St. Louis River
St. Louis / Carlton Co. · 192 mi · Class I–IV
1,870CFS/ 3.91 ft
Optimal→Stable
Water temp: 36°F — Hypothermia risk, wear a drysuit
Optimal: 1,000–5,000 CFS · USGS #04024000
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Jay Cooke State Park · St. Louis River National Water Trail
The St. Louis River crashes through Jay Cooke State Park in a series of dramatic Class III–IV rapids over tilted slate ledges before emptying into Lake Superior at Duluth. The largest U.S. tributary to Lake Superior, it offers everything from remote flatwater canoeing in its upper reaches to serious whitewater in the gorge below Thomson Dam.
Trip sections
Thomson Dam to Jay Cooke — 8 mi, Class III–IV, premier whitewater
Jay Cooke to Fond du Lac — 10 mi, Class II, slate gorge
Upper St. Louis — Forbes to Floodwood, 50 mi, Class I flatwater
Outfitters
Spirit of the Land Outfitters
St. Louis River kayak rentals and guided trips from Duluth
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPSLoading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
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Your Optimal Range
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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.