See all 19 routes on Minnesota River
Minnesota | Upper Minnesota River Valley
Minnesota RiverCamp Release to Prien's Landing
Compact upper Minnesota River connector from Camp Release to Prien's Landing, using DNR Map 2 access points, the nearby Montevideo interpreted gauge, and explicit Class I, campsite, private-bank, and low-water caveats.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
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.
Access map
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.
Road shuttle
Stage Prien's Landing south of Montevideo first, then drive back to Camp Release. Check both ramps for mud, debris, and high-water cleanup before committing.
Additional access notes
- End at Prien's Landing unless you have a separate lower-corridor plan. Do not casually extend toward Granite Falls dam and rapids context.
More route and safety guidance
- Use only the named public accesses and the mapped watercraft campsite; DNR says riverbed camping next to private property is not permitted.
- Take out at Prien's Landing unless a separate downstream plan accounts for the longer Granite Falls dam and rapids corridor.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampundefined provides a current paddling-level interpretation; Paddle Today does not turn the source hydrograph image into trend samples.
Detailed weather
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Share a recent access update, hazard observation or photo.
Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain 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 |
| Preferred range | 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 |
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 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.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-166.10 ft at 2026-07-16 21:00 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.
- 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.
Other routes nearby
More on Minnesota River
All 19Nearby routes within 75 miles
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.