See all 25 routes on Sauk River
Minnesota | Central Minnesota
Sauk River
Frogtown Park to Rockville County Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Sauk River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Use Frogtown Park in Cold Spring as the put-in and Rockville County Park as the take-out. This is the short lower-Sauk option when you want a quick trip without committing to Miller Landing or the St. Cloud finish.
Put-in
Frogtown Park canoe landingOpen mapFrogtown Park launches just below the Cold Spring dam area, so make sure you are starting at the signed downstream canoe landing rather than anywhere above the obstruction.
Take-out
Rockville County Park carry-in accessOpen mapRockville County Park has posted hours and county rules that still deserve a same-day check before you leave a shuttle vehicle.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Frogtown Park launches just below the Cold Spring dam area, so make sure you are starting at the signed downstream canoe landing rather than anywhere above the obstruction.
- Rockville County Park has posted hours and county rules that still deserve a same-day check before you leave a shuttle vehicle.
Watch for
- Fresh wood and strainers after storms.
- Scrapier water and slower progress when the St. Martin gauge falls toward 14 ft.
- Cold-water exposure outside midsummer, even on this shorter easy segment.
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.
Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
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 |
| Data confidence 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.
- 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 shape5.0 river miles
MN DNR Map 2 places Frogtown Park at river mile 21.8 and Rockville County Park at river mile 16.8.
- Access supportOfficial city and county endpoints
Cold Spring confirms Frogtown Park has a canoe landing on the Sauk, and Stearns County confirms Rockville County Park has carry-in access, drinking water, and a watercraft campsite.
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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
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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 Frogtown Park canoe landing and ends at Rockville County Park carry-in access, about 5.0 mi on the water.
Is this Sauk River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.