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Minnesota | Lower Minnesota Valley

Minnesota River

Thompson Ferry to Carver Riverfront 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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Open access map
Distance8.1 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 2 hr 45 min to 4 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
Autumn leaves hang above the Minnesota River at Carver Rapids, with shallow current moving past wooded banks.
Route photoCarver Rapids on the Minnesota RiverPhoto by Mara Koenig/USFWS via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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Conditions

Gauge history and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

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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

On-water distance8.1 miThompson Ferry to Carver Riverfront Park
DifficultyeasyThe route is usually straightforward big-river paddling at normal levels. It is still an exposed lower Minnesota River day where wind, current, and landing mud can make the trip feel harder than the mileage suggests.
ShuttleCar shuttleShort lower Minnesota River car shuttle from Thompson Ferry north of Jordan to Carver. Stage the take-out in town before launching so wind or a slow current does not complicate pickup.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Follow posted public-water-access, city park, and parking rules at Thompson Ferry and Carver.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is assumed for this short lower-river segment. Treat it as a day trip.
SeasonApr-OctLate spring through fall is the practical window. The route is shorter than other lower-Minnesota trips, but wind, muddy banks, and flood debris still affect same-day quality.

Plan ahead

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Put in at Thompson Ferry and take out at Carver Riverfront Park for the DNR Map 6 recommended lower Minnesota day trip. It is shorter than the Henderson-to-Belle Plaine route while using the same official Jordan gauge ladder.

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Prepare this trip

Take the plan with you

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Start

Put-in

Thompson Ferry trailer access
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Thompson Ferry is an official public-water-access site near the Jordan gauge, but same-day riverbank mud and parking conditions can still vary after high water.

Finish

Take-out

Carver Riverfront Park / Minnesota River public water access
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Carver is an official Minnesota River public-water-access site on the riverfront; use the named access and posted parking rules rather than assuming every nearby riverfront space is a landing.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Thompson Ferry is an official public-water-access site near the Jordan gauge, but same-day riverbank mud and parking conditions can still vary after high water.
  • Carver is an official Minnesota River public-water-access site on the riverfront; use the named access and posted parking rules rather than assuming every nearby riverfront space is a landing.
  • The lower Minnesota River is broad and exposed enough that wind can matter even on an 8-mile route.

Watch for

  • Wind and wave exposure on open bends.
  • Flood debris, muddy landings, and changing sandbars after high water.
  • Private shoreland; stop only at public landings or clearly legal sites.

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.

Autumn leaves hang above the Minnesota River at Carver Rapids, with shallow current moving past wooded banks.
Carver Rapids on the Minnesota RiverPhoto by Mara Koenig/USFWS via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC BY 2.0

Score & sources

Why this score

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Read quality
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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.

Why
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Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteMinnesota River near Jordan, MN
Gauge heightChecking
DischargeChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Target band9.00 ft to 12.00 ft
Low threshold4.00 ft
High threshold16.00 ft
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreMN DNR river-level interpretation bands for Minnesota River near Jordan
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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.

    Source

  • Recommended trip8.1 river miles

    MN DNR Map 6 recommends Thompson Ferry Access to Carver Riverfront Park as an 8.1-mile lower Minnesota River day trip.

    Source

  • Public access recordsDNR access IDs WAS01222 and WAS02646

    Minnesota public-water-access data identifies Thompson Ferry Public Water Access at river mile 40.1 and Carver Public Water Access at river mile 32.0.

    Source

  • Primary cautionsWind, mud, 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.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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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.

More in Minnesota

All 232 routes
Minnesota route guideBrowse every tracked Minnesota route.Lower Minnesota ValleyJump to routes in this region.

More on Minnesota River

All 19
Belle Plaine to Carver Riverfront ParkLower Minnesota ValleyEasy · 18.6 miBelle Plaine to Thompson FerryLower Minnesota ValleyEasy · 10.5 miBuessman Bridge to Riverside ParkSouthern MinnesotaEasy · 5.2 miCamp Release to Prien's LandingUpper Minnesota River ValleyEasy · About 8.0 mi

Nearby routes by distance

Minnehaha CreekGray's Bay to Longfellow Lagoon · about 20 mi awayEasy · 21.3 miSouth Fork Crow RiverRick Johnson Park to Lake Rebecca Park Reserve · about 21 mi awayModerate · 14.3 miMississippi RiverHidden Falls to Harriet Island · about 26 mi awayModerate · 6.5 miMississippi RiverEast River Flats to Hidden Falls Regional Park · about 28 mi awayModerate · 5 mi

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 Thompson Ferry trailer access and ends at Carver Riverfront Park / Minnesota River public water access, about 8.1 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.

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