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Minnesota | Southern Minnesota
Minnesota River
Le Sueur to Henderson
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
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
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
Paddle the short DNR-recommended Le Sueur-to-Henderson Minnesota River section with the direct Henderson interpreted gauge. The reach is generally gentle and wide, but wind, floodplain current, floating debris, and private banks require conservative go/no-go judgment.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
Put-in
Le Sueur public accessOpen mapMinnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Le Sueur, Henderson Station, and Henderson with river-mile records and coordinates.
Take-out
Henderson public accessOpen mapThe Henderson gauge is at the take-out, so high or rising readings should be treated as route-local warnings.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Le Sueur, Henderson Station, and Henderson with river-mile records and coordinates.
- The Henderson gauge is at the take-out, so high or rising readings should be treated as route-local warnings.
- DNR says designated campsites only; do not treat exposed bars by private property as legal camps.
Watch for
- Wind and small waves on a wide open river valley.
- Floating trees, snags, muddy banks, and stronger current after rain or during high water.
- Private-bank constraints and limited practical exits between mapped public accesses.
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.
No approved route photos yet
Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
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 Henderson, MN19 |
| 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 | 710.00 ft to 725.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 675.00 ft |
| High threshold | 728.00 ft |
| 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 Henderson |
| 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 recommended one-way7.1 mi, Le Sueur to Henderson
MN DNR lists Minnesota River LeSueur Trailer Access to Henderson Trailer Access as a recommended one-way paddle.
- Public access recordsWAS02350 to WAS00793
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Le Sueur, Henderson Station, and Henderson public access sites with coordinates and river-mile records.
- Official DNR bands675 / 710-725 / 728 ft
MN DNR interprets the Henderson gauge as Scrapable below 675 ft, Low from 675 to 710, Medium from 710 to 725, High from 725 to 728, and Very High above 728.
- Current gauge check715.87 ft at 2026-07-23 10:30 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed the direct Henderson gauge in the official medium band during this run.
- Camping and river characterLe Sueur watercraft campsite; gentle widened river
DNR Map 5 shows Le Sueur with a watercraft campsite requiring a permit and describes the Le Sueur-to-Henderson section as an easier stretch where the river widens and exposes sandbars at medium and low levels.
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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
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 at Henderson, MN19 and treats 710.00 ft to 725.00 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 Le Sueur public access and ends at Henderson public access, about About 7.1 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
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.