Rum River
rum RIVER Overview
The Rum River winds it way south from Lake Mille Lacs 145 miles to its confluence with the Mississippi river in the City of Anoka (the Rum River crosses US Hwy 169 six times from Mille Lacs to Anoka). Enjoy smallmouth bass angling along the river and northern pike near the headwaters as you fish in your canoe or kayak. The Rum River is designated as a wild and scenic river. Water levels are usually sufficient for paddling, with Class I to Class II rapids throughout the summer.
rum River Character
A number of rocky boulder beds may present a challenge to beginning paddlers, especially in its upper reaches, although they would mostly be Class I, with a few Class II pitches occurring during periods of high water flows. Several dams must be portaged and caution should be used to avoid snags and overhanging trees. Some stretches of the river can not be easily paddled due to the high number of fallen trees which may block river passage. The river varies in width from 20 to over 100 feet. Stream flow typically peaks in mid March, with spring runoff causing the greatest flows. Water level is usually sufficient for paddling throughout the summer. The river gradient can be quite high on its upper stretches but lessons as it flows closer to its confluence with the Mississippi River.
rum river Landscape
The Rum River passes extensive backwaters and marshes, sandy upland plains, farmland and bottom lands covered with maple, elm and other hardwoods. Small strands of red and white pine near the river's lowest reaches are what remain of the once vast pine forests. Mille Lacs Lake was formed from the last glacial retreat. From the lake the river flows through mostly glacial outwash plain, with geology typical to that of Central Minnesota's glacial topography.
rum river Fish and Wildlife
Smallmouth bass are very popular to anglers along the Rum River. Northern pike are also common near the headwaters. Finding Walleye is not uncommon from Princeton to Anoka.
White-tailed deer, gray and fox squirrels, cottontail rabbits and snowshoe hares, beavers, minks, muskrats, raccoons, loons, great blue herons can also be found along the rivers course. Songbirds are plentiful along the whole route, as well as waterfowl nesting areas in the headwaters region.
rum river History
The upper valley of the Rum River has one of the highest concentration of prehistoric sites in Minnesota. This area is rich with Indian history, dating back to more than 3000 years ago. Burial mounds, ricing pits, copper tools, and other artifacts have been found throughout the area. Early White/Indian intervention played an important role in the settlement of this area by white men. The French, instigated fights between the Ojibwe and Dakota Indians so as to ally themselves with the Ojibwe. Fur trading was the early push for settlement in the area, and later efforts turned towards lumbering, which quickly established settlements throughout the area.
rum river Map
geoPDF map of the Rum River
rum River Gauges
(RM 142.5)
Rum River near St. Francis, MN
(RM 16.3)
rum river Shuttle and Rental Services
27437 Palm Street Northwest, Isanti, MN 55040; 763-444-9626. Canoe and tube rental, campground, and shuttle service from Lake Mille Lacs to mile marker 30 on County Road 68, just south of Isanti.
15066 Kathio Park Road, Onamia, MN 56359; 320-532-3523. Canoe rental only for the state park. No shuttles.
rum River trips
The first suggested trip is putting in at the Timber Rivers Park carry in access (RM 9.0~) (L) and floating down about 8 miles to the Anoka Dam (RM 0.8) and taking out just prior to going over it. The river gradient for this stretch is about 0.8 feet per mile. The bicycle shuttle is 7.2 miles long and takes 38 minutes.
This float could also be shortened to about 5.6 miles if you put in at the Andover City Park carry in access (RM 5.7) (L) and take out at the Anoka Dam (RM 0.8). Again, the river gradient is a leisurely 0.8 feet per mile. The bicycle shuttle is 4.3 miles long taking 23 minutes.
Another short float is the 5.3 mile long trip starting off from the Rum River Central County Park north access (RM 14.3) (R) and taking out at the Timber Rivers Park carry in access (RM 9.0) (L). This is a 3 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 17 minutes. The river gradient is 0.8 feet per mile.
The above float could also be extended to be a 8.6 mile long trip by taking out at the Andover City Park carry in access (RM 5.7) (L). Again, this is a nice slow float with a 1 foot per mile drop. A bicycle shuttle is 4.6 miles and takes 24 minutes.
The Rum River Central County Park offers you the potential to do a short 4 mile float all within the park. You put in at the north trailer access (RM 14.3) (R) and take out at the carry in access (RM 10.3 (R) on the southwest part of the park. This has a slow 0.5 foot per mile gradient and the bicycle shuttle is a short 0.7 miles long taking 3 minutes. This route can also be walked in 13 minutes. This was my first ever river float in a kayak and I ended up doing a shuttle walk. This first float of mine also made me aware that just because a river may have a minimal gradient it can still be flowing quite fast if the river levels are high.
A 9.2 mile long trip can be accomplished by putting in at the Rum River North County Park access (RM 23.5) (L) in St. Francis and taking out at the Rum River Central County Park (RM 14.3) north trailer access. The river picks up its pace during this stretch with a river gradient of 3.7 feet per mile. The bicycle shuttle is 7.9 miles long and takes 42 minutes. The north half of this float can also be viewed by utilizing Google Streetview as some creative boaters took GPS referenced photos of their trip on this portion of the river.
If you're looking for a long float, you could put in at the Cambridge West Park carry in access (RM 42.5) (R) and float the 19 miles down to the Rum River North County Park access (RM 23.5) (L) in St. Francis. This long stretch has an average 0.8 foot per mile river gradient. The bicycle shuttle is 17.7 miles long and takes 1:28 to complete. Since that is a long bicycle shuttle you may want to consider a vehicle shuttle which would take 25 minutes.
Another float to consider is starting at Martin's Landing trailer access (RM 34.7) (L) and floating down to and floating down to the Rum River North County Park access (RM 23.5) (L) in St. Francis. This is a 11.2 mile long trek with a slow river gradient of 1 foot per mile. The bicycle shuttle is 10.8 miles long and takes 54 minutes. The south half of this float can also be viewed by utilizing Google Streetview as some creative boaters took GPS referenced photos of their trip on this portion of the river.
Putting in the Cambridge West Park carry in access (RM 42.5) (R) and floating down to Martin's Landing trailer access (RM 34.7) (L) gives you a 7.8 mile long trip with a lazy 0.5 foot per mile river gradient. The bicycle shuttle is 7.7 miles long and takes 40 minutes.
Another option in this area is to put in at the Becklin Homestead County Park carry in access (RM 51.6) (R) and take out 9.1 miles later at the Cambridge West Park carry in access (RM 42.5) (R). This stretch has a 0.9 foot per mile river gradient. The bicycle shuttle is 3.6 miles long and takes 18 minutes.
The above two float could also be combined for a 14.3 mile long trip. Put in at the Walbo Ferry Trailer Access (RM 56.8) (R) and take out at the Cambridge West Park carry in access (RM 42.5) (R). The average river gradient for this trip is 1 foot per mile. The bicycle shuttle is 4.8 miles long and takes 25 minutes.
Even though you will be close to the City of Cambridge on this float this will feel like you're in some back country water. The 7.1 mile long float puts in at the County Road 14 carry in access (RM 49.6) (R) and the take out is at the Cambridge West Park carry in access (RM 42.5) (R). The bicycle shuttle is a short 3.3 miles long taking 17 minutes. The river meanders at a slow 0.8 feet per mile gradient.
This is a short 7.2 mile long float from the Walbo Ferry Trailer Access (RM 56.8) (R) to the County Road 14 carry in access (RM 49.6) (R). Again, the river leisurely runs at 1.1 feet per mile gradient. The bicycle shuttle is 6.5 miles long and takes about 33 minutes.
The next float puts in at the County Road 7 bridge trailer access (RM 71.2) and you float 14.4 miles to the Walbo Ferry Trailer Access (RM 56.8) (R). During periods of high water watch out for the low bridge at the State Hwy 47 crossing. The bicycle shuttle is 9.6 miles long and takes 48 minutes. The river is a lazy 1.4 foot per mile drop.
The last float could also be made into a shorter 6.1 mile long float by putting in at the State Hwy 47 crossing (RM 62.9) and floating down to the Walbo Ferry Trailer Access (RM 56.8). The river has a 1.4 foot per mile gradient. The bicycle shuttle is 4.3 miles and takes about 23 minutes.
Another float to consider is a long 16.7 mile float starting at the Princeton City Park carry in access (RM 87.9) (R) and ending at the County Road 7 bridge trailer access (RM 71.2). The river meanders at a calm 1.2 foot per mile river gradient on this stretch. A bicycle shuttle is 9.3 miles long and takes about 45 minutes.
From Bear Bottoms watercraft campsites (RM 95.1) to Princeton (RM 88.0) the Rum River loses much of the steep gradient seen in its upper reaches. However the calm meandering stream is also subjected to numerous log jams and snags so paddling is not recommended, unless you carry a chainsaw and are willing to make numerous portages. However, south of Princeton to Anoka the river offers a variety of river floats depending upon how long of a trip you want to do and some excellent smallmouth bass angling!
A 10.3 mile long float can be done by putting in downstream of the Milica Dam (RM 111.5) and floating to the County Road 12 bridge (90th St) (RM 101.2) - This float could also be shortened to a 7.6 mile long trip by taking out at the County Road 4 carry in access (RM 103.9) (L). The river gradient is 6.4 feet per mile. A bicycle shuttle for the 10.3 mile trip is 9.7 miles long taking 49 minutes while the bicycle shuttle for the 7.6 mile long trip is 7.4 miles long and takes about 38 minutes.
A short float can be done from the County Road 11 (190th St) bridge (RM 118.0) to the Milica Municipal Park carry in access (RM 111.5) (L) which is where the Milica Dam is also located. This is a 6.7 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 35 minutes. The river gradient is 8.6 feet per mile.
A 9.8 mile long trip can be accomplished by starting at the Wayside carry in access (RM 127.8) (L) and floating down to the County Road 11 (190th St) bridge (RM 118.0). Along the way you'll pass by the County Road 16 (220th St) bridge (RM 122.2) and encounter the Old Whitney Log Dam (RM 121.0) where you should use caution. This trip has an average 7 feet per mile drop. The bicycle shuttle is 8 miles long and takes 42 minutes.
The two trips above could also be combined to form a 16.3 mile long float starting at the Wayside carry in access (RM 127.8) (L) and floating down to Milica City Park (RM 111.5) (L). This longer trip has an average river gradient of 7.7 feet per mile. The bicycle shuttle is 12.3 miles long and takes about 64 minutes. A vehicle shuttle would take 12 minutes (one way).
A trip to consider is putting in at the County Road 65 (320th St) (RM 135.9) and paddling the 8.1 miles down to the Wayside carry in access (RM 127.8) (L). Again, you will pass under the US Hwy 169 bridge just prior to taking out. This is a 6.5 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 34 minutes. The river gradient is 7 feet per mile.
A suggested trip is a short 5 mile float starting at US Hwy 169 bridge (RM 140.9) (R) just south of Onamia. The take out spot is at County Road 65 (320th St) (RM 135.9). You will pass under US Hwy 169 two times on this short run. Once at RM 139.5 and again at RM 136.2. Right before the second crossing you will also encounter the Bradbury Rapids (RM 136.2). Use caution as these rapids can be Class I to Class II depending up water levels. The river gradient is 4.4 feet per mile and the bicycle shuttle is only 3.5 miles long taking 17 minutes.
The two trips above could also be combined into a 13.1 mile long trip, putting in at the US Hwy 169 bridge (RM 140.9) and paddling down to the Wayside carry in access (RM 127.8) (L). This is a 9.8 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 49 minutes along US Hwy 169. The average river gradient is 6 feet per mile for this trip. You would pass under Hwy 169 three times and encounter the Class I to ClassII Bradbury Rapids (RM 136.2).
Due to frequent dams and required portages no float trips are shown at this time for the Rum River from Lake Mille Lacs (RM 153.2) to US Hwy 169 (RM 140.9) located just south of Onamia.