See all 2 routes on Redwood River
Minnesota | Southwest Minnesota
Redwood River
Vesta to Wabasso
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
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
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
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 Vesta and finish at Wabasso for the middle Redwood state-water-trail access gap. The Redwood Falls DNR gauge was current but in the official low band during this run, so expect scraping and slower travel unless local depth looks better.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Redwood River, Vesta Public Water Access SiteVesta resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS02156 at Redwood River mile 28.9.
Take-out
Redwood River, Wabasso Public Water Access SiteWabasso resolves as WAS00004 at river mile 13.3 and is the selected finish for this card.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Vesta resolves in Minnesota public-water-access GIS as WAS02156 at Redwood River mile 28.9.
- Wabasso resolves as WAS00004 at river mile 13.3 and is the selected finish for this card.
- The gauge is downstream at Redwood Falls, below the take-out. Use it as official lower-river guidance, not a substitute for launch-depth checks at Vesta and Wabasso.
Watch for
- Low-water scraping while the Redwood Falls gauge is below the official medium band.
- Wood, overhanging trees, bridge debris, powerline crossings, muddy banks, and fast rises after thunderstorms.
- Private agricultural shoreland and limited rural rescue exposure between the named public accesses.
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
Data and sources
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 | Redwood River nr Redwood Falls, MN |
| 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 | 116 cfs to 1,740 cfs |
| Low threshold | 16 cfs |
| High threshold | 3,000 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 Redwood River near Redwood Falls |
| 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.
- Official map routeVesta RM 28.9 to Wabasso RM 13.3, about 15.6 miles
MN DNR Map 3 places Vesta, County Road 10, County Road 7, Harvest Avenue, County Road 30, Wabasso, and Sheridan Wildlife Management Area in order on the Redwood River.
- Public access recordsWAS02156 to WAS00004
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Vesta and Wabasso as DNR-administered public Redwood River access sites with coordinates, directions, and river miles.
- Official DNR bands16 / 116-1,740 / 3,000 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Redwood Falls gauge as Scrapable below 16 cfs, Low from 16 to 116, Medium from 116 to 1,740, High from 1,740 to 3,000, and Very High above 3,000.
- Current gauge check31.5 cfs at 2026-07-24 02:00 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Redwood Falls in the official low band during this run.
- Water-trail contextMost canoeable reach begins near Marshall and ends at Lake Redwood
MN DNR says the Redwood River is a state water trail and that its most canoeable portion begins near Marshall and ends at Lake Redwood in Redwood Falls.
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
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Redwood River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Redwood River?
Paddle Today watches Redwood River nr Redwood Falls, MN and treats 116 cfs to 1,740 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Redwood River route start and end?
This route starts at Redwood River, Vesta Public Water Access Site and ends at Redwood River, Wabasso Public Water Access Site, about About 15.6 mi on the water.
Is this Redwood 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
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.