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Minnesota | Southern Minnesota
Cedar RiverAustin Mill Pond to Marcusen Park
Short Austin-area Cedar River connector from Austin Mill Pond to Marcusen Park, filling the public-access gap between the Ramsey-to-Austin and Marcusen-to-Riverwood route cards with official DNR access and gauge support.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Austin Mill Pond and take out at Marcusen Park for the short Cedar River connector above the existing Marcusen-to-Riverwood card. The route uses the downstream Austin DNR gauge and requires same-day checks around dam boundaries, snags, and urban debris.
Access map
Put-in
Austin Mill Pond Public Water Access SiteAustin Mill Pond resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS01390 at DNR river mile 17.5.
Take-out
Cedar River, Marcusen Park Public Water Access SiteMarcusen Park resolves as WAS03076 at DNR river mile 15.6 behind Marcusen Stadium in Austin.
Road shuttle
Stage Marcusen Park first, then drive back to Austin Mill Pond. Walk both city landings before launching so the short route does not become an unplanned dam or downstream-access problem.
Additional access notes
- The County Road 28 DNR gauge is downstream of the take-out, so it is a corridor proxy rather than a perfect at-the-ramp reading.
More route and safety guidance
- The Austin gauge is downstream of the take-out, so pair the official bands with a same-day visual check at Austin Mill Pond and Marcusen Park.
- Take out at Marcusen Park before entering the separate Marcusen-to-Riverwood card. Do not assume informal city banks or private shoreland are legal exits.
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Conditions
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Photos and recent reports
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Recent notes from paddlers
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route milesAustin Mill Pond RM 17.5 to Marcusen Park RM 15.6
MN DNR Cedar River map materials and public-access records place the two Austin landings 1.9 river miles apart, upstream of the County Road 28 gauge.
- Public access recordsWAS01390 to WAS03076
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Austin Mill Pond and Marcusen Park with official names, administrators, coordinates, and river-mile context.
- Official DNR bands50 / 117-1290 / 1670 cfs
MN DNR interprets Cedar River near Austin as Scrapable below 50 cfs, Low from 50 to 117, Medium from 117 to 1290, High from 1290 to 1670, and Very High above 1670.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-24321 cfs at 2026-07-24 06:00 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Camping postureDay route, no selected river campsite
No on-route public watercraft campsite is documented for this short Austin connector; do not use private banks or bars for informal overnight stops.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on Cedar River
All 25Nearby routes within 75 miles
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