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Minnesota | Minnesota River Valley
Minnesota RiverFranklin City Park to Mack Lake Park
MN DNR recommends this easy 10.1-mile trip from Franklin City Park to Mack Lake Park. The Morton gauge is upstream, so use its reading as a conservative corridor check; open bends can be exposed to wind and landings may be muddy after high water.
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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 the Franklin city boat landing and take out at Mack Lake Park. DNR recommends this as an easy, winding 10.1-mile Minnesota River day with camping available at both ends.
Access map
Put-in
Franklin trailer access / city boat landingFranklin and Mack Lake are real named public access points, but both are rural landings where same-day parking, mud, and flood debris should be checked before unloading.
Take-out
Mack Lake Park boat landingThe Morton gauge is upstream of Franklin, so use it as a conservative corridor read rather than a perfect at-the-ramp measurement.
Road shuttle
Plan a two-car shuttle between Franklin and Mack Lake Park. This is short for the Minnesota River, but still a rural big-river shuttle with limited intermediate public exits.
Additional access notes
- Do not casually extend downstream past Mack Lake toward the more difficult Fort Ridgely/Minnesota Falls corridor without separate planning.
More route and safety guidance
- The wooded valley can collect floating debris after rain; check the trend and local landing conditions before launch.
- Use the named public accesses and designated camping only, with no unscheduled private-bank stops.
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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 bands307 / 1,330-3,750 / 10,900 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Morton reading as Scrapable below 307 cfs, Low from 307 to 1,330, Medium from 1,330 to 3,750, High from 3,750 to 10,900, and Very High above 10,900.
- Recommended trip10.1 river miles
MN DNR Map 4 recommends Franklin City Park to Mack Lake Park and describes it as an easy, winding stretch with few roads or man-made obstructions.
- Endpoint authorityTrailer accesses with campsites
MN DNR Map 4 identifies Franklin trailer access with a watercraft campsite/rest area and Mack Lake Park with trailer access, watercraft campsite, and toilet.
- Public access recordsDNR access IDs WAS02279 and WAS02304
Minnesota public-water-access data identifies the put-in as Minnesota River, Franklin Public Water Access Site at river mile 179.4 and the take-out as Minnesota River, Renville County Park #4 Public Water Access Site at river mile 169.5.
- Put-in supportCity river access and camping
The City of Franklin says its boat landing site is adjacent to Minnesota River access and includes primitive camping, picnic area, and shelter.
- Visitor listingBoat ramp and campground
Explore Minnesota lists Franklin City Campground at Second Ave E and says the primitive campsite is at the Minnesota River boat landing site with river access, picnic area, and shelter.
- Take-out supportRenville County park on the river
Renville County says Mack Lake County Park offers rustic campsites, a shelter, restroom, and fishing access on Mack Lake or the Minnesota River.
- Supplemental coordinatesFranklin and Mack Lake landings
DNR public-water-access coordinates align closely with the Little Crow Historic Canoe Route GPS coordinates for Franklin Boat Landing and Mack Lake Park Boat Landing.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- MN DNR river levels
- MN DNR Minnesota River overview
- MN DNR Minnesota River segments and maps
- MN DNR Minnesota River map 4 PDF
- City of Franklin activities and camping
- Explore Minnesota City Campground
- Renville County Mack Lake County Park
- Minnesota public water access feature service
- Little Crow Historic Canoe Route guide
- USGS 05316580 monitoring location
Other routes nearby
More on Minnesota River
All 19Nearby routes within 75 miles
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