| Difficulty | I-II |
| Length | 8.2 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 13 fpm |
| Gauge | Grindstone River Virtual Gauge |
| Flow Rate as of 48 minutes | 24 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 16, 2025 |
River Description
A fine float trip from below the Hinckley Dam to the confluence with the Kettle River (with another 1.6 miles paddle-out on that to the public landing on Hwy.48). There appear to be numerous areas of shoals which should create fine riffles and rips, perhaps waves and even legitimate rapids at good flows.
We have no first-hand information nor reports regarding this run. Have you paddled it? Help out your fellow boaters with a comment or report! (Photos or videos are a bonus!)
River Features
Drainage: ~77 sq.mi.
OtherDistance: -0.01 mi
At our listed put-in, drainage area is about 77 square miles (as calculated by USGS StreamStats 4.0 Beta Software). Just before the confluence with the Kettle River drainage has increased to about 87 square miles.
Put In
Access PointDistance: 0 mi
Take Dunn Avenue north in Hinckley to get to the the parking and a short carry to put in below the dam.
Hwy.48 / Fire Monument Road (Second Crossing)
OtherDistance: 4.82 mi
The gradient above this point has been ~10 FPM. From here to the confluence with the Kettle River it increases to ~23 FPM.
Those seeking a shorter trip, with the best gradient, may wish to start their trip here.
Kettle River Confluence
OtherDistance: 6.55 mi
The Grindstone merges into the Kettle River. All the gradient is spent, and it's a flatwater float the remaining distance to the take-out.
NOTE: there is discrepency (not just on this listing, but in general) between the software used by AW to calculate distances downriver, versus other means (E.G.,via GoogleMaps). GoogleMaps puts the confluence at 6.79 miles (rather than 6.55), and the take-out landing at 8.44 miles (meaning just 1.65 miles on the Kettle to the take-out).
Take Out
Access PointDistance: 8.41 mi
A fine launch/landing site at the bridge on MN-48 acts as take-out for this run, and provides simple straight-line return to Dunn Avenue in Hinckley to return to the parking area at the dam.
Trip Reports
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