Access Site
MN
Mississippi River, 5th Ave N State Water Access S*
Source: minnesota_department_of_natural_resources Updated 1 year ago
City: St. Cloud, MN
County: Stearns County
Type: Boat Ramp
Location: 45.56491767, -94.16122112
Air Temp: --
Location
Live Webcam
Nearby Gauge Conditions
Real-time data from USGS Water Services
Whitewater Runs on Mississippi River
1 runDifficulty Classes
I Easy
II Novice
III Intermediate
IV Advanced
V Expert/Extreme
VI Unrunnable
Position relative to this access site:
Put-in at this location
This location is on the run
Take-out at this location
Downstream from here Upstream from here
Downstream from here Upstream from here
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater
About This Access Site
**Access Overview**
5th Avenue North in Butler Park provides public boat ramp access to the Mississippi River in St. Cloud. Located at the park along US 49 Business (near the courthouse and WWI memorial), this access point serves kayakers, canoeists, and recreational boaters. As a Minnesota DNR public water access, the site is open 24 hours unless otherwise posted and accommodates both trailer launches and carry-in access.
**River Character & Paddling Context**
At this location on the Mississippi, you're accessing a major river system with substantial flow—the Mississippi averages over 685,000 cubic feet per second with an average velocity of 11.24 feet/second. The river in this reach has a relatively gentle gradient of 0.8 feet per mile, though you're still approximately 2,334 miles upstream from the Gulf of Mexico. Most standard recreational boats (12-18 feet) can be launched here. Paddlers should be prepared for the current and boat traffic typical of this section of the river.
**Planning Your Visit**
Public water access facilities in Minnesota are free. Check current conditions and any seasonal advisories before launching, and be aware of the river's strong current and commercial traffic. The site's location in an established city park suggests standard amenities may be available nearby.
5th Avenue North in Butler Park provides public boat ramp access to the Mississippi River in St. Cloud. Located at the park along US 49 Business (near the courthouse and WWI memorial), this access point serves kayakers, canoeists, and recreational boaters. As a Minnesota DNR public water access, the site is open 24 hours unless otherwise posted and accommodates both trailer launches and carry-in access.
**River Character & Paddling Context**
At this location on the Mississippi, you're accessing a major river system with substantial flow—the Mississippi averages over 685,000 cubic feet per second with an average velocity of 11.24 feet/second. The river in this reach has a relatively gentle gradient of 0.8 feet per mile, though you're still approximately 2,334 miles upstream from the Gulf of Mexico. Most standard recreational boats (12-18 feet) can be launched here. Paddlers should be prepared for the current and boat traffic typical of this section of the river.
**Planning Your Visit**
Public water access facilities in Minnesota are free. Check current conditions and any seasonal advisories before launching, and be aware of the river's strong current and commercial traffic. The site's location in an established city park suggests standard amenities may be available nearby.