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Minnesota | Upper Minnesota River Valley
Minnesota RiverHarkin Store to Buessman Bridge
Short Map 4 connector from the Harkin Store public access to Buessman Bridge, extending the existing New Ulm-area Minnesota River coverage upstream without duplicating the Buessman-to-Riverside card.
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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 Harkin Store and take out at Buessman Bridge for a short Map 4 connector that ends where the existing Buessman-to-Riverside card begins. The Mankato gauge is downstream, so same-day visual checks are required.
Access map
Put-in
Minnesota River, Harkin Store Public Water Access SiteHarkin Store resolves as WAS02302 at GIS river mile 152.0, and Buessman Bridge resolves as WAS00804 at GIS river mile 143.0.
Take-out
Minnesota River, Buessman Bridge / County Road 14 Public Water Access SiteDNR Map 4 documents the lower part of this split and the Buessman Bridge access; Harkin Store is supported by the official public-access GIS.
Road shuttle
Stage Buessman Bridge first, then drive back to Harkin Store. Inspect Buessman before launch because the next existing PaddleToday card starts there and downstream continuation should be deliberate.
Additional access notes
- Do not assume private banks, WMA edges, or field roads are legal exits, rest stops, or campsites.
More route and safety guidance
- Stay with the Harkin and Buessman public accesses; private banks, field roads, and wildlife-management-area frontage are not assumed exits or campsites.
- Watch for wind, floating wood, muddy landings, and stronger current after rain or when the river rises above the official medium band.
Plan this paddle
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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 corridor mapHarkin-area split to Buessman RM 143.3
MN DNR Map 4 documents the lower part of this split with Eight Mile Creek, Boesch WMA, River Valley WMA, and Buessman Bridge trailer access before the existing Riverside Park route begins.
- Public access recordsWAS02302 to WAS00804
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Harkin Store and Buessman Bridge / County Road 14 with coordinates, administrators, directions, launch types, and river-mile fields.
- Official 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 · 2026-07-164,250 cfs at 2026-07-16 21:30 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.
- DistinctnessEnds where existing New Ulm card starts
The selected route ends at Buessman Bridge, where the existing PaddleToday Buessman-to-Riverside card starts, avoiding overlap while filling the upstream public-access gap.
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
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