See all 19 routes on Minnesota River
Minnesota | Lower Minnesota Valley
Minnesota River
Henderson Station to Belle Plaine
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
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
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
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 Henderson Station and finish at Belle Plaine for the DNR lower Minnesota day trip. The Jordan gauge gives this route a real official ladder, but wind, pace, and big-river judgment still matter.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Henderson Station public water accessHenderson Station is a carry-in with a walk from the gate to the river, not a drive-to-ramp launch.
Take-out
Belle Plaine public water accessBelle Plaine is a proper trailer access at County Road 25, but same-day ramp and parking conditions should still be checked before you commit to a long shuttle.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Henderson Station is a carry-in with a walk from the gate to the river, not a drive-to-ramp launch.
- Belle Plaine is a proper trailer access at County Road 25, but same-day ramp and parking conditions should still be checked before you commit to a long shuttle.
Watch for
- Wind and wave exposure on open lower-river reaches.
- A slower-than-expected pace on a 17.4-mile day if the Jordan gauge slips toward the low band.
- Floating debris, overhanging trees, and muddy or sandy banks at landings and breaks.
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
Data and sources
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 near Jordan, MN |
| 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 | 9.00 ft to 12.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 4.00 ft |
| High threshold | 16.00 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 near Jordan |
| 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 bands4.0 / 9.0 / 12.0 / 16.0 ft
MN DNR interprets the Jordan gauge as Scrapable below 4.0 ft, Low from 4.0 to 9.0, Medium from 9.0 to 12.0, High from 12.0 to 16.0, and Very High above 16.0.
- Recommended trip17.4 river miles
MN DNR Map 6 lists Henderson Station carry-in access to Belle Plaine trailer access as the day-trip segment for this lower Minnesota corridor.
- Endpoint authorityState access records on both ends
Minnesota public-water-access data identifies Henderson Station Public Water Access at river mile 68.0 and Belle Plaine Public Water Access at river mile 50.4.
- Put-in supportCounty river-access park
Le Sueur County confirms Henderson Station River Access & Park has parking along the gravel entrance road and a walk-in launch point for canoes and kayaks into the Minnesota River.
- Primary cautionsLong day, wind, private shoreland
MN DNR Map 6 tells paddlers to expect 2 to 3 river miles per hour, respect private shoreland, and not underestimate wind, waves, or obstacles.
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
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Minnesota River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Minnesota River?
Paddle Today watches Minnesota River near Jordan, MN and treats 9.00 ft to 12.00 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 Henderson Station public water access and ends at Belle Plaine public water access, about 17.4 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
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.