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Minnesota | Southern Minnesota
Minnesota RiverBuessman Bridge to Riverside Park
Short DNR-listed Minnesota River section from Buessman Bridge into New Ulm, using the downstream Mankato interpreted gauge and Map 4's official access chain.
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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 Buessman Bridge and take out at Riverside Park for the short recommended New Ulm-area Minnesota River section. It is useful as a lower-commitment access gap, with the Mankato DNR gauge used conservatively as a downstream same-river proxy.
Access map
Put-in
Minnesota River, Buessman Bridge / County Road 14 Public Water Access SiteBuessman and Riverside both resolve as Minnesota public-water-access GIS records; use those named landings rather than informal banks.
Take-out
Minnesota River, Riverside Park Public Water Access SiteThe Mankato gauge is downstream of this short section, so same-day visual checks at both landings matter.
Road shuttle
Stage Riverside Park in New Ulm first, then drive back to Buessman Bridge. Confirm both landings are usable because the selected gauge is downstream at Mankato.
Additional access notes
- Minnecon Park is an intermediate rest/drinking-water landmark, not a camping basis for this route.
More route and safety guidance
- Bridge current, wind on open bends, and floating wood can matter more than the short mileage.
- Riverside Park is the planned finish; do not drift past New Ulm toward lower Map 4 hazards unless a separate downstream route is staged.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
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.
- DNR recommended sectionBuessman Bridge to Riverside Park, 5.2 mi
MN DNR's statewide recommended paddling list identifies Buessman Bridge to Riverside Park as a 5.2-mile Minnesota River section.
- Map supportBuessman RM 143.3 to Riverside RM 138.1
MN DNR Map 4 places Buessman Bridge, Fritsche Creek, Minnecon Park, the Highways 14/15 bridge, and Riverside Park in sequence.
- DNR bands566.9 / 4,550-17,900 / 22,500 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Mankato gauge as Scrapable below 566.9 cfs, Low from 566.9 to 4,550, Medium from 4,550 to 17,900, High from 17,900 to 22,500, and Very High above 22,500.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-232,730 cfs at 2026-07-23 18:30 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.
- Public access recordsBuessman WAS00804 and Riverside/New Ulm WAS00792
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves both endpoints with administrators, coordinates, and river-mile records.
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 Minnesota River
All 19Nearby routes within 75 miles
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