Minnesota River "At a Glance" |
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| Scenery | Northern bottomland forests |
| Best time | May-September |
| Wilderness | Some remote areas, towns, etc. |
| Water Flow | Dependable, can be very high in spring |
| Water Quality | Good |
| Campsites | Designated; see below. |
| Hazards | Wind, high water, one section of rapids |
| Logistics | Good public access, canoe rentals available |
| Trip Length | Up to 244 miles |
| Recommendation | Regional favorite |
Minnesota River near New Ulm
(courtesy Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River)
General Description & Characteristics -- The headwaters of the Minnesota River are found in an area of glacial lakes in Marshall County, South Dakota. The Little Minnesota River and several other tributary streams come together at Big Stone Lake on the border of Minnesota and South Dakota. From the Big Stone Lake dam at Ortonville, the Minnesota River flows 328 miles to the Mississippi River at Saint Paul. It follows a valley carved by the immense River Warren, the southern outlet of the prehistoric Lake Agassiz. This inland sea had a surface area of 110,000 square miles including all of northwestern Minnesota. Lake Agassiz receded about 10,000 years ago (at the end of the last ice age), mostly draining to the north. The River Warren ceased to exist, leaving only its broad valley, now occupied by the much smaller Minnesota River.
The Minnesota is one of only a few long canoe routes in southern Minnesota. The middle section is particularly attractive to canoeists, as there are no impoundments and the river flows through beautiful bottomland forests.
Location & Canoeable Mileage -- To avoid the mandatory portages of several dams, we'll start out at the Kinney access off highway 67 south of the town of Granite Falls. From here to Sibley Park in Mankato is a distance of 128 river miles. This should take 6-8 days depending on your pace and the water flow. The Minnesota River typically runs high in the spring melt season (April-May) then settles down to a more moderate flow during the summer and fall. It ices up in the winter.
You can continue on downstream another 116 miles from Mankato all the way to the Twin Cities. The last access on the Minnesota River is at Fort Snelling State Park, about 2 miles above the point where the Minnesota River flows into the Mississippi. This lower section is less remote than the upstream sections and more likely to be frequented by power boats, but it is otherwise suitable for canoeing.
Interesting Features -- About 20 miles into this run you will encounter Patterson's Rapids where the river drops about 5 feet in one-third mile. Rated as class I, this section of whitewater is considered to be of moderate difficulty.
In the upper section of this run you can see the granite outcrops that were exposed by the River Warren. These are the oldest rocks found in North America, over 3 billion years old. The river flows through a bottomland forest dominated by maple and elm. High above and away from the river, cedar and oak cover the granite domes.
The Minnesota River flows alongside New Ulm. This town of about 14,000 population is proud of its German heritage and has many interesting sights to see. New Ulm can be visited on a walking tour from the river access at Minnecon or Riverside park.
Camping -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) maintains a number of primitive campsites along the river. These are marked on the river maps available free from DNR. They recommend you camp at these sites to avoid trespassing on private property.
Additional Information:
| Canoeing Information | |
| Canoe Rental/Shuttle Service | DNR Outfitters list |
| River Flow Data |
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| Parks on/near the River | . |
| Towns/Other Locales on/near the River | |
| Books | Paddling Minnesota |
| More Pictures | The Minnesota River Expedition (student trip) |
| Environmental Issues/Organizations |
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| Acknowledgments/Contributors | . |
| Miscellaneous |
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