A STATE WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE RIVER (LeSueur to )

92 55 110110 35E RAMSEY CO. St. Paul er iv DAKOTA CO. LakeLaakeakk RAMSEY CO. R 13 St. Bonifaciusonififaac Lake HENNEPIN CO. 7 NokomisN 5 3 149 Hidden MinneapolisMinneapneappoolis Falls 44 M Carry-in Access 1010 WWaconiaaconia issi 13 Lilydale W.M..M.A.M A. HENNEPINHENNNNEPINEP CO.CO. ssippi / 62 CCARVERARVERV CO.CO. St. Paul Water Access International Airport Area 5 110 30 1111 77 Snelling Lake Sunfishunfish LakeLake LakeLake Richfield Snelling Rest Area WaconiaWaconia Lake Gun Ft. Snelling State Park Mendotaeennnddotadota 52 Club 149 Lake 55 ictoria ark Campground 494 P NormandaleNormanrmaandalendnd 35 akeakke Watercraft Campsite 32 26 PiersonsPiersonssons LakeLake Ninemile Bavariai Lake 5 LLakeake 1818 Eden t Snelling State 35E 34 35W r 13 Drinking Water 101 Lake Fo HazeltineHazeltinenee 1 5 Riley 4 Bush Cr. LLakeake Riley Kennaly’s Lake Hyland 17 Creek MarshMarsh 14 1 Recreation River Mile 43 LLakeake Upgrala Lake 1 Shakopee WildlifeCr. 169 Long Meadow 111 Unit Russel 212 Bloomington 284284 MINNESOTA Rapids Rice Lake Grass Lake SSchneewindchneh ewind 1010 ChaskaCha 41 20 WW.M.A..M.A.M 1 77 140140 ska HENNEPIN CO. Cedar Raquet 25 Blue Refuge Lake W.M.A. 10 30 Dam Creek Lake And Fisher Black Dog National Huber Lake RIVER MillerMiller RR trestle City Bloomington Black Dog Park 153153 LakeLake 1400 and log jam " Wilke Rice Ferry Unit Preserve S.N.A. Lake Chaska Unit Designated Public 30 16 15 Bentonn Winkle Park . Area Shakopee 169 r Land DahlgrenDahlgren Old Swing Bridge (no bridge) C 13 212212 Chaska Lake 13 Unit Nyssens Rice Lake Savage Lake Eagle Unit 212212 40 Unit C SCOTT CO. Carver 17 Savage Fen DAKOT Carver 16 r edit Ri Burnsville Cologneo 83 S.N.A. CCarver County 16 5 Park #1 Creek 21 ver 35W 153153 Prior Lake 38 W.M.A. = Wildlife Management Area Rapids Gifford 15 Lake Lake W.M.A. 13 S.N.A. = Scientific and Natural Area Carver Unit Unit 42 35 Thole ’DowdDDoow osemountu Lake akekek 42 Sand 169

Bevens 14 MariaMaria Carver Valley Schneidern NORTH LakeLake Rapids LakeLakeke Unit 40 0 12345 Miles C redit 46 Creek Cr. 0 12345 Kilometers Creek 1717

Thompson Recreation Assumptionu i Silver Ferry Louisville Swamp W.M.A.W.M.A.MA. Unit 5151 Unit 1616 RIVER 40 1515 Thompson 52 Ferry 31 3 GeisGeis 9 Riv 5 45 LakeLake er W 91 ashington CARVERC CO. 40 LLakeake SIBLEY CO. 2525 45 Faxon MinnesotaPossible fee W.M.A. Belle charged Jordan Plaine State 1313 14 169 FishFish 25 Bevens LakeLake 21 CreekC Creek reekk Sand PorPorter Route Description of the Minnesota River OTA MINNES 1515 50 Lawrence Unit 11 CynthiaC 8 8 LakeLake 8 NOTE: (R) and (L) represent right and left banks 40.1 (R) Thompson Ferry water access, County 26.0- (L) Minnesota Valley National Wildlife SCOTT CO. CreekCreek of the river when facing downstream. Road 45/9 bridge. Minnesota Valley 19.7 Refuge - Upgrala Unit. 55 SilverSilver 5 State Recreation Area - Thompson Ferry 27 6 Belle 22.3 (L) LakeLake Plaine Valley RIVER MILE Unit. Riley Creek . 7 64 Blakely 5959 40.1- Minnesota Valley National Wildlife 20.6- Minnesota Valley National Wildlife 1919 75.0 (L) Sibley & Nicollet county lines. 33.8 Refuge - Louisville Swamp Unit (river 15.0 Refuge - Wilkie Unit (river left and right), ant Pleas right) and Rapids Lake Unit (river left). Rice Lake Unit (river right) and Karnitz WW.M.A..M.A.. LakeLake 74.2 (R) Water access, city of Le Sueur/ Highway 60 BraBradBradshawdshd haw LaLLakeakeak Bloomington Ferry Unit (river left). 169 5 WW.M.A..M.M A. 93 bridge. drinking water, rest area, 7 watercraft campsite (permit required). 37.0- Carver Rapids. At normal summer Creek MaMarshrsh ake

L 36.0 levels (6.5’) larger boulders are present 15.6 (R) Eagle Creek confluence. 1212 W.M.A..A. 71.6 (R) Le Sueur Creek confluence/ Highway 169 at the upper rapids and some turbulence 6 Cr. Clark Lake PheasPheasantsasantsas n Foreeverver St.StS . PPatrickatrick bridge. is present at the lower rapids. Some 14.0 City of Savage. W.M.A. Module ##3 WW.M.A..M.A. 6767 Cedar Lake 53 MahoMahoney’sooney’s W.M.A.W.M.A.MA maneuvering may be required. In higher WW.M.M.A. 70.0 (L) Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area - water, these rapids are not present. 13.3 (R) Credit River confluence. Island rt 21 Rush River Unit. HighHi obe RoberR 11 12.9 (R) Scott & Dakota county lines. ValeV Clark 69.6 (L) Rush River confluence. 33.8 (R) Sand Creek confluence. W.M.A.W.M Minnesota Lake 7 1515 1313 12.1 (L) Ninemile Creek confluence 68.0 (R) Robert Creek confluence. Henderson 65 33.8- Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area Blakely Unit Pheasantsheeasantse n ForForeverrever Mi Station carry-in access. Moduleodl #1 WW.M.A..M.A.. W.M.A.. 24.6 - Gifford and Nyssens Lakes Units. 10.4 (L) Russel water access, Interstate 35W (MVSRA) 3 RRavenaven NewN PraguePraguea u bridge. 5 67.0 (L) Water access. City of Henderson/ SCOTTCOOOTTTT CO.CO. WW.M.A..M.A. 19 Highway 19 bridge. Henderson 19 1313 19 19 32.3- (L) Minnesota Valley National Wildlife 10.4- Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Henderson LEESESUE SUEURSUEEUEEUR CO.CO. 30.1 Refuge - Chaska Lake Unit. 3.8 Refuge - BlackDog and Long Meadow

19 Station 66.0 Enter Scott County. Lakes Units.

RICE C

RICE CO. LE

LE SUEUR CO. 32.3 Railroad trestle and large log jam. May E 62 E SUEUR C 2929 61.0 (L) High Island Creek confluence. be impassible. Town of Carver, Carver 6.8 (R) Cedar water access, Highway 77 bridge, 11 County Park Number 1, rest area, river enter .

Henderson 57.5 County Road 1 bridge, town of Blakely.

E 1313 E

52 left. O

30 O 6.8-0 Fort Snelling State Park.

R . . 52.7 (R) Robert Creek confluence. Rush River Unit 32.0 (L) Carver water access. 93 6.1 (R) Kennaley’s Creek confluence. (MVSRA) TTiietz 50.4 (L) Water access, city of Belle Plain/Highway LLaake O 30.0 (L) Winkel Park water access. City of ush R . 25 bridge. Chaska, Chaska Creek confluence, 3.8 bridge. River 70 Highway 41 bridge. StSt. ThomasTho 50.4-44.0 Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area - 3.0 (L) Carry-in access. Creek LakeLakL keke W.M.A.A 31 Lawrence Unit. 25.4 (L) Raquet Wildlife Management Area 1.5 (R) Water access, rest area, and water. Le Sueur 46.5 (L) Bevens Creek confluence. State Park 169 28 2828 28 2828 2 25.2 (L) Shakopee water access. Prairie Bardelsrdels vehicle permit required if parking a 1.5 Highway 55 (). Le 33 W.M..A.A. vehicle in the Straight House lot, but no Forest 25.2 (R) City of Shakopee, Huber City Park rest Sueur pinp permit is needed if accessing the site from 11 e area. 1.2-0.0 . P LakeLake the river. ake Sanborn Sheas LakLakee L Codydy 225.1(L) Enter Hennepin County. 0.0 Enters . W.M.A. Le Sueur LaLake

SIBLEY CO. C 1313 23.0 (R) Rest area.

75 reek 30 NICOLLET CO. 112 169 Rice LakeLake

© 2014 State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources 4 of 4 - Le Sueur to Fort Snelling A STATE WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE MINNESOTA RIVER (Le Sueur to Fort Snelling)

MINNESOTA WATER A STATE RIVER TRAIL Guide

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.

Minnesota State Parks and Trails mndnr.gov/watertrails The Minnesota River Because of possible mercury contamination, Boating Information • Bring drinking water. It is only available at a Mille Lacs 23 keep smaller fish for eating, release the older, limited number of rest areas. Drinking river Management of the Refuge involves restoring Lake The Minnesota Kettle Mississippi larger fish which have a higher concentration of water is not recommended, but if you do it wetlands, grasslands, and oak savannas, Rum RRiver, once a vital contamination. must be treated. hhighway for Indians, enhancing aquatic plant diversity through water Snake eexplorers, traders and • Respect private property. Stop only at level management, grassland management, exotic 23 W I designated sites; much of the shoreland is species control, and water quality monitoring. 94 St. ssettlers, is now a placid People, especially women of childbearing age St. Cloud River S 35 C private property. River rroute for canoeists. and children, should strictly adhere to guidelines 169 O Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is N • Be sanitary! Use designated toilet facilities or Crow (N. Fork) Croix S set by the Minnesota Department of Health. 71 94 well known for bird watching. Annual migrations 12 I The Minnesota Complete information is available by calling bury human waste away from the river. N funnel hundreds of thousands of waterfowl, Willmar 12 mmeanders to its 1-800-627-3529. St. Paul songbirds, and raptors through the valley. Other Minneapolis cconjunction with the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife wildlife-dependent recreation uses on the Refuge Minnesota River MMississippi through a 23 and WPAs include: wildlife observation, wildlife River wwide valley carved out Planning a Safe River Trip NORDELL PAUL DUCKLINGS ON CREDIT RIVER NEAR SAVAGE; Refuge Cannon 61 photography, hunting, fishing, environmental bby the glacial River A successful river trip is safe. To enjoy a safe Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Location Cottonwood71 52 NORDELL NINEMILE CREEK; PAUL education, and interpretation. er WWarren. Willow, • Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal of the MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge Riv journey, you should be prepared by acquainting cottonwood, elm, ash, maple and basswood line yourself with your route. Choose a distance that is flotation device that state law requires to be Refuge was established in 1976 to provide habitat River Mankato For more information, visit the website at Watonwan Straight the banks; oak and cedar are found on the higher on board the craft. for a large number of migratory waterfowl, fish, Rochester comfortable for you. Water levels can speed up Des Moines 169 http://midwest.fws.gov/MinnesotaValley 35 hills in the valley. or slow down your trip: get information about • Bring an extra paddle. and other wildlife species threatened by water levels from the regional DNR office, DNR commercial and industrial development. 90 • Not all portions of this water trail are suitable Below Le Sueur the riverbanks are sandy and website, or DNR Information Center. for motor use. Sustainable Ecosystems eroded. Vines and roots try to cling to the banks Today, the Refuge comprises 14,000 with little success. The current sweeps a constant • Register your watercraft. All watercraft more authorized acres, stretching for 34 miles from Outdoor recreation is dependent on a healthy “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources than 9 feet in length, including nonmotorized and attractive natural environment. Sustainable is an Equal Opportunity Employer” supply of snag trees and sandbars into the river. Fort Snelling State Park to Jordan, Minnesota. Gravel bars formed by tributary streams pinch the canoes and kayaks, must be registered in The Refuge has eight units, four of which have outdoor recreation enables people to enjoy the river at low water. Minnesota or your state of residence. trails and interpretive signs. The Visitor Center is outdoors without negative impacts on the environment. This information is available in alternative located in Bloomington, one mile east of the . format upon request. Wildlife Canoeing on Large Rivers The wide variety of waters can provide an Communities working together can improve The Minnesota River is a haven for bird life. equally wide variety of hazards to canoeists. water resources by promoting environmentally Several species of waterfowl and wetland birds Although the Minnesota is often very placid, the sensitive land-use practices along rivers and Minnesota State Parks and Trails use the river corridor for nesting, breeding and Area Office current can be quick and powerful when the river throughout watersheds. Natural shoreline buffers resting during migration. Pheasants and gray 500 Lafayette Rd. is near or at flood stage. But most dangers can be improve water quality by filtering out pollutants (hungarian) partridge find thick cover in the river St. Paul, MN 55155 NORDELL NEAR MURPHY’S LANDING; PAUL anticipated and avoided. Start your trip with the and sediments. valley for nesting and for protection from harsh 1-888-MINNDNR proper safety equipment. Coast Guard approved winter storms. personal floatation devices (PFD) should be worn Protect the water and shorelands and leave Healthy and diverse native shoreline plant Online water trail information and at all times. nothing behind you except footprints. Remember communities are attractive and provide important maps can be found at mndnr.gov/watertrails that much of the shorelands are privately owned. habitat for birds and wildlife. Hypothermia, a rapid loss of body heat, has • Travel with a companion or group. Plan your killed many people who have swamped or tipped.

DNR Information Center trip with a map before you depart and advise SNELLING; DEBORAH ROSE REINACTMENT-FORT BATTLE The DNR’s Information Center is available to provide free Swimming soon becomes impossible in freezing publications of facilities and services as well as answers questions someone of your plans, including planned water. Wear a PFD and stay close to shore if there pertaining to DNR recreational opportunities in Minnesota. departure and arrival times. is a possibility that your craft will swamp. Don't Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge also manages a fourteen county Wetland Management The DNR Information Center • Most people paddle two to three river miles overload your canoe. Snag-ridden waters often Natural Shorelands 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 District (WMD), stretching from Blue Earth per hour. are trickier to negotiate than whitewater. 40% evaporation 651-296-6157 Metro Area County to Chisago County. Within the WMD 1-888-646-6367 MN Toll-Free • Bring a first-aid kit that includes waterproof Underwater obstacles can easily tip a canoe. 10% runoff over 2,600 acres of land have been designated as RIVER AT EDEN PRAIRIE; PAUL NORDELL EDEN PRAIRIE; PAUL AT RIVER matches. Watch carefully. 50% infiltration mndnr.gov Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA) are lands set • Be cautious of river obstructions, such as Altered Fishing aside for the production of waterfowl and other Shorelands overhanging and dead trees in the river. Rest Areas and Camping Sites 30% evaporation You can make a difference by joining the DNR The Minnesota also supports a large fish wetland and prairie dependent species. 55% runoff Adopt-a-River Program. Be a clean up volunteer • You must pack out all trash. • Public rest areas are available along the route 15% infiltration for a portion of your favorite recreation area. Call population. Although carp and other rough fish the DNR Information Center for a brochure, or predominate, anglers can take walleye, northern • Leave only footprints; take only photographs! to rest, picnic and explore. WPAs, like the Refuge, are open to the public. visit mndnr.gov/adoptariver. pike and smallmouth bass in deep pools below • Camp only in designated campsites, which are In addition, over 2,000 acres of wetlands and Photos by MN DNR rapids and riffles. available on a first-come, first-served basis. grasslands are protected throught permanent © 2014 Minnesota Department easements. of Natural Resources