LONG PRAIRIE RIVER Long Prairie River

STATE WATER TRAIL MAP A STATE WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE LONG PRAIRIE RIVER Long Prairie River

The Long Prairie River gently flows through a diverse landscape of shaded woods, farm fields and floodplain meadows and forests.

Red Eye The Long Prairie River Currently recreational facilities along the By 1877 the water level had fallen so that only • Travel with a companion or group. Sustainable Ecosystems Crow River Long Prairie River are somewhat limited. small watercrafts could navigate the river. • Choose a distance that is comfortable for Perham The Long Prairie River gently flows through a Because of a wide marshy floodplain and lack of Today, while wooded areas are returning, the you, most people paddle two to three river 10 71 diverse landscape of shaded woods, farm fields suitable public riparian land, access is limited to majority of land around the river is cultivated, miles per hour. Wadena Wing Otter TailOttertail Brainerd and floodplain meadows and forests. The river using bridge crossings and parking along road hay, pasture, or grassland. • Wear a U. S. Coast Guard approved personal Motley River Staples winds its way eastward from its starting point at shoulders. The City of Long Prairie does own flotation device that state law requires be on Pine Lake Carlos in Eastern Douglas County for 95 parkland along the river that provides public Fishing board the boat for each person. Mississippi RIVER miles until it flows into the Crow Wing River access to the river. • Bring a first aid kit that includes waterproof two miles southeast of Motley. The Long Prairie River provides a sport fishery matches. Chippewa River PRAIRIE 10 Camping is limited to Lake Carlos State Park, for northern pike and walleye. Both small and • Bring an extra paddle in your canoe. LONG Long Little at the headwaters of the river. The park has two large mouth bass are also found in the river. • Be cautious of river obstructions, such as Prairie Falls 94 Alexandria 71 River campgrounds; a lakeside facility, and a second Recent fish surveys have overhanging and dead trees in the river. facility away from the lake up in the hills. A found high numbers of • You must pack out all trash. total of 125 sites are available at the park. white sucker and • Leave only footprints; take only photographs! Sauk North Fork shorthead redhorse. The St. Outdoor recreation is dependent on a healthy 94 Cloud Historically, the Long Prairie River served as upper portions of the Long Water levels can speed or slow you down. You and attractive natural environment. Sustainable Crow River River hunting and fishing grounds for the Dakota and Prairie are stocked with can get information about water levels from the outdoor recreation enables people to enjoy the 71 Ojibwa Native Americans. The river also served smallmouth bass in an regional DNR office, or check the DNR outdoors without negative impacts on the as a means of transportation to the Crow Wing attempt to establish a website, or the DNR Information Center. environment. “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources River and then the Mississippi River. spawning population in Remember that much of the shorelands are is an Equal Opportunity Employer” Lake Carlos. privately owned. Respect and protect the water Over the 95 mile length of the Long Prairie European settlers first started establishing and shorelands. Communities working together can improve river otter This information is available in alternative River it drops from an initial elevation of 1360 themselves in the area in the 1840s. At this Wildlife water resources by promoting environmentally format upon request. feet above sea level at Lake Carlos to time the river and connecting streams were Boating Information sensitive land use practices along rivers and approximately 1215 feet at the confluence with much deeper, and at one point a steamboat was A variety of wildlife species call the river throughout watersheds. the Crow Wing River. able to regularly travel part of the river. home. Different species of waterfowl, great • Register your watercraft. All watercraft more blue herons and many kinds of songbirds along than 9 feet in length, including nonmotorized Natural shoreline buffers improve water Minnesota State Parks and Trails While the entire river is designated canoe and Originally the majority of the river flowed with the occasional muskrat, beaver, otter and canoes and kayaks, must be registered in Area Office quality by filtering out pollutants and boating route, low water levels may result in through forested areas. The woods consisted of mink can be found along the river. The few Minnesota or your state of residence. 940 Industrial Drive South, #103 sediments. Healthy and diverse native shoreline portions of the river being impassable. The river a variety of hard woods and pines. One of the forested and grassland areas along the river are • Not all portions of this water trail are suitable Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 plant communities are attractive and provide 320-255-4279 is generally considered accessible by novice first industries was logging. Commercial logging inhabited by many game species such as grouse, for motor use. important shoreline habitat for birds and canoers; however, snags can provide challenges began about 1866 and continued through the pheasant, wild turkey and whitetail deer. Some Online water trail information and maps wildlife. can be found at mndnr.gov/watertrails and may tip canoeists. mid 1890s. The sandy soils found along the game species and waterfowl species can be Rest Areas and Camping Sites river were susceptible to the logging and the found at the Long Prairie Wildlife Management There are two dams on the river. The first resulting erosion filled the streams with Area located North of the city of Long Prairie. • Public rest areas are available along the route exists at the outlet of Lake Carlos. Another sediment. It is not uncommon to view birds of prey, to rest, picnic and explore. dam was constructed downstream as a diversion including the bald eagle, owls and various • Camp only in designated campsites, which Natural to Lake Osakis and was built to divert water hawks. are available on a first-come, first-served Shorelands DNR Information Center 40% evaporation

The DNR’s Information Center is available to provide free from the river to Lake Osakis during low water basis. 10% runoff publications of facilities and services as well as answers questions • Bring drinking water. It is only available at a pertaining to DNR recreational opportunities in Minnesota. years. Only remnants of the second dam exist, Planning A Safe River Trip 50% inﬁltration however caution is urged to boaters traveling limited number of rest areas. Drinking river 500 Lafayette Road Altered Shorelands St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 through the area. A successful river trip is safe. To enjoy a safe water is not recommended, but if you do it 30% evaporation 651-296-6157 Metro Area journey, you should be prepared by doing the must be treated. 55% runoff 1-888-646-6367 MN Toll-Free 15% inﬁltration Another safety concern is at Highway 29 near following: • Respect private property. Stop only at mndnr.gov Lake Carlos. The river passes under the • Get acquainted with your route. Plan your designated sites; much of the shoreland is Highway through two culverts. Extreme trip with a map before you depart and advise private property. caution is needed when passing through the someone of your plans including planned • Be sanitary! Use designated toilet facilities or