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Minnesota | Southwest Minnesota
Minnesota River
War Memorial Park to Kinney Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Minnesota River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at War Memorial Park and take out at Kinney to cover the short Map 3 gap above the existing Kinney-to-Skalbekken card. Use the Montevideo DNR gauge conservatively and scout Minnesota Falls context.
Put-in
Minnesota River, War Memorial City Park Public Water Access SiteOpen mapWar Memorial and Kinney are both DNR/public-access-backed endpoints already used by adjacent current route cards.
Take-out
Minnesota River, Kinney Public Water Access SiteOpen mapThe Montevideo gauge is upstream of Granite Falls and the dam/rapid corridor, so visual checks below War Memorial matter.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- War Memorial and Kinney are both DNR/public-access-backed endpoints already used by adjacent current route cards.
- The Montevideo gauge is upstream of Granite Falls and the dam/rapid corridor, so visual checks below War Memorial matter.
- Do not continue past Kinney unless using the separate Kinney-to-Skalbekken plan.
Watch for
- Minnesota Falls and small-rapid or ledge context below Granite Falls, especially at low, high, or rising water.
- Floating debris, strainers, muddy landings, cold water, and private banks.
- Residual dam-release or local conditions that can make the upstream Montevideo gauge imperfect for this short reach.
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.
No approved route photos yet
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
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 |
| Data confidence 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.
- Recommended corridorWar Memorial Park to Morton, 49.0 miles
MN DNR recommended-one-way materials list the larger War Memorial Park-to-Morton Map 3 section; this card isolates the public-access gap to Kinney above the already-live Kinney-to-Skalbekken route.
- Map 3 supportWar Memorial RM 238.9 to Kinney RM 233.7
MN DNR Map 3 places War Memorial Park, Minnesota Falls context, Kinney Access, Fredrickson, and Skalbekken in downstream order.
- Public access recordsWar Memorial WAS00692 and Kinney WAS00694
The current app's adjacent DNR-backed trip details resolve War Memorial Park and Kinney Access with Minnesota public-water-access GIS coordinates and river-mile records.
- Official 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 check4.55 ft at 2026-07-23 19:00 CDT
The official DNR feed placed Montevideo in the low band during this run, below the medium recommendation band.
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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
Share your trip
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, War Memorial City Park Public Water Access Site and ends at Minnesota River, Kinney Public Water Access Site, about 5.2 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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.