See all 21 routes on Sauk River
Minnesota | St. Cloud Area
Sauk River
Miller Landing to Heims Mill
Check current paddling conditions for this Sauk River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
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
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
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 Miller Landing as the put-in and Heims Mill as the take-out for the full Waite Park-to-confluence lower-Sauk finish that includes the DNR-noted Class I-II section near the mouth.
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
Miller Landing carry-in accessMiller Landing is a managed county access with posted hours, so do not assume unlimited late retrieval if the day runs long.
Take-out
Heims Mill Canoe AccessHeims Mill is a simple carry-in county access with restroom and picnic amenities, not a broad ramp or a place to sort out a casual shuttle plan.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Miller Landing is a managed county access with posted hours, so do not assume unlimited late retrieval if the day runs long.
- Heims Mill is a simple carry-in county access with restroom and picnic amenities, not a broad ramp or a place to sort out a casual shuttle plan.
- Do not let the moderate mileage hide the fact that the lower 2.5 miles are the technical part of the Sauk family.
Watch for
- Boulder-filled Class I-II rapids in the final 2.5 miles, especially if the gauge trends low.
- Shallow rock dodging or partial walk-downs if the St. Martin gauge falls toward or below 14 ft.
- Wood, tight lines, and cold-water consequences near the Mississippi confluence.
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 level15.34 ft at 10:00 AM
MN DNR listed the St. Martin gauge at 15.34 ft on July 13, 2026, which lands in the official Medium 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 shape7.6 river miles
MN DNR Map 2 places Miller Landing at river mile 7.6 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 county endpoints
Stearns County documents Miller Landing on the Sauk and 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.
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 Miller Landing carry-in access and ends at Heims Mill Canoe Access, about 7.6 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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.