See all 19 routes on Minnesota River
Minnesota | Upper Minnesota River Valley
Minnesota River
Skalbekken County Park to Morton Access
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 Skalbekken County Park and take out at Morton Access for the long lower half of MN DNR Map 3. The Morton gauge sits at the take-out corridor and gives this route direct official bands, but distance, campsites, and Class I rapid scouting make it a planning route.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
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Put-in
Minnesota River, Skalbekken Public Water Access SiteSkalbekken resolves as WAS00685 and Morton Access resolves as WAS00670 in Minnesota public-water-access GIS with coordinates and water-trail mile records.
Take-out
Minnesota River, Morton Access Public Water Access SiteVicksburg County Park and North Redwood are mapped intermediate access/campsite contexts, but only use them if current public access, parking, and campsite rules are confirmed.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Skalbekken resolves as WAS00685 and Morton Access resolves as WAS00670 in Minnesota public-water-access GIS with coordinates and water-trail mile records.
- Vicksburg County Park and North Redwood are mapped intermediate access/campsite contexts, but only use them if current public access, parking, and campsite rules are confirmed.
- Do not rely on private banks, farm lanes, WMA/AMA edges, or informal bars for bailout or camping. Treat public exits as sparse.
Watch for
- Long-mile fatigue, rural rescue spacing, wind on open bends, muddy banks, floating debris, strainers, and fast rises after rain.
- Class I rapids near Vicksburg and Patterson Rapids, rock ledges, bluffs, and low-water shoals. Scout or portage when local conditions exceed the group.
- Private-bank limits and campsite availability. Have a legal overnight plan before treating this as more than a long day route.
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 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 |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 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 |
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.
- Current gauge check1,900 cfs at 2026-07-17 02:00
The current MN DNR feed placed Morton inside the official medium band during this run.
- Official 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.
- Route shapeAbout 34.5 river miles
MN DNR Map 3 places Skalbekken County Park at river mile 224.5, Vicksburg County Park at 210.2, North Redwood at 197.6, and Morton trailer access at 189.9.
- Public access recordsWAS00685 and WAS00670
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Skalbekken and Morton Access with public administrators, coordinates, directions, and water-trail river miles.
- Camping and hazardsVicksburg campsite; Class I rapids
DNR Map 3 identifies Vicksburg County Park with a watercraft campsite/rest area, another lower watercraft campsite near river mile 195.6, Class I rapids near Vicksburg, Patterson Rapids, and broader rock-ledge/bluff context.
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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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Minnesota River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Minnesota River?
Paddle Today watches Minnesota River at Morton, MN19 and treats 1,330 cfs to 3,750 cfs 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, Skalbekken Public Water Access Site and ends at Minnesota River, Morton Access Public Water Access Site, about About 34.5 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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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.