Map: Pomme de Terre River
The Pomme de Terre River flows through both wooded and prairie areas on its way to the Minnesota River at Marsh Lake Reservoir. The river gets its name for the wild turnip, a native plant used as food by the Dakota inhabiting the area. (The plant has a potato-shaped root; pomme de terre is French for potato.)
This river shares a map with the Minnesota River (Map 1).
The Pomme de Terre is known for Class 1 rapids and fast running water over a sandy bottom. Be on the lookout for trees that have fallen into the river, or fences from nearby farms. There is a fun, man-made rapids as you enter Appleton City Park, just before the water access site.
The river gradient averages 4.1 feet per mile. There are no major rapids.
Recommended day trip
Larson to Appleton: Pomme de Terre River
- Put-in location: Larson carry-in access, river mile 14.8
- Take-out location: Appleton carry-in access, river mile 8.8
- Length: 6 river miles
This stretch has a lot of visual and paddling interest and is great for new paddlers. Meandering through farms, wooded areas, a golf course and eventually, the city of Appleton, visitors can have a wide variety of sights to see in a short stretch of river.
Explore on shore
Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area, river mile 320
At 24,300 acres this is the largest contiguous block of public land in west-central Minnesota and an incredibly popular destination for hunters, bird and wildlife watchers and others.
Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, river mile 314.8
11,586 acres of tallgrass prairie, wetlands, granite outcrops, and river woodlands. Eleven miles of the Minnesota River flow through the refuge.
Local contacts
DNR regional headquarters
21371 State Highway 15, New Ulm, MN 56073
507-233-1200
Lac qui Parle WMA
14047 20th Street Northwest, Watson, MN 56295
320-734-4451, [email protected]
Nearest medical facilities
Ortonville Area Health Services
450 Eastvold Avenue, Ortonville, MN 56208
320-839-6157
Appleton Area Health Services
30 South Behl, Appleton, MN 56208
320-289-1580
Kayaker paddles this river segment.
Small rapids provide a fun entry to Appleton City Park.
