Not much is written about the Red River. We paddled the portion from the Lower
Red Lake dam to the first take out. Rules of thumb for gaging river levels:
-
If the power plant isn't in operation - impassable.
-
When the power plant is in operation - Look at the rocks at the confluence of
the two race-ways
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If only the tips are showing (see below) - Monastery Falls will be a 2+ or a 3
-
If only one rock is showing - Monastery Falls will be a 3+
-
Approx. times of operation for the power plant are 7 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m.
When there's a lot of rain they run it as needed so times of operation will
vary. You can inquire at the office in town but...
Several groups on our first day went elsewhere because the plant wasn't running
and the operators in town said it wasn't going to be turned on...they had no
sooner left when the horn sounded and the water started gushing.
On the second day the turbines were started at 4:30 a.m. at full bore.
Excellent run!!!
We ran the river with a 17' Old Towne Millenium, a 13' Dagger Cypress and a 13'
Prijon creek boat (Ty's).
Ty running Monastery Falls the first day. The first drop many people portage
and finish the rest of the run. Ty stalled on the boil as the u-shaped hole
almost pulled him back in.
You'll hear the falls before you see the Monastery. Scout the rapids from
river-right. If you get out on river-left your in for a big hassle with the
landowner. He isn't partial to paddlers and has an elaborate alarm
system.
You know you're in the Great White North when you start seeing Dog Sled
Crossing signs. Ty was bored so he surfed the "XTRA" for a while.
We stuck around the take-out conversing with the locals, drinking beer and
playing in the current.
If only one of these rocks is showing, Monestary Falls is gushing!
