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Minnesota | Central Minnesota
Mississippi RiverRoyalton Sportsman's Club to Stearns County Park
Official MN DNR central-Mississippi day trip from Royalton Sportsman's Club to Mississippi River County Park / Stearns County Park, with a direct interpreted Royalton gauge and on-route campsite context.
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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
Launch at the Royalton Sportsman's Club and take out at Mississippi River County Park for MN DNR's 11.4-mile central-Mississippi day trip. The Royalton gauge is direct and officially interpreted, but the route still needs a same-day low-water and private-bank check.
Access map
Put-in
Mississippi River, Royalton Sportsman's Club Public Water Access SiteRoyalton Sportsman's Club resolves as WAS00463 at river mile 953.6 and is administered by the club; confirm fee and parking conditions before staging.
Take-out
Mississippi River County Park / Stearns County Park Public Water Access SiteMississippi River County Park / Stearns County Park resolves as WAS01283 at river mile 942.3 in Minnesota public-water-access GIS.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Mississippi River County Park / Stearns County Park first, then drive upstream to the Royalton Sportsman's Club access. The put-in is club-administered and may require a fee.
Additional access notes
- This route is upstream of Sartell Dam; do not extend downstream toward Walleye Road or Sartell without a separate plan and dam-portage awareness.
More route and safety guidance
- Some islands and shorelines are private. Use the named accesses, Seven Islands Campsite if available, and legal public stops only.
- Watch wind on open bends, floating wood after storms, anglers, and changing island channels; do not extend toward Sartell Dam without a separate route plan.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Photos and recent reports
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Recent notes from paddlers
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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 | Mississippi River nr Royalton, MN |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| Preferred range | 3,000 cfs to 9,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 2,000 cfs |
| High threshold | 12,000 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 Mississippi River near Royalton |
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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.
- Official route11.4 river miles
MN DNR Map 7 recommends Royalton Sportsman's Club at river mile 953.6 to Stearns County Park at river mile 942.2 as the central-Mississippi day trip.
- Public access recordsWAS00463 to WAS01283
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Royalton Sportsman's Club and Mississippi River County Park / Stearns County Park with matching river-mile records and coordinates.
- Official DNR bands2,000 / 3,000-9,000 / 12,000 cfs
MN DNR interprets Royalton as Scrapable below 2,000 cfs, Low from 2,000 to 3,000, Medium from 3,000 to 9,000, High from 9,000 to 12,000, and Very High above 12,000.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-222,040 cfs at 2026-07-22 14:15 CDT
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Camping and route characterSeven Islands Campsite / Michaelson Farm WMA
DNR describes islands, wooded shoreline, farmland, Michaelson Farm Wildlife Management Area, Seven Islands Campsite, and rocky riffles during low water.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
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All 39Nearby routes within 75 miles
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