A WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE CEDAR RIVER

Iron Horse Prairie Blooming S.N.A. 2 2 24 Prairie 16 20

STEELE CO. DODGE CO. 15 9 FREEBORN CO. MOWER CO. 56 34 218

Creek 36

30 Waltham 1 1 Newry 20 Mud

16 25 1 Sargeant 105

Creek CEDAR 34

103 57 Deer 218 RIVER

Maple Mayville Island Corning 251 Roberts Hollandale 36 25

Creek Lansing 20 Corners 2 2 25 Brownsdale 34 Lansing 2 Renova 16 30 Hickory Lake 61 Wild Indigo Prairie S.N.A. 36 Ramsey Mill 19 Pond W.M.A. 104 Andyville 25 Wild Indigo Prairie S.N.A. Carex Creek W.M.A. Murphy Ramsey Mill Pond 25 Ramsey 16 218 Creek Moscow Creek Wolf Ramsey Mill Pond 25 Portage (R) 125 Yds

Turtle 27 20 J.C. Hormel 56 Nature Center Dobbins 102 61 Creek

34 Austin Mill Pond Nicolville 102 East 90 Oakland Schrafel 90 W.M.A. Side 90 Hollandale Lake Mentel 46 46 Austin Junction Portage (L) 150 Yds W.M.A. 218 19 Creek 90 Dreisner Park

15 3 3 30 Orchard 105 Cedar River A.M.A. Rose 21 21

River level gauge Route Description for the Cedar River Creek RIVER

NOTE: (R) and (L) represent right and left banks of the river when facing downstream. Cedar River Riverwood Landing A.M.A. 25.0 County Road 2 bridge Rose River Varco 4 Creek 24-21.6 Ramsey Mill Pond W.M.A. 4 218

Lyle-Austin W.M.A. 22.0 Ramsey Mill Pond Creek 4 4 Rose 21.6 Wild Indigo Prairie S.N.A. CEDAR10 Schottler 21.6 (R) Abandoned railroad trestle W.M.A. 19 Shooting Star State Trail 21.2 (R) Watercraft access above and below dam 21.2 Low head dam - Ramsey Mill Pond, portage river right 125 yards

21.1 County Road 25 bridge 56 Cedar 21.0 Railroad trestle 21-15 City of Austin 22 18.8 (R) ConfluenceMyrtle with Murphy Creek 18.4 (L) Confluence with Wolf Creek 5 Creek 18.2 Highway 90/218 bridge Rose 18.0 Main St N bridge 5 5 W.M.A. 7 Mud 17.5 (L) 4th Street NE bridge and watercraft access Little 17.4 Footbridge 5 Red Cedar River W.M.A. Lena Larson 17.3 (L) Fishing pier W.M.A. 17.1 Foot bridge Lake 5 5 218 7 17.0 4th Ave NE bridge 105 17.0 (L) Dam - Austin Mill Pond, undeveloped portage river left 250 19 yards, take out upstream of 4th Avenue bridge and follow bike

trail around the dam until safe river access is possible Creek 16.9 2nd Ave NE bridge Otter 16.8 Oakland Pl SE bridge 16.5 (L) Carry-in access 16.5 (L) Confluence with Dobbins Creek 6 6 16.2 4th St SE bridge Lyle Carry-in Access Dam

16.2 Foot bridge WER CO. Water Access River Mile

15.9 Main St S bridge FREEBORN CO. MO 0 MINNESOTA 14.5 (R) Confluence with Turtle Creek WORTH CO. IOWA Park/Rest Area Designated Public Lands 13.4 County Road 21 bridge Drinking Water City Boundaries 13.4 River level gauge Fishing Pier W.M.A. Wildlife Management Area 11.8 (L) Carry in access Mona 11.5 (L) Confluence with Rose Creek Private Campground A.M.A. Aquatic Management Area 10.4 County Road 4 bridge Markham’s Pond 7.9 (R) Confluence with Orchard Creek Creek Watercraft Campsite S.N.A. Scientific and Natural Area 5.8 County Road 5 bridge Otter 5.2-4.4 Red Cedar W.M.A. Historic Site Water Trail 4.9 (R) Campground 218 State Trail 1.5 County Road 6 bridge Otranto 1.3 Railroad trestle

MITCHELL CO. 1.0 (R) Confluence with Mud Lake Creek WORTH CO. 0.0 Minnesota/Iowa border Meltonville NORTH A WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE CEDAR RIVER CEDAR RIVER A STATE WATER GuideTRAIL

Minnesota State Parks and Trails © Minnesota State University Mankato - Water Resources Center mndnr.gov/watertrails © Cedar River Watershed District

The Cedar River located between Lansing and the Iowa border. water siltation and pollution, and cannot survive • Travel with a companion or group. Rest Areas and Camping Sites 14 WMAs offer opportunities for wildlife watching in highly disturbed areas. You can help protect 218 and hunting. The Ramsey Mill Pond WMA them by avoiding activities that increase erosion • Choose a distance that is comfortable • Public rest areas are available along the

River contains a mix of wetlands, upland woods and along the riverbanks and by disposing of trash for you, most people paddle two to three route to rest, picnic and explore. umbro STEELE CO. DODGE CO. Z established native prairie. The Red Cedar River properly. river miles per hour. WMA is mostly oak woodland and the western er • Camp only in designated campsites, which Blooming Prairie iv t R Wildlife oo edge borders the river. • Wear a U. S. Coast Guard approved are available on a first-come, first-served MOWER CO. R FREEBORN CO.

personal flotation device that state law There are interesting and rare wildlife species basis, unless otherwise noted. 35 There are also two units of the Cedar River requires be on board the boat for each that can be seen on the Cedar River. Both of 90 Aquatic Management Area (AMA) located south person. • Bring drinking water. It is only available of Austin. AMAs ensure that critical fish and Minnesota’s threatened turtle species, the wood Austin turtle and the Blanding’s turtle, are found in this at a limited number of rest areas. Drinking wildlife habitats will be conserved, non-boat • Bring a first aid kit that includes river. Wood turtles river water is not recommended, but if you 90 City of Austin © Cedar River Watershed District public access to water resources will always be waterproof matches. Albert Lea prefer to nest in do it must be treated. Iowa River available, and habitat development on previously Cedar River sandy, sunny areas 218 disturbed areas can take place. • Bring an extra paddle. along the river, while • Respect private property. Stop only at The 25 miles of Cedar River Water Trail in Blanding’s turtles designated sites; much of the shoreland is Lyle MINNESOTA • Be cautious of river obstructions, such as Minnesota are moderately flowing and easy to may travel up to one private property. IOWA overhanging and dead trees in the river. paddle from Lansing (just north of Austin) to the mile away from Iowa border, and follows Highway 105 closely. In water to lay their • Be sanitary! Use designated toilet • You must pack out all trash. total, this river runs about 329 miles, from the eggs. facilities or bury human waste away from headwaters in Dodge County, Minnesota, to the river. • Leave only footprints; take only “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Louisa County in southeast Iowa, where it joins Along with is an Equal Opportunity Employer” the Iowa River. From there, it winds its way into turtles, Sandhill photographs! the Mississippi, as one of it’s major tributaries. cranes are another Sustainable Ecosystems The portion of this river that runs through Iowa is Water levels can speed or slow you down. You common sight along sandhill crane © MNDNR Outdoor recreation is dependent on a healthy also a designated Water Trail. the river banks. After can get information about water levels from the and attractive natural environment. Sustainable overexploitation in regional DNR office, the DNR website, or the outdoor recreation enables people to enjoy the Formerly known as the Red Cedar River, this This information is available in alternative © Cedar River Watershed District the early 1900s, they have made a steady DNR Information Center. Remember that much outdoors without negative impacts on the format upon request. waterway was put to good economic use when recovery in the state of Minnesota. of the shorelands are privately owned. Respect environment. Austin first became established. The first saw and and protect the water and shorelands. grist mills, built on the Cedar in 1854 and 1855 One of these AMA units is a wetland restoration Plants and Trees by Chauncey Leverich, supplied early settlers site created from former farmland. This site offers Boating Information Communities working together can improve with lumber. In 1892, George A. Hormel created wildlife habitat, helps improve water quality and The native tree species surrounding this water resources by promoting environmentally Online water trail information and reduces soil erosion. maps can be found at the Hormel Foods Corporation. Today, Austin is stretch are bur oak savanna, tallgrass prairie and • Register your watercraft. All watercraft sensitive land use practices along rivers and maple basswood forest. The bur oak is mostly on mndnr.gov/watertrails sometimes known as “Spam Town USA” because The Wild Indigo Scientific and Natural Area more than 9 feet in length, including throughout watersheds. moraine ridges, the prairie on level or gently it is the birthplace of Hormel’s processed meat (SNA) is located along an abandoned nonmotorized canoes and kayaks, must be rolling hills, while the maple and basswood are in product, Spam. Chicago-Milwaukee Railroad right-of-way, which registered in Minnesota or your state of Natural shoreline buffers improve water steep ravines or near streams. DNR Information Center gives it it’s strange shape. Over 340 different, rare residence. quality by filtering out pollutants and sediments. The DNR’s Information Center is available to provide free plants can be found here. Hiking from the Cedar This water trails offers a pleasantly wooded Healthy and diverse native shoreline plant publications of facilities and services as well as answers questions • Not all portions of this water trail are pertaining to DNR recreational opportunities in Minnesota. River to the city of Dexter provides a fascinating paddle for canoeists, and also flows through communities are attractive and provide important view of these rare species. SNAs are protected agricultural land. The highest elevation in the suitable for motor use. shoreline habitat for birds and wildlife. The DNR Information Center areas, so please visit the area with care. 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 area is 1440 feet near Elkton, and the lowest 651-296-6157 Metro Area point is at 1140 at the Iowa border. 1-888-646-6367 MN Toll-Free Fishing Natural mndnr.gov Planning A Safe River Trip Shorelands There are good fishing opportunities on this 40% evaporation stretch of river. Notable fishing spots include the At the historic mill © Cedar River Watershed District A successful river trip is safe. To enjoy a safe 10% runoff area around Austin for small mouth bass as well journey, you should be prepared by doing the 50% infiltration as around Lansing, where there have been reports You can make a difference by joining the DNR following: Altered Adopt-a-River Program. Be a clean up volunteer The nearby J. C. Hormel Nature Center in of northern pike. Walleye and bullheads also are Shorelands for a portion of your favorite recreation area. Call Austin contains 507 acres of trails, woods and present, but bass – especially small mouth and 30% evaporation the DNR Information Center for a brochure, or • Get acquainted with your route. Plan your trip 55% runoff visit mndnr.gov/adoptariver. wildlife. One can find remnant and restored rock bass – are most commonly caught. 15% infiltration prairie, hardwood forest, wetlands and streams. with a map before you depart and advise Mussels and some rare fish species, such as someone of your plans including planned Two Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) – the Ozark minnow, are great indicators of water departure and arrival times. © Cedar River Watershed District Cover Photo: MN DNR Ramsey Mill Pond and Red Cedar River– are quality. They are very sensitive to increases in © 2014 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources