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Minnesota | Lower Minnesota Valley
Minnesota RiverThompson Ferry to Carver Riverfront Park
Shorter lower Minnesota River day from Thompson Ferry north of Jordan to Carver. It uses the official Jordan DNR gauge ladder and keeps the route length more approachable than the longer Henderson-to-Belle Plaine run.
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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
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.
Access map
Put-in
Thompson Ferry trailer accessThompson 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.
Take-out
Carver Riverfront Park / Minnesota River public water accessCarver 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.
Road shuttle
Short 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.
Additional access notes
- The lower Minnesota River is broad and exposed enough that wind can matter even on an 8-mile route.
More route and safety guidance
- Wind, flood debris, and changing sandbars can change this short route quickly after rain or high water.
- Use the named Thompson Ferry and Carver public accesses and avoid private-bank stops.
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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 near Jordan, MN |
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| Preferred range | 9.00 ft to 12.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 4.00 ft |
| High threshold | 16.00 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 near Jordan |
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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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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