New Ulm sits at the confluence of the Minnesota and Cottonwood rivers, surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of the Minnesota River Valley — a landscape of bluffs, prairies, and river bottoms that offers excellent outdoor recreation just minutes from downtown. The city's position at the heart of the Minnesota River Valley makes it an excellent base for exploring one of the Midwest's most scenic and productive outdoor destinations.

Flandrau State Park — located within the city limits of New Ulm — is one of Minnesota's most popular state parks, offering excellent hiking, swimming, camping, and fishing in a beautiful river valley setting.

Flandrau's swimming area — a sand-bottom pool fed by the Cottonwood River — is one of the most beloved outdoor swimming destinations in southern Minnesota. The pool is naturally filtered by the river and maintains a comfortable temperature throughout the summer.

The Swimming Area: A large, sandy beach with a designated swimming area, lifeguards on duty during summer, and excellent facilities including changing rooms and picnic areas.

Best Time: June through August for swimming; the pool is at its best in July and August when the water is warmest.

Flandrau offers 6 miles of hiking trails through a beautiful landscape of river bluffs, floodplain forest, and restored prairie.

The Bluff Trail (2.5 miles) — the park's most scenic trail, climbing the bluffs above the Cottonwood River for panoramic views of the Minnesota River Valley.

The River Trail (1.5 miles) — a flat, easy trail along the Cottonwood River, excellent for wildlife watching and family hiking.

The Prairie Trail (2 miles) — a trail through the park's restored prairie, with excellent wildflower displays in summer.

Flandrau offers excellent camping in a beautiful river valley setting, with both electric and non-electric sites.

Campground: 90 campsites (35 electric, 55 non-electric), flush toilets, showers, and a dump station.

Reservations: Recommended for summer weekends; available through the Minnesota DNR reservation system.

The Cottonwood River — which flows through Flandrau State Park — offers excellent fishing for smallmouth bass, walleye, and catfish. The river's clear water and varied structure (riffles, pools, and deep runs) provide excellent habitat for these species.

The Minnesota River — which flows along the northern edge of New Ulm — is one of the finest fishing rivers in southern Minnesota. The river's warm, productive waters support excellent populations of walleye, northern pike, catfish, and bass.

Walleye: The Minnesota River is one of the best walleye rivers in the state, with fish regularly exceeding 5 pounds. Spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) are the best seasons.

Northern Pike: Large northern pike are common in the Minnesota River, particularly in the backwater areas and oxbow lakes along the river.

Catfish: Channel catfish and flathead catfish are abundant in the Minnesota River, with fish regularly exceeding 20 pounds.

Access: Several public boat ramps and fishing access points are available along the Minnesota River near New Ulm, including the New Ulm Boat Landing on the north side of the city.

New Ulm and the surrounding Minnesota River Valley offer excellent cycling on a combination of paved trails and quiet country roads.

The Minnesota River Trail — a paved multi-use trail that follows the Minnesota River through the valley — offers excellent cycling with beautiful river views. The trail connects New Ulm to several nearby communities.

Country Road Cycling: The rolling hills and quiet roads of Brown County offer excellent road cycling, with routes that pass through small towns, farms, and the beautiful landscapes of the Minnesota River Valley.

Mountain Biking: Flandrau State Park offers limited mountain biking on designated trails.

The Cottonwood and Minnesota rivers offer excellent paddling for canoeists and kayakers of all skill levels.

Cottonwood River: A gentle, scenic river that flows through Flandrau State Park and the surrounding countryside. The Cottonwood is excellent for beginner and intermediate paddlers, with calm water and beautiful scenery.

Minnesota River: A larger, more powerful river that requires more experience. The Minnesota River offers excellent paddling through a beautiful valley landscape, with opportunities to see wildlife including bald eagles, great blue herons, and white-tailed deer.

Outfitters: Several canoe and kayak outfitters in the New Ulm area offer rentals and shuttle services.

The Minnesota River Valley is one of the premier birding destinations in the Midwest, with a remarkable diversity of species attracted by the river's productive habitats.

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge — a series of wetlands and floodplain forests along the Minnesota River — is one of the best birding sites in southern Minnesota. The refuge is accessible from several points near New Ulm.

What to See: Bald eagles (year-round), great blue herons, egrets, shorebirds (during migration), and a wide variety of waterfowl in fall and winter.

Brown County and the surrounding Minnesota River Valley offer excellent hunting for white-tailed deer, pheasant, and waterfowl.

Deer Hunting: The Minnesota River Valley's combination of agricultural fields and wooded river bottoms provides excellent deer habitat. Brown County consistently produces trophy-class whitetails.

Pheasant Hunting: The agricultural fields of Brown County support good pheasant populations, and the public hunting areas along the Minnesota River offer accessible pheasant hunting.

Waterfowl Hunting: The Minnesota River Valley is an important migration corridor for waterfowl, and the wetlands along the river offer excellent duck and goose hunting in fall.

Best Time: Summer (June–August) for swimming at Flandrau; spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) for fishing and birding; fall (October) for hunting and fall foliage.

Gear: Bring insect repellent for summer visits — mosquitoes can be intense in the river valley. A good pair of binoculars is essential for birding.

For more on New Ulm, see our New Ulm Weekend Guide, Schell's Brewery, New Ulm German Heritage, and New Ulm Seasonal Festivals. For more Midwest outdoor adventures, see our guide to Noble County Indiana: 117 Lakes & Amish Country.