See all 6 routes on Cottonwood River
Minnesota | Southern Minnesota
Cottonwood RiverCounty Road 11 to Flandrau State Park
Lower Cottonwood day from the County Road 11 public access to Flandrau State Park, finishing at the park access and designated watercraft campsite before the in-town New Ulm exits.
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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 County Road 11 and finish at Flandrau State Park for the lower Cottonwood reach immediately above New Ulm.
Access map
Put-in
Cottonwood River, Co Rd 11 Public Water Access SiteMN DNR Map 4 places County Road 11 at river mile 16.8 and Flandrau State Park camping/access context from river mile 6.5 to 4.0, with a watercraft campsite at river mile 5.7.
Take-out
Cottonwood River, Flandrau State Park Public Water Access SiteMinnesota public-water-access GIS resolves County Road 11 as WAS01424 and Flandrau State Park as WAS02651; the Flandrau access lists carry-in launch, parking, and restroom context.
Road shuttle
Stage the Flandrau State Park access first, confirm current park entry and parking rules, then launch from County Road 11. Set a conservative turn-back decision at the put-in because formal exits are sparse before the park.
Additional access notes
- The New Ulm DNR gauge is downstream near the lower Cottonwood corridor. Use it as the closest official interpreted lower-river check, then verify depth and access footing at County Road 11 and Flandrau.
More route and safety guidance
- Use Flandrau State Park as the selected take-out and campsite context; do not assume private banks or informal park shoreline are legal stopping or camping areas.
- The New Ulm gauge is below the selected reach but close to the finish; confirm launch depth at County Road 11 and inspect the park landing before leaving the shuttle.
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Sources and methodology
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Route milepointsCounty Road 11 RM 16.8 to Flandrau RM 5.7
MN DNR Map 4 maps County Road 11 and the Flandrau State Park watercraft campsite / access sequence on the Cottonwood River.
- Public access recordsWAS01424 to WAS02651
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves the County Road 11 and Flandrau State Park Cottonwood River accesses with coordinates, managing authority, launch type, parking, and restroom context.
- Official DNR bands150 / 250-870 / 2,190 cfs
MN DNR interprets the New Ulm gauge as Scrapable below 150 cfs, Low from 150 to 250, Medium from 250 to 870, High from 870 to 2,190, and Very High above 2,190.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23122 cfs at 2026-07-23 08:00
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 postureFlandrau State Park watercraft campsite and campground
DNR Map 4 shows Flandrau State Park camping, water, toilets, and a watercraft campsite at river mile 5.7; use designated sites and current park rules only.
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 Cottonwood River
All 6Nearby routes within 75 miles
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