Cottonwood River — Flandrau to New Ulm: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 25, 12:00 PM UTC
Too low to paddle
Not enough water to float well — expect scraping and walking. Wait for rain or a dam release.
69 cfs
3.3 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 05317000
Runnable 150 – 2,190 cfs
What this means today
At 69 cfs the Cottonwood River is 81 cfs short of the 150 cfs this reach needs to float — that is the gap between today's reading and the bottom of the runnable range, not a small margin you can paddle through.
Over the last 24 hours it has barely moved, 74 cfs to 69 cfs. Daily means over the past 7 days have run between 65 cfs and 72 cfs, ending roughly where it started.
Paddling Flandrau to New Ulm
Cottonwood River at Flandrau to New Ulm is a Class I run in Minnesota — easygoing moving water with light riffles and nothing technical. Most paddlers put in at Flandrau State Park and take out at New Ulm (Riverside Park).
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at 150–2,190 cfs. Much below that and the Cottonwood River gets low and bony, so you end up scraping gravel and walking the shallows; well above the top of the range it turns fast, cold and pushy, which is a more serious day than most casual boaters want. We read USGS gauge 05317000 about every 30 minutes and compare the live number to that window, so the verdict at the top of this page reflects conditions right now rather than a monthly average.
Flows here are usually most dependable April–September. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt, and late summer often drops too low to float well — but the gauge always beats the calendar, so check today's reading before you go.
7-day flow trend
Section facts
- Difficulty
- Class I
- Length
- —
- Float time
- —
- Best months
- April–September
- Put-in
- Flandrau State Park
- Take-out
- New Ulm (Riverside Park)
Reading USGS gauge 05317000 — COTTONWOOD RIVER NEAR NEW ULM, MN ↗
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Cottonwood River — Flandrau to New Ulm?
- This section is generally runnable at 150–2,190 cfs. Below that it gets too low and bony; well above the top of the range it becomes pushy and then dangerous. We compare the live USGS reading to that range to produce today's verdict.
- How do I check Cottonwood River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 05317000 — the same public data USGS publishes — about every 30 minutes and compare it to the runnable range for this reach. You can also view the raw gauge yourself at waterdata.usgs.gov.
- Is Cottonwood River — Flandrau to New Ulm good for beginners?
- This section is rated Class I. At good levels it suits confident beginners and up, but it can have riffles or small rapids. Scout anything you can't see, and stay off it at high water.
- When is the best time to paddle Cottonwood River here?
- Typically April–September, when flows are most reliable for this section. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt; late summer can drop too low. Always check today's gauge reading rather than assuming.