Amanda Block
Google
I was really excited to try a tubing excursion closer to home, and the idea of floating down the Zumbro River sounded perfect for a summer afternoon. Unfortunately, the reality of the experience didn’t quite match the expectation.
The biggest issue is the river itself — it’s extremely shallow in many areas, to the point where we were either dragging our tubes across the rocky bottom or having to get out and walk through the water. Definitely bring water shoes — the mud along the banks is thick and unpleasant, and it's clearly full of goose and duck droppings.
Another major concern is the condition of the river. It hasn't been maintained for recreational use. We encountered multiple hazards, including large downed trees, tires, broken cement chunks, and even sharp debris like studded t-posts and exposed rebar, which appeared to be from old construction fill or storm washout. This made parts of the float feel unsafe, especially for families with kids.
There’s also a noticeable amount of trash in the water and along the banks, including plastic, cans, and even garbage tangled in tree branches or stuck in the mud. It’s disappointing to see so much potential for a fun local adventure being undercut by the poor condition of the waterway.
On the plus side, the duration of the float was decent and the overall value (time for cost) was fair. But until the river sees significant cleanup and maintenance efforts, I wouldn’t recommend this as a tubing destination — especially if you're used to well-managed tubing experiences like those on the Cannon River or in Lanesboro.
