Paddle TodayFind the best paddle near you today

Live score, water level, and weather.

See all 19 routes on Minnesota River

Minnesota | Lower Minnesota Valley

Minnesota RiverHenderson Station to Belle Plaine

Paddle 17.4 miles from Henderson Station to Belle Plaine on the lower Minnesota River. The Jordan gauge is downstream of the reach, so use it as regional context and check wind, river trend, shuttle time, and access before launch.

Route location

Loading the route map.

Open access map
Distance17.4 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 5 hr 45 min to 8 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
Brown marsh grasses and calm water fill a broad river-edge wetland below a wooded bluff.
Route photoLower Minnesota River valley wetland scenePhoto by Debbie Koenigs/USFWS
View primary source
Embed this route

Route alerts

Email me when this route improves

We'll email you when this route climbs into Good or Strong. Every email includes an unsubscribe link.

We only email on a new threshold crossing.

Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.

Permits, camping and season
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow posted public-water-access and parking rules at Henderson Station and Belle Plaine.
CampingDay tripTreat this as a day trip unless you separately confirm a legal overnight plan. Much of the shoreland is private, and the DNR map explicitly tells paddlers to stop only at designated sites.
SeasonApr-OctLate spring through fall is the practical window. This is a long open lower-river day, so wind and pace matter almost as much as the gauge.

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.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Henderson Station public water access
DirectionsOpen map

Henderson Station is a carry-in with a walk from the gate to the river, not a drive-to-ramp launch.

Finish

Take-out

Belle Plaine public water access
DirectionsOpen map

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.

Road shuttle

Long two-car shuttle. Stage the take-out vehicle at Belle Plaine before launching because this is already a full lower-river day without adding end-of-day driving stress.

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
More route and safety guidance
  • Wind, flood debris, and changing sandbars can matter as much as the Jordan proxy; verify weather and trend before committing.
  • Use only the named public accesses and do not treat private shoreland as a bailout or campsite.
Terms and safety
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.

Trip schedule

Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.

Browser plans

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 the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Recent trend

Checking preferred range.

Checking trend.

------------
Detailed weather

Weather

Hourly forecast

Checking weather.

Loading today's forecast.

Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

Checking the next several hours.

Checking the best short-route window.
----Loading--

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Photos and recent reports

Share a recent access update, hazard observation or photo.

Add a photo or report

Access changes, obstructions and dated hazard photos are especially useful.

Photos

Upload route photos

Add access, hazard, or on-water photos.

No files selected yet.

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 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

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 19
Belle Plaine to Carver Riverfront ParkLower Minnesota ValleyEasy · 18.6 mi

Nearby routes within 75 miles

South Fork Crow RiverRick Johnson Park to Lake Rebecca Park Reserve · about 31 straight-line mi awayModerate · 14.3 mi

Flag a change

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.

Report a changeEmail update