Paddling near Rochester, MN

Set in Olmsted County at the heart of Minnesota's Driftless Area, Rochester is a river-paddler's base camp — the only county in the state without a natural lake, yet ringed by over 500 miles of navigable streams across the Root, Zumbro, Whitewater, and Cannon watersheds. The closest quality run is the South Fork Zumbro River, a 12-mile beginner float from the city out to 600-acre Lake Zumbro, while Silver Lake downtown offers in-city rentals.