See all 21 routes on Sauk River
Minnesota | St. Cloud Area
Sauk RiverKnights of Columbus Park to Heims Mill
Compact Sauk finish with the route-family rapid section packed into a short shuttle. Choose this over the easier Miller-to-Knights split when you specifically want the lower Class I-II finish into the Mississippi confluence.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Put in at Knights of Columbus Park and finish at Heims Mill for the short lower-Sauk route that includes the DNR-noted Class I-II finish into the Mississippi corridor.
Access map
Put-in
Knights of Columbus Park carry-in accessKnights of Columbus Park is a defined city park endpoint, but you should still identify the carry-out path before launching because it is easy to think of it as a generic park stop rather than a specific river exit.
Take-out
Heims Mill Canoe AccessHeims Mill is a simple carry-in county access with amenities, not a broad paved ramp or a place to loiter while sorting out a shuttle plan.
Road shuttle
Short St. Cloud-area self-shuttle between Knights of Columbus Park and Heims Mill. Keep the take-out vehicle at Heims because the confluence finish is not where you want to improvise when tired.
Additional access notes
- Do not let the short mileage hide the fact that the lower 2.5 miles are the technical part of the Sauk family.
More route and safety guidance
- Stay near the official 15 to 17 ft St. Martin band. Low water can make the rapids bony or partly impassable, while levels above 20 ft increase current speed and recovery consequence.
- Watch for snags, deadfall, and private shoreline constraints. Use the documented Knights of Columbus Park and Heims Mill carry-ins and scout the simple county take-out before launching.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Photos and recent reports
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Recent notes from paddlers
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Sauk River nr St. Martin, CR12 |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 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 |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Gauge check during route review · July 13, 202615.34 ft at 10:00 AM
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- 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 shape4.5 river miles
MN DNR Map 2 places Knights of Columbus Park at river mile 4.5 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
St. Cloud documents Knights of Columbus Park on the Sauk River, and Stearns County confirms Heims Mill Canoe Access has carry-in access plus restroom and picnic amenities.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on Sauk River
All 21Nearby routes within 75 miles
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