See all 5 routes on Zumbro River
Minnesota | Southeast Minnesota
Zumbro River
Hammond Village Park to Theilman
Check current paddling conditions for this Zumbro River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
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
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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 Hammond Village Park and take out at Theilman for the missing Zumbro Map 2 connector above the existing Theilman-to-Kruger card. The Zumbro Falls DNR gauge is current and official, but today it is below the preferred medium band.
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
Zumbro River, Hammond Village Park Public Water Access SiteHammond Village Park resolves as WAS00253 at river mile 38.2 in public-water-access GIS, while DNR Map 2 labels the Hammond/Village Park access at about river mile 39.0.
Take-out
Zumbro River, Theilman Public Water Access SiteTheilman resolves as WAS02185 at river mile 23.0 and is the planned finish; do not drift downstream into the existing Theilman-to-Kruger reach unless that extra route is staged.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Hammond Village Park resolves as WAS00253 at river mile 38.2 in public-water-access GIS, while DNR Map 2 labels the Hammond/Village Park access at about river mile 39.0.
- Theilman resolves as WAS02185 at river mile 23.0 and is the planned finish; do not drift downstream into the existing Theilman-to-Kruger reach unless that extra route is staged.
- Use mapped public accesses and designated campsites only. Private banks, farm crossings, and unmanaged roads are not assumed legal exits.
Watch for
- Hammond Rapids, lively current, snags, logs, and fresh strainers after storms.
- Flash-flood response after heavy rain; a stable gauge trend and local visual check matter more than the number alone.
- Low-water scraping when the Zumbro Falls gauge is in the official low band, cold water in shoulder seasons, and limited mid-route services.
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
Why this score
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 | Zumbro River at Zumbro Falls, MN |
| 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 | 7.00 ft to 9.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 5.20 ft |
| High threshold | 10.50 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 Zumbro River at Zumbro 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 route shapeHammond RM 39.0 to Theilman RM 23.0
MN DNR Zumbro Map 2 places Village Park / Hammond and Theilman public accesses in sequence, with Hammond Rapids just below the put-in and watercraft-campsite context downstream.
- Public access recordsWAS00253 to WAS02185
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Hammond Village Park and Theilman as Zumbro River public access sites with coordinates and river-mile records.
- Official DNR bands5.2 / 7.0-9.0 / 10.5 ft
MN DNR interprets Zumbro Falls as Scrapable below 5.2 ft, Low from 5.2 to 7.0, Medium from 7.0 to 9.0, High from 9.0 to 10.5, and Very High above 10.5.
- Current gauge check5.93 ft at 2026-07-22 15:30 CDT
The current MN DNR feed placed Zumbro Falls in the official low band during this run, below the preferred medium band.
- Camping contextMapped watercraft campsite support
DNR Map 2 identifies watercraft campsite support on the Hammond-to-Theilman corridor; use only mapped/designated sites and check current rules before planning an overnight.
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
Zumbro River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Zumbro River?
Paddle Today watches Zumbro River at Zumbro Falls, MN and treats 7.00 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 Zumbro River route start and end?
This route starts at Zumbro River, Hammond Village Park Public Water Access Site and ends at Zumbro River, Theilman Public Water Access Site, about About 16.0 mi on the water.
Is this Zumbro 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.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.