St. Paul, MN · river · best for intermediates
Mississippi River — Hidden Falls
A surprisingly wild stretch of the Mississippi below the Ford Dam, with wooded bluffs, sandbars, and eagles. Current is real — plan a shuttle or paddle upstream first.
Weather comparison · not a safety rating
Favorable weather
Weather score out of 100
Weather only. River flow, dam releases, water temperature and local hazards are not included in this number. Check the local guidance below.
Weather observation: Mon, 19 Oct 2026 03:30:00 GMT.
River observation: Mon, 19 Oct 2026 03:00:00 GMT.
Page checked: Mon, 19 Oct 2026 03:50:00 GMT. Readings older than one hour are not used for the current score.
Wind
4 mph
gusting to 12 mph
Air temp
53°F
0% chance of rain
River flow
5,830 cfs
normal for this date
Weather outlook
Monday · 100
Sun
65
69°
Mon
100
67°
Best
Tue
79
67°
Wed
81
72°
Thu
93
74°
Fri
46
71°
Sat
52
67°
Compares forecast wind, air temperature and rain. Does not assess river flow, swell, currents, water temperature or launch access. All times are local to this location.
Wind, next 12 hours
mph| Hour | Wind (mph) | Gusts (mph) |
|---|---|---|
| 10p | 6 | 15 |
| 11p | 3 | 10 |
| 12a | 5 | 9 |
| 1a | 3 | 7 |
| 2a | 3 | 8 |
| 3a | 5 | 9 |
| 4a | 2 | 6 |
| 5a | 3 | 3 |
| 6a | 2 | 2 |
| 7a | 2 | 3 |
| 8a | 2 | 2 |
| 9a | 1 | 2 |
Is this flow normal for October 19?
Today's 5,830 cfs is 18% below the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.
The median flow on this date is 7,150 cfs, across 133 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.
Why this score
- Wind — 4 mph — light wind at the forecast location±0
- Cold — 53°F air temperature — cool weather; water temperature is not measured-11
Launch notes
Concrete ramp at Hidden Falls Regional Park, north gate. Watch for barge traffic in the main channel.
Do your own homework
We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.
- Paddler discussion on Reddit
Trip reports and local warnings, straight from the source
- Search American Whitewater
Rapid classifications and gauge-linked run descriptions
- Satellite view and access roads
Check parking, put-ins, and what the banks actually look like
- Video from this water
The fastest way to see the character of a run before you drive
- USGS gauge 05331000
Full hydrograph, historical flows, and station metadata