See all 21 routes on Sauk River
Minnesota | St. Cloud Area
Sauk River
Eagle Park to Heims Mill
Check current paddling conditions for this Sauk River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Use Eagle Park as the put-in and Heims Mill as the take-out for the full lower-Sauk finish into the Mississippi corridor. This is the one-card choice when you want the easy middle miles plus the final Class I-II section.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Eagle Park carry-in accessEagle Park is a popular local launch and fishing area, so scout the exact landing and parking flow before leaving vehicles.
Take-out
Heims Mill Canoe AccessHeims Mill is a defined county carry-in with restroom and picnic amenities, but it is still a simple riverside access rather than a broad launch ramp.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Eagle Park is a popular local launch and fishing area, so scout the exact landing and parking flow before leaving vehicles.
- Heims Mill is a defined county carry-in with restroom and picnic amenities, but it is still a simple riverside access rather than a broad launch ramp.
- Because the route is long and the technical section comes late, it is worth scouting the take-out before you launch.
Watch for
- Boulder-filled Class I-II rapids in the final 2.5 miles, especially if the river is low.
- Shallow rock dodging or partial walk-downs if the St. Martin gauge falls toward or below 14 ft.
- Snags and fallen trees where current narrows your options near the Mississippi confluence.
- Private shoreline; stop only at designated public sites.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Sauk River nr St. Martin, CR12 |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 15.00 ft to 17.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 14.00 ft |
| High threshold | 20.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | MN DNR river-level interpretation bands for Sauk River near St. Martin |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Current level15.26 ft at 7:00 PM
The official MN DNR St. Martin gauge reported 15.26 ft on July 13, 2026, which sits in the Medium interpretation band.
- DNR bands14 / 15 / 17 / 20 ft
MN DNR interprets the St. Martin gauge as Scrapable below 14 ft, Low from 14 to 15, Medium from 15 to 17, High from 17 to 20, and Very High above 20.
- Route shape16.2 river miles
MN DNR Map 2 places Eagle Park at river mile 16.2 and Heims Mill at river mile 0.0.
- Rapid finishClass I-II in final 2.5 mi
MN DNR warns the final 2.5 miles are boulder-filled Class I-II rapids that may not be passable at low water.
- Access supportOfficial city and county endpoints
Rockville says Eagle Park is used to launch and land hundreds of canoes and kayaks each year, and Stearns County says Heims Mill provides carry-in access to the Sauk and Mississippi rivers.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Sauk River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Sauk River?
Paddle Today watches Sauk River nr St. Martin, CR12 and treats 15.00 ft to 17.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Sauk River route start and end?
This route starts at Eagle Park carry-in access and ends at Heims Mill Canoe Access, about 16.2 mi on the water.
Is this Sauk River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.