Peterson Lake - Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

Peterson Lake provides a convenient boat launch for exploring Pool 5 of the Upper Mississippi River near Wabasha, Minnesota. Located within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, this access point serves kayakers, canoeists, and small motorboats (generally 18 feet or less). The site offers an excellent entry point for paddling the scenic refuge waters, with nearby paddling routes ranging from moderate 3-mile sections taking 1-2 hours to longer 7-mile paddles requiring 3-5 hours of paddling time.

The refuge maintains this launch as part of its 26 boat landings across the 261-mile stretch from Wabasha to Rock Island, Illinois. Peak paddling season runs May through September. Before launching, consult the refuge's Pool Maps (Maps 4-14) available online to identify closed areas, sanctuaries, and slow no-wake zones. The refuge is renowned for wildlife viewing, including over 3,000 bald eagles during spring migration and tundra swans in November. For questions about conditions or seasonal closures, contact the Upper Mississippi Wildlife Refuge office in Winona (open Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.).