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Minnesota | Southern Minnesota
Minnesota RiverMorton Access to Highway 4
Long official Minnesota River recommended section from Morton to Highway 4, using the direct Morton DNR gauge and DNR Map 4's campsite, logjam, and Fort Ridgely context.
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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 Morton and paddle the DNR-listed 26.3-mile section to Highway 4. The route's value is a full public-access chain with real campsite structure, but the known logjam and long distance require conservative planning.
Access map
Put-in
Minnesota River, Morton Access Public Water Access SiteMorton and Highway 4 both resolve as public-water-access GIS records, but this is a long rural section with limited fast exits.
Take-out
Minnesota River, Hwy 4 Public Water Access SiteCheck the river mile 184 logjam status locally before committing to the full route.
Road shuttle
Stage Highway 4 before launching at Morton. Franklin, Mack Lake, and Kettner Landing are structured contingency exits; Fort Ridgely is nearby park/campground support rather than an assumed river landing.
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Minnesota River, Morton Access Public Water Access Site to Minnesota River, Hwy 4 Public Water Access Site is about 26.3 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- Franklin, Mack Lake, and Kettner Landing are mapped public accesses. Fort Ridgely is useful park/campground context, but do not assume a river landing there.
More route and safety guidance
- This is a 26.3-mile public-access section with long gaps between exits; treat it as an overnight-capable route unless the group is fast and daylight is generous.
- Use Franklin, Mack Lake, Kettner's, or Fort Ridgely as planned checkpoints rather than improvising on private banks.
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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
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Minnesota River at Morton, MN19 |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 1,330 cfs to 3,750 cfs |
| Low threshold | 307 cfs |
| High threshold | 10,900 cfs |
| 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 at Morton |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 recommended sectionMorton to Highway 4, 26.3 mi
MN DNR's statewide recommended paddling list identifies Morton Access to Highway 4 as a 26.3-mile Minnesota River section.
- Map supportMorton RM 189.9 to Highway 4 RM 163.6
MN DNR Map 4 places Morton, the direct river-level gauge, Franklin, Mack Lake, Kettner's, Fort Ridgely, and Highway 4 in sequence.
- DNR bands307 / 1,330-3,750 / 10,900 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Morton gauge as Scrapable below 307 cfs, Low from 307 to 1,330, Medium from 1,330 to 3,750, High from 3,750 to 10,900, and Very High above 10,900.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-231,260 cfs at 2026-07-23 18:00 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.
- Public access recordsMorton WAS00670 and Highway 4 WAS00644
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves both endpoints with administrators, coordinates, and river-mile records.
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 19Nearby routes within 75 miles
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