See all 6 routes on Cottonwood River
Minnesota | Southwest Minnesota
Cottonwood River
Springfield to Highway 4
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
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
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at Springfield and finish at Highway 4 for the missing middle-Cottonwood public-access connector above the existing lower-Cottonwood cards. The Springfield gauge was in the official low band during this run, so scraping and slow progress are real planning concerns.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Cottonwood River, Springfield Public Water Access SiteSpringfield resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS01421 at river mile 56.3.
Take-out
Cottonwood River, Hwy 4 Public Water Access SiteHighway 4 resolves as WAS02675 at river mile 31.4 and is the selected finish; Theden's Landing is downstream and belongs to the next lower route family.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Springfield resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS01421 at river mile 56.3.
- Highway 4 resolves as WAS02675 at river mile 31.4 and is the selected finish; Theden's Landing is downstream and belongs to the next lower route family.
- The Springfield gauge is upstream of the put-in. Use it as an official same-corridor check, then make same-day visual checks for depth, wood, and muddy exits.
Watch for
- Long mileage, private banks, few clean exits, and daylight risk.
- Low-water scraping when Springfield is near or below the 13 ft medium threshold.
- Deadfall, overhanging trees, bridge debris, muddy banks, cold water, and fast rises after storms.
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.
Score & sources
Data and sources
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
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.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Cottonwood River nr Springfield, CR2 |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 13.00 ft to 17.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 12.50 ft |
| High threshold | 19.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | MN DNR river-level interpretation bands for Cottonwood River near Springfield |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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.
- Official map routeSpringfield RM 56.3 to Highway 4 RM 31.4, about 24.9 miles
MN DNR Map 4 places Springfield, Highway 4, Theden's Landing, County Road 10, County Road 11, and Flandrau in downstream order across the Cottonwood water trail.
- Public access recordsWAS01421 to WAS02675
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Springfield and Highway 4 as public Cottonwood River accesses with coordinates, launch data, directions, and river miles.
- Official DNR bands12.5 / 13.0-17.0 / 19.0 ft
MN DNR interprets the Springfield / County Road 2 gauge as Scrapable below 12.5 ft, Low from 12.5 to 13.0, Medium from 13.0 to 17.0, High from 17.0 to 19.0, and Very High above 19.0.
- Current gauge check12.86 ft at 2026-07-24 02:30 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Springfield in the official low band, just below medium, during this run.
- River characterNo major rapids; watch water levels and trees
MN DNR describes the Cottonwood as having no major rapids and being suitable for beginning paddlers, but warns to check water levels and avoid dead or overhanging trees.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Cottonwood River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Cottonwood River?
Paddle Today watches Cottonwood River nr Springfield, CR2 and treats 13.00 ft to 17.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Cottonwood River route start and end?
This route starts at Cottonwood River, Springfield Public Water Access Site and ends at Cottonwood River, Hwy 4 Public Water Access Site, about About 24.9 mi on the water.
Is this Cottonwood River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.