See all 3 routes on Straight River
Minnesota | Southern Minnesota
Straight RiverCounty Road 45 to Medford City Park
Short middle Straight River connector below Clinton Falls from County Road 45 to Medford City Park, filling the public-access gap between the existing upper and lower Straight River cards.
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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 County Road 45 and take out at Medford City Park for the short Straight River split below Clinton Falls. Use the downstream Faribault DNR gauge as a conservative proxy and make a visual call at the put-in.
Access map
Put-in
Straight River, County Road 45 Public Water Access SiteCounty Road 45 resolves as WAS02043 at river mile 20.8 and Medford resolves as WAS02042 at river mile 17.2 in Minnesota public-water-access GIS.
Take-out
Straight River, Medford Public Water Access SiteThis card starts below the Clinton Falls portage area and ends before the downstream former Walcott Mill Dam / Kroghs route. Do not stretch either direction without a separate plan.
Road shuttle
Stage Medford City Park first, then drive back to the County Road 45 access. This is a short shuttle, but inspect both landings because narrow-river wood or low water can quickly decide whether the route is worth running.
Additional access notes
- The Faribault gauge is downstream of the selected reach, so local shallow spots or wood at County Road 45 can make the route unsuitable even when the gauge is in the official medium band.
More route and safety guidance
- Take out at Medford City Park before the lower Straight route toward the former Walcott Mill Dam / Kroghs Landing corridor.
- Expect quick rises, fresh wood, cold shoulder-season water, shallow riffles, and private banks on a narrow farm-country river.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
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 map sequenceCounty Road 45 river mile 20.8 to Medford river mile 17.1
MN DNR Cannon / Straight Map 1 marks County Road 45 carry-in access, the County Road 12 bridge, Medford City Park trailer access with rest area, toilets, and water, and the downstream Faribault gauge sequence.
- Public access recordsWAS02043 to WAS02042
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves County Road 45 and Medford as Straight River public access sites with coordinates and river-mile records.
- DNR bands182 / 220-1,370 / 1,640 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Faribault gauge as Scrapable below 182 cfs, Low from 182 to 220, Medium from 220 to 1,370, High from 1,370 to 1,640, and Very High above 1,640.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23583 cfs at 2026-07-23 07:15 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.
- Straight River characterNarrow, fast, seasonal, snag-prone
DNR says the Straight varies from 30 to 80 feet wide and one to four feet deep, has mild rapids, fast water, rocky narrow channels, snags, and is often too low for enjoyable paddling by July.
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
More on Straight River
All 3Nearby routes within 75 miles
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