem — the Root River winds through the unglaciated blufflands of Fillmore and Houston counties, past the artsy town of Lanesboro and along the Root River State Trail. Spring-fed tributaries support a thriving brown trout fishery in one of the Midwest's most scenic landscapes. The Root River Trail parallels the river, making bike-and-paddle combos a local tradition.

Trip sections
Chatfield to Lanesboro — 25 mi, blufflands, best scenery
Lanesboro to Whalan — 10 mi, trail corridor, artsy town
Whalan to Houston — 30 mi, wider valley, bluff country
Outfitters
Root River Outfitters
Canoe, kayak, and tube rentals in Lanesboro
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality

River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.