The Turtle River begins at Lake Julia, 12 miles north of Bemidji and flows through the Turtle and Three Island Lakes into Turtle River Lake. The river flows out of Turtle River Lake to enter the Chippewa National Forest, where it moved through Big Rice Lake, Kitchi and finally into Cass Lake on the Mississippi River. Water depth and rate of travel depend on the amount of rainfall and the season of the year.
Turtle River Canoe Route is primarily first-come, first-served. Use the availability view to gauge how busy it is before you go.
See the map for Turtle River Canoe Route's exact location and directions.
Pick your dates on the availability calendar, then reserve through the official booking link. You can also set an alert and we'll notify you if a sold-out date opens up.