Vermilion River
vermilion RIVER Overview
The Vermilion River, located in the far north of Minnesota, flows forty miles northward from Lake Vermilion to Crane Lake. The long quiet stretches of the river have little current. However some stretches have large rapids and waterfalls. There are portages at Vermilion Dam, Shively Falls, Everett Rapids, Table Rock Falls, Belgium Fred's rapids, DaCaigny Rapids, Chipmunk Falls, High Falls, the Chute, and the Gorge. Some of these portages are long, but all are well worn. Rapids along the river are rated from Class I to Class VI.
vermilion River Character
Since the Vermillion River receives much of its flow from Vermilion Lake, the river rises and falls slowly, usually remaining paddable well into autumn. Most rapids in the river are runnable if the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge below the Vermilion Dam reads above 4 feet. The middle and lower rapids of the Vermilion River may be runnable below 4 feet if heavy rains have swollen the river's tributaries. Quiet sections of the river are runnable well below 4 feet. The drainage area of the river is 903 square miles.
vermilion river Landscape
A dense forest of pine, spruce, fir, aspen and birch covers the Vermilion River watershed. Cliffs and other exposures of bedrock often flank the river's edge. Bluffs will occasionally rise more than 100 feet above the river. Resorts and cabins at Vermillion and Crane lakes and the town of Buyck are the most significant areas of development near the river. Two bridges and a few cabins and farms are scattered along the rest of the river. Most of the Vermilion River appears very wild. The bedrock of the Vermilion watershed consists of a variety of lower Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks, including biotite schist and granite. Glacial drift is thin and outcrops are common.
vermilion river Fish and Wildlife
Smallmouth bass, walleyes, northern pike and rock bass are common. Muskies and crappies have been reported.
Timber wolves, moose, black bears, beavers, otters, bald eagles and osprey are occasionally sighted. White-tailed deer are common.
vermilion river History
The Vermilion River, developed as a principal fur trade route by the French in the 1700's, was part of a system that linked Canada, Lake Superior, and the Mississippi River valley. The area was the scene of fierce competition between British and American fur companies. Posts were established on Vermilion and Crane Lakes. News of gold in the area in 1865 spurred some of the best-known persons in state politics and business to organize companies such as the Mutual Protection Gold Miners Company of Minnesota, the Vermilion Falls Gold Mining Company and the Minnesota Gold Mining Company. Vermilion River canoeing Gold seekers staked out claims, sunk shafts and tunneled into hillsides in a nearly fruitless search for gold-laden veins of quartz. Iron mining, a more productive venture, began in the 1880's. The last shipment of iron ore was mined in 1967. Logging prospered in the early 1900's. The Virginia and Rainy Lake Company, touted as "the largest, most modern and complete lumber plant in the world," was established in Virginia in 1908. The mill covered one square mile and at its peak produced 300 million board feet of lumber in a year as 3,000 men worked year-round cutting timber. Company railroads reached all the way to the Canadian border. The company sawed its last login the area in 1929.
vermilion river Map
geoPDF map of the Vermilion River
vermilion River Gauges
Vermilion River at Buyck, CSAH 24
(RM 26.4)
Vermillion River near Crane Lake, MN
(RM 3.9)
vermilion river Shuttle and Rental Services
7255 Crane Lake Road, Crane Lake, MN 55725; 800-777-7186. A full-service outfitter including canoe rental, van shuttle service, trip outfitting and bunk accommodations. Also serves Little Fork River & BWCA.
29755 State Highway 38, Grand Rapids, MN; 55744; 218-326-9866. Ten canoes for rent. No shuttling. Some camping gear and food. Also serves Big Fork, Cloquet, Little Fork, Mississippi, and Saint Louis Rivers.
Vermilion River Cottages & Outfitters
7494 County Road 422, Buyck, MN 55771-8477; 800-628-1438 or 218-666-2444. Canoe rental and shuttle service.
vermilion River trips
No trips are shown for the first 5 miles of the river, upstream of the rivers confluence with Crane Lake, due to the waterfalls, gorges, and rapids that occur during that stretch.
The first suggested trip, due to its nearly 20 mile length, is probably best suited for an overnight excursion at one of the two campsites available on the river. This is truly some remote and beautiful country for such an adventure, but you should also be prepared for a portage of over one-half mile. You put in at Buyck Landing (RM 26.4) (R) located at the County Road 24 bridge and start your float down the river. At the confluence of the Pelican River (RM 21.2) (L), paddle one-half mile up the Pelican to see a rapids and a waterfall. You will need to portage left, 990 yards, at the Chipmunk Falls (RM 19.5), a Class II boulder bed pitch rapids. Along the way you will see ruins of the Vermilion spur of the Virginia and Rainy Lake Company railroad (RM 18.8), and pilings (RM 17.4) mark the spot where pine logs were once stopped by boom logs and loaded onto railroad cars. The Snowshoe Narrows (RM 16.5), are some pine covered cliffs and hills nearly 100 feet high flanking the river. A USFS watercraft campsite is on the right. The bluffs then receded and rice beds line the river for the next several miles. Additional campsites are available at river right (RM 12.8). Several creeks intersect the Vermilion River; Wagner Creek (RM 14.3) (L), Bug Creek (RM 14.3) (L), Flap Creek (RM 9.1) (R), and the confluence of Holmes Creek (RM 6.6) (R). You paddle a short distance up Holmes Creek to the watercraft access take out spot. A 10.7 mile long bicycle shuttle takes about 1 hour and 23 minutes by vehicle. The river gradient from the put in point to Chipmunk Falls is 0.6 feet per mile, and a leisurely 0.3 feet per mile below the falls to the take out point.
The second trip is an 8.2 mile long float in which you will encounter two sets of rapids that require portages. You put in just below the Table Rocks Falls (a 20 foot cascade with vertical ledges - Class III - IV) (RM 31.8 - 30.9) at the County Road 24 watercraft campsite and carry in access (RM 30.7) and start your float downstream. You will need to portage left for 220 yards around the Belguim Fred's Rapids (RM 29.3), a short Class I boulder bed pitch. DeCaigny Rapids (RM 26.8), a Class I boulder bed pitch, also requires a portage right of 330 yards. You could take out at the County 24 bridge at Buyck access (RM 26.4) (R) but I suggest you keep going downstream until the confluence of the Pelican River (RM 21.2) (L) where you travel upstream one-half mile to view its rapids and waterfall. At this point, paddle back upstream a bit over a mile. Although it is not shown as an official river access point, there appears to be good river access (RM 22.5~) (L) available for take out. The river gradient for this trip averages 1.4 feet per mile but I suspect most of that drop occurs at the two rapids which require portages. The bicycle shuttle is 7.9 miles long and takes 21 minutes.
The next, and last, suggested segment is part of the Vermilion River known as the "Chain of Lakes". The Table Rock Falls (a 20 foot cascade with vertical ledges - Class III - IV) (RM 31.8 - 30.9) and canyon narrow the river at this point and create a near like reservoir upstream of it giving the area an appearance of a series of interconnected lakes. A series of big rapids and waterfalls forms the areas upstream end (RM 39.4). This "Chain of Lakes" can be fished somewhat like a lake or reservoir as there is very little river gradient compared to what lies above and below this tranquil area. Although you may not find a lot of smallmouth bass in this area, the ones you do catch tend to be big. A recent MNDNR fish sampling survey caught a 20.9" smallie in this area. You can put in at Two Mile Creek landing (RM 38.0) (L). The landing is at the Country Road 422 bridge over the creek and you paddle about 1.5 miles down the creek to access the Vermilion River. On the far north side of the "Chain of Lakes), before you get to near the Table Rock Falls, paddle upstream about 1/3 mile on the Eight mile Creek (RM 32.0) (L) and take out at the carry in access landing at the County Road 24 bridge. This gives you at least 8 miles of "river" to fish at your leisure. This is a 5.4 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 30 minutes.
Above the "Chain of Lakes" is a long series of big rapids and waterfalls which cascade out of Vermilion Lake at the Vermilion Dam (RM 42.3). Vermilion Lake it should be noted, is a world class smallmouth bass fishery.