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Minnesota | Western Minnesota
Minnesota River
Prien's Landing to War Memorial Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Minnesota River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
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 Prien's Landing and finish at War Memorial Park for the official DNR recommended Minnesota River section into Granite Falls. The main operational controls are the Montevideo gauge, the Granite Falls dam portage, and rapid scouting.
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
Minnesota River, Prien's Landing Public Water Access SitePrien's Landing and War Memorial Park both resolve as public-water-access GIS records, but the dam/portage zone between them still requires route discipline.
Take-out
Minnesota River, War Memorial City Park Public Water Access SiteDo not continue below War Memorial without a separate Granite Falls-to-Kinney plan; the downstream map immediately includes additional small rapids and Minnesota Falls hazards.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Prien's Landing and War Memorial Park both resolve as public-water-access GIS records, but the dam/portage zone between them still requires route discipline.
- Do not continue below War Memorial without a separate Granite Falls-to-Kinney plan; the downstream map immediately includes additional small rapids and Minnesota Falls hazards.
- Use only designated campsites and public accesses because much of the shoreline is private.
Watch for
- Granite Falls dam at river mile 239.9 with the DNR-mapped 250-yard river-right portage.
- Class I ledges and Downtown Rapids Class I-II, especially at low or changing water.
- Strainers, floating debris, muddy banks, wind on open bends, cold shoulder-season water, and private-bank limits.
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
Why this score
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 at Montevideo |
| 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 | 5.00 ft to 9.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 3.00 ft |
| High threshold | 14.00 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 at Montevideo |
| 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 sectionPrien's Landing to War Memorial Park, 18.7 mi
MN DNR's statewide recommended paddling list identifies Prien's Landing to War Memorial Park as a 18.7-mile Minnesota River section.
- Map supportPrien's RM 257.6 to War Memorial RM 238.9
MN DNR Map 2 places Prien's Landing, a watercraft campsite, the Granite Falls dam portage, Downtown Rapids, and War Memorial Park in order.
- DNR bands3 / 5-9 / 14 ft
MN DNR interprets the Montevideo gauge as Scrapable below 3 ft, Low from 3 to 5, Medium from 5 to 9, High from 9 to 14, and Very High above 14.
- Current gauge check4.54 ft at 2026-07-23 18:00 CDT
The official DNR feed placed Montevideo in the low band during this run, below the medium recommendation band.
- Public access recordsPrien's WAS01053 and War Memorial WAS00692
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.
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.
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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 Montevideo and treats 5.00 ft to 9.00 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 Minnesota River, Prien's Landing Public Water Access Site and ends at Minnesota River, War Memorial City Park Public Water Access Site, about 18.7 mi on the water.
Is this Minnesota River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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