Otter Creek

Put in: 46.660924,-92.424474

County Road 1 in Carlton, also called 3rd Street. Park on road (shoulder) or at Munger Trail Parking Lot.

Take Out: 46.65359,-92.370479

To run Otter Creek only, take out at the Willard Munger bridge and hike to UMD/KCI parking lot.

Or (likely) continue your run with the Lower St. Louis River down to Swing Bridge in Jay Cooke State Park.

Length: About 1.3 miles (Otter Creek only).

Class: II-III at low/medium flows. Class III-IV- at very high flows

Gauge: Visual at put-in

Character: The first 1/3 is moving flatwater through swampy headwaters. The later 2/3 is busy boulder-bed rapids. Although there isn't any single, significant drop on this run, it is mainly heads-up boating. This run is seldom free of wood, and trees/railroad ties have been known to collect in bad spots. Always be on the lookout for hazards.

Description: The run starts out in Carlton and dumps into the Lower St. Louis just below the Munger Trail bridge. High water is obvious when you cannot paddle under the bridges. This run meanders for about 1/3 mile through a swampy area until you see some gradient pick up and the creek swings to the left. (Beware as the bottom part of this stretch is known to collect wood). The run will maintain this character for the entirety until merging into the St. Louis River.

Description written by Joel Decker

Put-in elevation ~1085'

Take-out elevation ~1000'