Minnesota · Cambridge, MN

Rum River float season

Gauge 05286000 on the Cambridge to St. Francis. A maple-lined state water trail that delivers a genuine up-north feel while winding toward the Twin Cities' back door.

canoekayak Fullest: Apr–Jun Leanest: Dec–Feb
Rum River — typical flow through the year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 250 1k 2.5k 4k
median flow for the date middle half of years (25th–75th percentile) most years (10th–90th)

Right now at this gauge

loading CFS

Checking the live gauge…

Live reading from the USGS gauge page for Rum River. Provisional data — subject to revision.

The year on this river

In a typical year at the Cambridge gauge, the Rum River runs fullest Apr–Jun and leanest Dec–Feb. Where today's reading falls inside that rhythm matters more than the raw number — the same flow that feels thin in spring can be the summer norm. Half of all past April days at this gauge ran above 1,145 CFS; the February median is 208 CFS.

Median of daily flows in each month across this gauge's full record — half of past days ran above these figures, half below.
Month Typical flow (CFS)
January 214
February 208
March 307
April 1,145
May 865
June 647
July 508
August 359
September 340
October 331
November 378
December 265

Record context

This gauge has measured daily flow since 1929 — 97 years of record. The largest daily average ever logged here was 10,000 CFS, in April 1969. Rivers do that sometimes; it's why the safety panel above isn't decoration.

Planning dates? The trip-window checker shows what flows have historically looked like on any week you pick for this river, or see what a CFS actually looks like.

More Minnesota float rivers

Common questions

When is the Rum River usually at its fullest?

At the Cambridge gauge, the fullest stretch of a typical year is Apr–Jun, with the single highest monthly median in April (about 1,145 CFS). The leanest months are usually Dec–Feb.

What is a typical summer flow on the Rum River?

The July median at this gauge is about 508 CFS — half of past Julys ran higher, half lower. Check the ribbon chart above to see how summer compares with the rest of the year here.

Is the Rum River safe to float right now?

No flow number can answer that, and this site never labels a river safe. What the data can tell you is how today's reading compares with 96 years of this date's history — well above typical means pushier, colder, faster water. Pair that context with a PFD, a look at the river from the bank, and a call to a local outfitter before you commit.

Which USGS gauge does this page use?

USGS gauge 05286000 (RUM RIVER NEAR ST. FRANCIS, MN), chosen because it best represents the Cambridge to St. Francis. Daily records here reach back to 1929.

Data: USGS gauge 05286000, approved daily records 1929–2026, retrieved 2026-08-07. Live readings are provisional and subject to revision. U.S. Geological Survey data is public domain.