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Minnesota | Minnesota River Valley
Minnesota River
Franklin City Park to Mack Lake Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Minnesota River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
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.
Put-in
Franklin trailer access / city boat landingOpen mapFranklin 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 landingOpen mapThe Morton gauge is upstream of Franklin, so use it as a conservative corridor read rather than a perfect at-the-ramp measurement.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Franklin 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.
- The Morton gauge is upstream of Franklin, so use it as a conservative corridor read rather than a perfect at-the-ramp measurement.
- Do not casually extend downstream past Mack Lake toward the more difficult Fort Ridgely/Minnesota Falls corridor without separate planning.
Watch for
- Wind and heat exposure on open bends even when the river is technically easy.
- Flood debris, muddy landings, and changing sand or bank conditions after high water.
- Private shoreland; stop only at public accesses or clearly legal sites.
Route gallery
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Minnesota River at Morton, MN19 |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | 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 | 1,330 cfs to 3,750 cfs |
| Low threshold | 307 cfs |
| High threshold | 10,900 cfs |
| Data confidence 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 Morton |
| 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 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
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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 Morton, MN19 and treats 1,330 cfs to 3,750 cfs 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 Franklin trailer access / city boat landing and ends at Mack Lake Park boat landing, about 10.1 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.
Flag a change
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.