Paddling Southern Minnesota: 85 Great Trips by Canoe and Kayak »

If you think Minnesota paddling begins and ends in the Boundary Waters, a pleasant surprise awaits you! Here is your guide to 85 adventures on the rivers and streams of the Gopher State's southern half. The Diebels guide you through peaceful, meandering streams, the most challenging whitewater adventures- and everything in between. Young, old, beginner and expert will find Paddling Southern Minnesota a trusted companion on the water. You'll Find: Precise maps showing roads, put-ins and take-outs, rapids, dams, hazards, campsites, and more. Concise, entertaining trip descriptions that enlighten you to the scenery and points of interest along the way. Information on gradients, water levels, shuttle routes, canoe and kayak rentals, camping facilities, and more. Tips on how to stay safe, have fun, and help protect our rivers and streams for the future.

Acknowledgments     6
Introduction     7
River Trips
Big Cobb River
County Road 10 to County Road 16     20
County Road 16 to County Road 16 on the Le Sueur River     22
Blue Earth River
Rapidan Dam to Sibley Park     24
Cannon River
Faribault to Northfield     26
Waterford Iron Bridge to Lake Byllesby County Park     28
Cannon Falls to U.S. Highway 61     30
U.S. Highway 61 to Bay Point Park on the Mississippi River     32
Chippewa River
Shakopee Creek to Highway 40     34
Highway 40 to Watson Lion's Club Park     36
Cottonwood River
County Road 10 to County Road 11     38
County Road 11 to Cottonwood Street     40
Crow River
Lake Rebecca Park to Riverside County Park     42
Riverside County Park to Mississippi River     44
Crow River, North Fork
Highway 22 to Forest City     46
Forest City to Kingston     48
Des Moines River, West Fork
Windom to County Road 19     50
County Road 19 to Jackson     52
Elk River
166th Street to Lake Orono Park     54
Hawk Creek
U.S. Highway 212 to Minnesota River     56
High Island Creek
371st Avenue to County Road 6     58
Lac Qui Parle River
Lac qui Parle County Park to Lac qui Parle State Park     60
Le Sueur River
County Road 41 to County Road 8     62
County Road 8 to Red Jacket Park     64
Long Prairie River
County Road 38 to County Road 11     66
County Road 11 to County Road 56     68
County Road 56 to County Road 14     70
County Road 14 to Oak Ridge Road     72
Oak Ridge Road to County Road 7     74
Maple River
County Road 10 to County Road 35     76
County Road 35 to Red Jacket Park on Le Sueur River     78
Minnehaha Creek
Grays Bay Dam to Utley Park     80
Utley Park to Minnehaha Parkway     82
Minnesota River
Kinney Landing to Skalbekken County Park     84
Skalbekken County Park to Vicksburg County Park     86
Vicksburg County Park to County Road 1     88
Mississippi River
St. Cloud
Beaver Island Trail Park to Clearwater     90
Metro
Boom Island Park to Hidden Falls Park     92
Pool 5A
Lock and Dam 5 to Verchota Landing     94
Plate River
County Road 26 to Mississippi River     96
Pomme de Terre River
U.S. Highway 12 to Appleton     98
Appleton to Marsh Lake     100
Rice Creek
Poppyseed Drive to Locke Lake     102
Root River
Chatfield Access to Parsley Bridge     104
Parsley Bridge to Moen's Bridge     106
Moen's Bridge to Highway 16/Lanesboro Access     108
Highway 16/Lanesboro Access to Peterson Access     110
Peterson Access to Rushford Access     112
Root River, South Branch
Preston Access to Lanesboro     114
Rum River
County Road 27 to Wayside Landing     116
Wayside Landing to Milaca Recreation Park     118
Riverview Park to County Road 12     120
County Road 14 to Martin's Landing     122
Martin's Landing to St. Francis     124
St. Francis to County Road 7     126
Rush River, North Branch
401st Avenue to 300th Street     128
300th Street to Highway 93     130
St. Croix River
Wisconsin Highway 35 to Highway 48/77     132
Highway 48/77 to Norway Point Landing     134
Norway Point Landing to Highway 70     136
Highway 70 to Sunrise River Landing     138
Sunrise River Landing to Wild River Landing     140
Interstate Park to William O'Brien State Park     142
Sand Creek
County Road 8 to Lagoon Park 144
Sauk River
Cold Spring to Knights of Columbus Park      146
Knights of Columbus Park to Mississippi River     148
Snake River
Aitkin County Park to Ford Township Bridge     150
Ford Township Bridge to County Road 3     152
County Road 3 to County Road 6     154
County Road 6 to County Road 11     156
County Road 11 to Little Walleye Landing     158
Cross Lake Dam to St. Croix River     160
Straight River
Owatonna to Medford     162
Medford to Faribault     164
Sunrise River
Kost Dam Park to St. Croix River     166
Vermillion River
Ravenna Trail to DNR Landing     168
Watonwan River
County Road 32 to County Road 20     170
County Road 20 to Garden City     172
Whitewater River
County Road 26 to Highway 74 Landing     174
Yellow Medicine River
560th Street to Highway 67     176
Zumbro River
County Road 7 to Zumbro Falls     178
Zumbro Falls to Millville     180
Millville to Theilman     182
Theilman to Kruger     184
Zumbro River, North Fork
Zumbrota to County Road 7     186
Zumbro River, South Branch of the Middle Fork
Mantorville to Oxbow Park     188
Appendixes
Trip Distances, Gradients, and Skill Levels      190
Resources for Paddlers     192
On the Rivers with Joseph N. Nicollet and George W. Featherstonhaugh     193
Paddling Instruction and Paddling Clubs in or Near Minnesota     194
Environmental Organizations Focused on Rivers     195
10 Easy Ways to Make a River Happy     197
Useful Web Sites     197