See all 19 routes on Minnesota River
Minnesota | Lower Minnesota Valley
Minnesota River
Henderson Station to Thompson Ferry
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
Checking weather.
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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 Thompson Ferry for a full lower Minnesota continuation. The official Jordan ladder is useful, but this route is really about pace, weather, and big-river judgment.
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
Thompson Ferry trailer accessThompson Ferry is an official trailer access, but same-day parking, mud, and flood debris should still be checked before committing to the 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.
- Thompson Ferry is an official trailer access, but same-day parking, mud, and flood debris should still be checked before committing to the long shuttle.
- There are few attractive public exits in the middle of this corridor, so treat the route as a genuine commitment once you launch.
Watch for
- Headwinds and wave exposure on broad lower-river bends.
- A slower-than-expected pace on a nearly 28-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.
- Current live gaugeJordan at 10.42 ft
The current MN DNR river-level sites feed showed Minnesota River near Jordan at 10.42 ft at 7:45 AM on July 14, 2026, squarely inside the official medium band.
- Official route shape27.9 river miles
MN DNR Map 6 lists Henderson Station carry-in access at river mile 68.1 and Thompson Ferry access at river mile 40.2, supporting a 27.9-mile lower Minnesota continuation.
- Public access recordsHenderson Station and Thompson Ferry named in DNR access data
Minnesota public-water-access data identifies Henderson Station Public Water Access and Thompson Ferry Public Water Access as official lower Minnesota launch sites.
- Put-in supportCounty river-access park at Henderson Station
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 on this lower corridor.
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 Thompson Ferry trailer access, about 27.9 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.