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Minnesota | Upper Minnesota River Valley
Minnesota River
Camp Release to Prien's Landing
Check current paddling conditions for this Minnesota River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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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 Camp Release and take out at Prien's Landing for a short upper Minnesota River connector with the Montevideo gauge inside the selected reach. The route has a mapped watercraft campsite and a Class I feature, but it is not a highlighted DNR recommended one-way.
Prepare this trip
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Put-in
Minnesota River, Camp Release Public Water Access SiteCamp Release resolves as WAS01022 at public-access river mile 265.6, and Prien resolves as WAS01053 at river mile 257.3 in the Minnesota public-water-access service.
Take-out
Minnesota River, Prien's Landing Public Water Access SiteDNR Map 2 places the Montevideo river-level gauge near river mile 258.5 and Prien near river mile 257.6, so same-day gauge and landing checks are unusually close to the take-out.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Camp Release resolves as WAS01022 at public-access river mile 265.6, and Prien resolves as WAS01053 at river mile 257.3 in the Minnesota public-water-access service.
- DNR Map 2 places the Montevideo river-level gauge near river mile 258.5 and Prien near river mile 257.6, so same-day gauge and landing checks are unusually close to the take-out.
- End at Prien's Landing unless you have a separate lower-corridor plan. Do not casually extend toward Granite Falls dam and rapids context.
Watch for
- Class I riffle current, floating wood, muddy banks, railroad-bridge context, and debris around the Montevideo corridor.
- Low-water scraping below the official medium band and pushier current after rain.
- Private banks and designated-campsite limits; stop only where access and camping are clearly legal.
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
Why this score
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 | Minnesota River at Montevideo |
| 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 | 5.00 ft to 9.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 3.00 ft |
| High threshold | 14.00 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 Minnesota River at Montevideo |
| 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.
- DNR map access chainCamp Release RM 265.6 to Prien RM 257.6
MN DNR Map 2 lists Camp Release trailer access, an on-route watercraft campsite at river mile 261.1, a Class I rapid near mile 259.0, the Montevideo river-level gauge near mile 258.5, and Prien's Landing trailer access near mile 257.6.
- Public access recordsWAS01022 to WAS01053
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Camp Release and Prien's Landing with coordinates, administrators, directions, and water-trail river-mile fields.
- Official DNR bands3 / 5-9 / 14 ft
MN DNR interprets the Montevideo gauge as Scrapable below 3 ft, Low from 3 to 5, Medium from 5 to 9, High from 9 to 14, and Very High above 14.
- Current gauge check6.10 ft at 2026-07-16 21:00 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Montevideo inside the official medium band during this run.
- Camping and safety rulesDesignated campsite only
DNR Map 2 says river levels affect speed and safety, paddlers should avoid overhanging and dead trees, and camping should use designated campsites rather than private riverbanks.
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
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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Minnesota River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Minnesota River?
Paddle Today watches Minnesota River at Montevideo and treats 5.00 ft to 9.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Minnesota River route start and end?
This route starts at Minnesota River, Camp Release Public Water Access Site and ends at Minnesota River, Prien's Landing Public Water Access Site, about About 8.0 mi on the water.
Is this Minnesota River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
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