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See all 29 routes on Cedar River

Minnesota | Southern Minnesota

Cedar River

Lansing / County Road 2 to Ramsey Mill Pond

Check current paddling conditions for this Cedar River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

Route location

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DistanceAbout 3.8 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 1.5 hr to 2.5 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Cedar River curves past wooded banks beneath a dramatic sky in George Wyth Memorial State Park, Iowa.
River contextCedar River at George Wyth Memorial State Park river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by TheCatalyst31

Need to know

Why this call
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Conditions

Gauge history and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

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Route overview

Quick facts and what's next

Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.

Quick facts

On-water distanceAbout 3.8 miLansing / County Road 2 to Ramsey Mill Pond
DifficultyeasyThe mileage is short and DNR describes moderate flow with no major rapids, but the Ramsey low-head dam, private banks, snags, and fast rises keep the route in a caution posture.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage Ramsey Mill Pond first, then drive north to the Lansing / County Road 2 bridge. Confirm that the bridge launch is legal and practical before unloading, and identify the Ramsey take-out above the low-head dam before launch.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Use legal public right-of-way or public access only, follow Minnesota boating/PFD rules, and obey posted dam, park, WMA, and private-bank signs.
CampingDay tripTreat this as a short day trip. DNR does not document an on-route campsite between Lansing and Ramsey Mill Pond, and riverbed camping next to private property is not permitted.
SeasonApr-OctDNR says the Cedar is highest in spring, can flood, and usually has enough summer water. Use the same-day Lansing gauge and inspect both the County Road 2 launch area and Ramsey Mill Pond.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

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TomorrowChecking

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WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Launch near the Lansing / County Road 2 DNR gauge and take out at Ramsey Mill Pond for the short upper-Cedar approach to the existing Ramsey-to-Austin route. The Lansing gauge is direct and was in the official medium band during this run.

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Start

Put-in

Lansing / County Road 2 bridge gauge access
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The Lansing put-in is anchored to the DNR river-level gauge and County Road 2 bridge at river mile 25.0, not to a public-water-access-layer record. Confirm same-day legal launch and parking before using it.

Finish

Take-out

Cedar River, Ramsey Mill Pond Public Water Access Site
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Ramsey Mill Pond resolves as DNR access WAS01376 at river mile 21.2 with public-water-access coordinates.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • The Lansing put-in is anchored to the DNR river-level gauge and County Road 2 bridge at river mile 25.0, not to a public-water-access-layer record. Confirm same-day legal launch and parking before using it.
  • Ramsey Mill Pond resolves as DNR access WAS01376 at river mile 21.2 with public-water-access coordinates.
  • Take out at Ramsey above the low-head dam unless you have separately planned the Ramsey-to-Austin route and portage/dam context.

Watch for

  • The Ramsey Mill Pond low-head dam and portage context; this route ends before the dam.
  • Snags, overhanging trees, shallow spots, private banks, and occasional flood conditions.
  • Fast rises after rain and low-water scraping as the Lansing gauge falls toward the official low and scrapable bands.

Route gallery

See this route on the water

Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.

The Cedar River curves past wooded banks beneath a dramatic sky in George Wyth Memorial State Park, Iowa.
Cedar River at George Wyth Memorial State Park river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by TheCatalyst31
CC BY-SA 4.0

Score & sources

Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
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Gauge inputChecking

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Weather inputChecking

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Next stepChecking

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Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking

Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.

Why
  • Checking evidence-strength notes.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteCedar River nr Lansing, CR2
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Target band15 cfs to 430 cfs
Low threshold9 cfs
High threshold513 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreMN DNR river-level interpretation bands for Cedar River near Lansing
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Map sequenceCounty Road 2 RM 25.0 to Ramsey RM 21.2

    MN DNR Cedar River map places the Lansing / County Road 2 bridge and river-level gauge at river mile 25.0, Ramsey Mill Pond at river mile 22.0, and the Ramsey trailer/carry-in access and low-head dam at river mile 21.2.

    Source

  • Public access recordRamsey Mill Pond WAS01376

    Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Ramsey Mill Pond as a DNR-administered Cedar River access at river mile 21.2 with source-backed coordinates.

    Source

  • Official DNR bands8.9 / 15.2-429.5 / 513.4 cfs

    MN DNR interprets the Lansing gauge as Scrapable below 8.9 cfs, Low from 8.9 to 15.2, Medium from 15.2 to 429.5, High from 429.5 to 513.4, and Very High above 513.4.

    Source

  • Current gauge check45 cfs at 2026-07-16 18:30

    The current MN DNR feed placed Lansing inside the official medium band during this run.

    Source

  • Safety contextDam, snags, beginner flow

    DNR says the Cedar has moderate flow and no major rapids, but warns paddlers to know dam locations and watch for flooding, snags, and overhanging trees.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

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Quick answers

Cedar River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Cedar River?

Paddle Today watches Cedar River nr Lansing, CR2 and treats 15 cfs to 430 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this Cedar River route start and end?

This route starts at Lansing / County Road 2 bridge gauge access and ends at Cedar River, Ramsey Mill Pond Public Water Access Site, about About 3.8 mi on the water.

Is this Cedar River route good for beginners?

This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.

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