See all 6 routes on Cottonwood River
Minnesota | Southern Minnesota
Cottonwood RiverHighway 15 Access to Courtland Access
Lower Cottonwood connector from New Ulm to the Minnesota River and the Courtland public access, using the nearby New Ulm DNR gauge and DNR Map 4 route context.
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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 Highway 15 in New Ulm, paddle the final lower Cottonwood mile to the Minnesota River, and finish at Courtland. The New Ulm DNR gauge is just upstream and currently reads low, so same-day depth and wind checks matter.
Access map
Put-in
Highway 15 / Cottonwood Street Bridge public water accessHighway 15 resolves as DNR access WAS01419 at Cottonwood river mile 1.6, and Courtland resolves as DNR access WAS00794 on the Minnesota River at river mile 128.0.
Take-out
Minnesota River, Courtland public water accessThe selected gauge is upstream of the put-in, not on the Minnesota River finish; use it as a near-put-in Cottonwood check and inspect the Courtland take-out separately.
Road shuttle
Stage the Courtland take-out first, then drive back to the Highway 15 / Cottonwood Street bridge access in New Ulm. Inspect Courtland for mud, flood debris, and wind exposure before committing to the confluence finish.
Additional access notes
- The route changes character at the Cottonwood-Minnesota confluence. Do not count on informal confluence banks or private land for bailout.
More route and safety guidance
- After the Cottonwood confluence, wind, bigger-river current, mud, and floating debris on the Minnesota River can control the final approach to Courtland.
- Use the Courtland public access as the selected take-out and do not count on private banks or informal confluence landings.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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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.
- Map sequenceHighway 15 RM 1.6 to Cottonwood confluence RM 0.0
MN DNR Minnesota River Map 4 includes the Cottonwood River and places Highway 15 at river mile 1.6, a railroad bridge at river mile 1.0, and the Minnesota River confluence at river mile 0.0.
- Public access recordsWAS01419 to WAS00794
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves the Highway 15 / Cottonwood Street Bridge access and the Courtland Minnesota River access with DNR administration, coordinates, and river-mile records.
- 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 · 2026-07-16243 cfs at 2026-07-16 18:00
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 postureDay route, no selected river campsite
DNR Map 4 shows Flandrau camping upstream of Highway 15, but this selected connector does not rely on an on-route campsite and should be treated as a day route.
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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