The following is a press release from the Minnesota River Watershed Alliance:

The Minnesota River cuts diagonally across the southern part of the state until it hits Mankato where it flows northeast to the confluence with the Mississippi River. You can paddle the entire 335 miles from Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge all the way through the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. In between a person there is a lot of rural America with a dash of urban life here and there.

On the upper stretch a paddler will find challenging conditions with a smaller meandering river flowing through heavily forested stretches and in some places fallen trees covering the channel. At times it is easy to get confused on whether you are even in the right channel. The benefits of paddling this first stretch is the amount of wildlife you will see including the ever elusive river otter.

After making your way into the Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area you paddle into Marsh Lake, a 5,000-acre shallow reservoir created in 1938 as a water conservation project by Works Progress Administration. At the end of the lake you will portage over an earthen dam and into the upper end of Lac qui Parle Lake, another long and narrow reservoir filled with cattails, waterfowl and other wildlife.

The Minnesota River flows back to its original channel on the opposite end of the U.S. Corps of Engineer operated dam. Shoreline fishing is a popular activity here and look for a place to rest and clean drinking water. Downstream is the first urban area – Montevideo with a chance to stock up with supplies and a spot for spending the night.

As the river continues to meander its way to the southeast you will paddle past the city of Granite Falls with a new organization called Granite Falls Riverfront Revitalization working to embrace the Minnesota River flowing through the community. Here and a few miles downstream will be the last two dams on the Minnesota River.

From Granite Falls to Morton you will discover a landscape dominated by large granite outcroppings and boulders. Stop at any of the parks and natural areas on this stretch including Upper Sioux Agency State Park, Gneiss Scientific and Natural Area, and the Renville County parks. This stretch also has the infamous Patterson Rapids and with it a chance for a little whitewater.

Paddlers can embrace a lot of river with few signs of humans including bridges, towns and buildings. What you will come across sandbars, a diverse selection of fish and miles of miles without seeing another soul. The Minnesota River pushes it way past Fort Ridgely State Park, numerous wildlife management areas and Harkin Store to the community of New Ulm.

Check out the Minnesota DNR web site: www.mndnr.gov/watertrails for more information on paddling the Minnesota River and other rivers across the state. Paddling the rest of the Minnesota River and its tributaries will be covered in future additions of the Minnesota River Minute.

For anyone who paddles the entire Minnesota River either in one paddle or by segments, the Minnesota River Watershed Alliance is offering a paddle patch or decal as a way to help connect people to our rivers. The Minnesota River Watershed hopes their Minnesota River Paddler Program will spark a greater appreciation for the rivers and natural environment.  

The Minnesota River Minute highlights what is happening across the Minnesota River Watershed, courtesy of the Minnesota River Watershed Alliance.  This regular feature covers various aspects of the watershed including current events, history, natural characteristics, and much more.

The Minnesota River Watershed Alliance (Watershed Alliance) is an organized network of citizens, public agencies and private organizations dedicated to communicating the benefits of an ecologically healthy Minnesota River Watershed to others and are actively working toward its improvement and protection.  The Watershed Alliance meets four times a year and encourages landowners and recreational users of the river to be part of this effort.