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A S TAT E WAT E R T R A I L G U I D E T O T H E M I N N E S O TA R I V E R ( I n c l u d e s t h e R e d w o o d R i v e r )

Route Descriptions of the Minnesota & Redwood RiversNOTE: (R) and (L) represent right and left banks of the river when facing downstream.

Carry-in Access

Water Access

Rest Area

Watercraft Campsite

Campground

River Mile

Rapids

Dam

Fishing Pier

Drinking Water

Outfitter

NORTH

Designated Public Land

Tribal Land

1 2 3 4 Miles0

1 2 3 4 Kilometers0

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W.M.A. = Wildlife Management Area

S.N.A. = Scientific and Natural Area

Western Continuation of the Redwood River

243.3242.2 (L)241.5 (R)241.3239.7239.1238.6 (R)

236.4233.7 (R)232.3 (R)231.0 (L)230.6 (L)226.9 (R)

225.3 (R)225.0 (L)224.6224.3 (L)

221.9 (R)217.6215.3214.0 (R)213.9212.5 (R)211.1-210.3210.6 (L)209.1 (L)

209.0206.8206.5 (L)205.1204.3 (L)200.8 (L)200.4 (R)197.5 (R)197.1 (R)

195.6 (R)194.1 (L)191.3 (R)189.7 (R)188.9186.2 (L)178.4 (R)179.4 (L)

Watercraft campsite, class I rapidsConfluence of Palmer Creek.Roe water access.Class I rapids.Dam, portage right 250 yards. City of Granite Falls.Highway 67 bridge.War Memorial Park water access, watercraft campsite and drinking water.Dam, portage right 200 yards.Water access, town of Kinney.Confluence of Hazel Creek.Watercraft campsite.Water access, town of Frederickson.Upper Sioux Agency State Park, vehicle permit required. Water access, watercraft campsite anddrinking water.Confluence of Yellow Medicine River.Confluence of Hawk Creek.County Road 10 bridge.Skalbekken County Park, carry-in access and watercraft campsite.Confluence of Wood Lake Creek.County Road 7 bridge.Class I rapids.Confluence of Boiling Spring Creek.County Road 19 bridgeConfluence of Echo Creek.Class I rapids.Confluence of Sacred Heart Creek.Vicksburg County Park water access and watercraft campsite.County Road 6 bridge.Patterson’s Rapids (Class I)Confluence of Timms Creek.County Road 17 bridge.Confluence of Middle Creek.Confluence of Smith Creek.Confluence of Camp Pope Creek.Water access, County Road 1 bridge.Confluence of Redwood River. City ofRedwood FallsWatercraft campsite.Confluence of Beaver Creek.Confluence of Crow Creek.Water access.Highway 17/19 bridge.Confluence of Birch Coulee Creek.Confluence of Wabasha Creek.Water access, watercraft campsite and rest area. County Road 11 bridge, town of Franklin.

Minnesota River Miles 171.5 (L)170.7 (L)

167.4 (R)167.4 (L)164.4 (L)163.3 (L)159.5 (L)153.0 (L)152.0 (L)

Confluence of Threemile Creek.Mack Lake County Park carry-in access and watercraft campsite.Kettner’s Landing water access.Watercraft campsite.Confluence of Fort Ridgely Creek.Water access, Highway 4 bridge.Confluence of Spring Creek.Confluence of Little Rock Creek.Harkin Store carry-in access. CAUTION: steep bank.

Redwood River Miles

59.156.856.054.753.0

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County Road 33 bridge, town of Marshall.300th Street bridgeBridge.Bridge.Highway 23 Bridge, town of Green Valley, Class I rapids.280th. Avenue Bridge, Class I rapids.County Road 73/290th. Avenue bridge.Confluence of Threemile Creek.County Road 9 bridge.Class I rapids.Possible portage point.County Road 11 bridge.Aspen Avenue bridge.Balsa Avenue bridge.County Road 8 bridge.County Road 59 bridge.Faxvog WMA carry-in access, Highway 19 bridge, Eagle Avenue bridge.County Road 10 bridge, town of Vesta.County Road 7 bridge, town of Seaforth, Garden Avenue bridge.Confluence of Clear Creek, Harvest Avenue bridge.Township Road 65 bridge.Class I rapids.Trader water access, County Road 6 bridge, Class I rapids.Class I rapids.Township Road 17 bridge, Class I rapids.Lake Redwood.Westside Park water access, town of Redwood Falls.Highway 19 Bridge and Dam. Impassable with no portage. Vehicle shuttle downstream to Ramsey Park is recommended.Alexander Ramsey City Park.Confluence of Ramsey Creek, County 31 bridge.Ramsey Park Campground, Class I rapids.County Road 101 bridge.Confluence of Minnesota River.

The Minnesota River

A gentle river seldom interrupted by rapids, the Minnesota is one of the few canoeable rivers in southwestern Minnesota and offers some of the most impressive landscapes in this part of the state.

The stretch between Granite Falls and Minnesota Highway 4 is rich in Minnesota history. From Granite Falls to North Redwood the Minnesota flows through an area of granite outcrops. Some outcrops are the oldest rocks discovered in North America, dating back more than three billion years. The banks along this stretch of river are heavily forested with maple, elm, cottonwood and willow. Away from the river the high granite domes are covered with cedar and oak.

Before the 1862 Dakota Conflict, the Upper Sioux Agency (river mile 240) was one of the dispersal points where the U.S. government distributed food, supplies and annual payments to the Dakota Indians, who were confined by treaties to reservations along the river.

The agency was also an educational center where Indians were taught farming, carpentry and other skills valued by white civilization. During the uprising white settlers abandoned the agency and the Dakota burned it to the ground. Today the area is preserved in Upper Sioux Agency State Park.

Patterson’s Rapids (river mile 225.9) is a short stretch of whitewater tumbling over a bed of glacial drift boulders. The rapids fall about five feet in one-third of a mile and are of intermediate difficulty at normal water levels.

The rapids were named after Charles Patterson, an early trader who established a trading post at the rapids in 1783. Sacred Heart Creek, which enters the Minnesota here, and the nearby town of Sacred Heart also owe their names to Patterson. The trader wore a bearskin hat and, since the bear was a sacred animal to the Dakota, they called him the Sacred Hat man; this name later became Sacred Heart.

The area near Patterson’s Rapids was the site of a short-lived gold rush in the 1890s. Discovered in 1894, the gold vein was soon depleted and the boom town of Springville became a ghost town. In the summer of 1862 the Dakota faced starvation when their government annuities were delayed by bureaucratic red tape. During the resultant Dakota Conflict the Indians attacked settlements throughout the river valley and prepared to overrun the small garrison at Fort Ridgely. Chief Big Eagle later explained, “We thought the fort was the door to the valley as far as to St. Paul, and this if we got through the door nothing could stop us this side of the Mississippi.”

Valley settlers, some escaping the Dakota by means of the Redwood Ferry (river mile 198.8), had flocked to the fort for protection. There they withstood Indian attacks until they were relieved by state troops. The fort area is now preserved in Fort Ridgely State Park.

Wildlife The Minnesota River is a haven for bird life. Several species of waterfowl and wetland birds use the river corridor for nesting, breeding and resting during migration. Pheasants and gray (hungarian) partridge find thick cover in the river valley for nesting and for protection from harsh winter storms.

Fishing The Minnesota also supports a large and relatively diverse fish population. Although carp and other riverine fish predominate, anglers searching the snags and roots wads can occasionally hook flathead catfish exceeding 40 pounds. Anglers searching river runs and pools can also hook channel catfish exceeding 10 pounds.

Walleye, sauger, and white bass are fairly numerous and vulnerable to angling when congregated. Anglers may also catch an occasional northern pike, smallmouth bass, and shovelnose sturgeon. Anglers fishing backwaters areas can occasionally find bluegill and black

crappie.

Anglers should continue to report tagged flathead catfish to Department of natural Resources, Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area, 20596 State Highway 7, Hutchinson, MN 55350.

Planning a Safe River Trip A successful river trip is safe. To enjoy a safe journey, you should be prepared by acquainting yourself with your route. Choose a distance that is comfortable for you. Water levels can speed up or slow down your trip: get information about water levels from the regional DNR office, DNR website, or DNR Information Center. Protect the water and shorelands and leave nothing behind you except footprints. Remember that much of the shorelands are privately owned. Trip Planning• Travel with a companion or group. Plan your trip with a map before you depart and advise someone of your plans, including planned departure and arrival times.• Most people paddle two to three river miles per hour.• Bring a first-aid kit that includes waterproof matches.

• Be cautious of river obstructions, such as overhanging and dead trees in the river.• You must pack out all trash.• Leave only footprints; take only photographs!

Boating Information• Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device that state law requires to be on board the craft.• Bring an extra paddle.• Not all portions of this water trail are suitable for motor use.• Register your watercraft. All watercraft more than 9 feet in length, including nonmotorized canoes and kayaks, must be registered in Minnesota or your state of residence.

Rest Areas and Camping Sites• Public rest areas are available along the route to rest, picnic and explore.• Camp only in designated campsites, which are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• Bring drinking water. It is only available at a limited number of rest areas. Drinking river water is not recommended, but if you do it must be treated.• Respect private property. Stop only at designated sites; much of the shoreland is private property.• Be sanitary! Use designated toilet facilities or bury human waste away from the river.

Sustainable Ecosystems Outdoor recreation is dependent on a healthy and attractive natural environment. Sustainable outdoor recreation enables people to enjoy the outdoors without negative impacts on the environment.

Communities working together can improve water resources by promoting environmentally sensitive land-use practices along rivers and throughout watersheds. Natural shoreline buffers improve water quality by filtering out pollutants and sediments.

Healthy and diverse native shoreline plant communities are attractive and provide important habitat for birds and wildlife.

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You can make a difference by joining the DNR Adopt-a-River Program. Be a clean up volunteer for a portion of your favorite recreation area. Call the DNR Information Center for a brochure, or visit www.mndnr.gov/adoptariver.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This information is available in alternativeformat upon request.

Minnesota State Parks and TrailsArea Office

DNR Information CenterThe DNR’s Information Center is available to provide free publications of

facilities and services as well as answers questions pertaining to DNR recreational opportunities in Minnesota.

The DNR Information Center500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4040651-296-6157 (Metro Area)1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367 MN Toll-Free)TTY: 651-296-5484 (Metro Area)TTY: 1-800-657-3929 (MN Toll-Free)www.mndnr.gov

Online water trail information and maps can be found at www.mndnr.gov/watertrails

The Upper Minnesota River Valley is one of the most impressive landscapes in southwestern Minnesota. The vegetation found along the floodplain-silver maple, willow, cottonwood and ash-is a pleasing contrast to the upland bluffs of red cedar and pockets of prairie grasses.

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A STATE WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE MINNESOTA RIVER (Granite Falls to Highway 4)

10590 County Road 8 NESpicer, MN 56288

(320) 796-2161

All Photos: MN DNRCover Photo: Granite Falls

© 2012 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

NaturalShorelands40% evaporation

10% runoff

50% infiltration

AlteredShorelands30% evaporation

55% runoff15% infiltration

MINNESOTA

RIVER A STATE WATER

TRAIL Guide

Minnesota State Parks and Trailswww.mndnr.gov/watertrails

2 of 4 - Granite Falls to Highway 4

includes the Redwood River