See all 3 routes on Long Prairie River
Minnesota | Central Minnesota
Long Prairie RiverLake Carlos State Park to Highway 29
Short headwaters Long Prairie River route from Lake Carlos State Park to the Highway 29 access, with official map support, a mandatory constructed-rock-rapids portage, and conservative downstream gauge caveats.
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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 from Lake Carlos State Park and finish at the Highway 29 public access for the short Long Prairie headwaters connector. The route is short, but the constructed-rock-rapids portage and downstream proxy gauge make local inspection mandatory.
Access map
Put-in
Lake Carlos, Lake Carlos SPK Public Water Access SiteDNR Map Long Prairie places Lake Carlos State Park and the lake outlet at river mile 93.7, constructed rock rapids at 93.4, and the Highway 29 carry-in near river mile 91.9.
Take-out
Long Prairie River, Hwy 29 Public Water Access SitePublic-water-access GIS resolves Lake Carlos State Park and Highway 29 with coordinates; Highway 29's public-access river mile is listed as 91.0, so use the mapped access and coordinates rather than mileage alone.
Road shuttle
Stage Highway 29 first, then launch from the Lake Carlos State Park access. Confirm state-park parking rules, outlet depth, the portage-right route, and the Highway 29 landing before loading boats.
Additional access notes
- The Long Prairie gauge is far downstream in town and should not replace same-day checks at the Lake Carlos outlet and Highway 29 landing.
More route and safety guidance
- The Long Prairie gauge is far downstream. Check the Lake Carlos outlet, Highway 29 take-out, culverts, bridge clearance, and wood before committing.
- Do not use private banks as backups. The state park put-in requires current park rules and parking/vehicle-permit compliance.
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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.
- Official map routeLake Carlos RM 93.7 to Highway 29 access near RM 91.9
MN DNR Map Long Prairie places Lake Carlos State Park and lake outlet, constructed rock rapids with portage right, Highway 29 bridge, and the Highway 29 carry-in access in order.
- Public access recordsLake Carlos SPK WAS01184 to Highway 29 WAS02510
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves the state-park launch and the Long Prairie River Highway 29 public access with source-backed coordinates.
- Official DNR bands53 / 200-500 / 650 cfs
MN DNR interprets Long Prairie at Long Prairie as Scrapable below 53 cfs, Low from 53 to 200, Medium from 200 to 500, High from 500 to 650, and Very High above 650.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-2389.6 cfs at 2026-07-23 16:15 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.
- Safety contextLow water, low bridges, culverts, and private banks
DNR Long Prairie materials warn that portions can become slow, shallow, or impassable in summer, and that low bridges and culverts are most numerous between Lake Carlos and Long Prairie.
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 Long Prairie River
All 3Nearby routes within 75 miles
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