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See all 21 routes on Sauk River

Minnesota | Central Minnesota

Sauk RiverOak Township County Park to Spring Hill County Park

DNR-recommended upper Sauk day from Oak Township County Park to Spring Hill County Park, with watercraft-campsite endpoints, wooded lowland bends, and official St. Martin DNR gauge bands.

Route location

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DistanceAbout 10.8 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 4 hr to 6 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Sauk River winds through a wooded winter corridor with ice along the banks and bright clouds overhead.
River contextSauk River near Sartell river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Tony Webster via Wikimedia Commons
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.

Permits, camping and season
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Use the county-park and DNR water-trail accesses, follow Minnesota boating/PFD rules, and obey posted county-park, campsite, and private-property rules.
CampingOptions nearbyDNR maps watercraft campsites at both Oak Township County Park and Spring Hill County Park. Treat camping as designated-site or county-park-rule dependent only; do not camp on riverbeds next to private property.
SeasonApr-OctLate spring through early fall is the practical window. The route can be shallow, weedy, or woodier than the downstream St. Martin gauge implies, especially in midsummer or after storm rises.

Access and shuttle

Paddle the DNR-recommended Oak Township-to-Spring Hill Sauk River day through open lowlands and wooded bends. It is generally easy at normal water, but current low-band readings can make it slow, shallow, or weedy.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Oak Township County Park carry-in access
DirectionsOpen map

DNR Map 1 places Oak Township County Park at river mile 67.0 and Spring Hill County Park at river mile 56.2/56.1 with campsite and restroom context.

Finish

Take-out

Spring Hill County Park carry-in access (RM 56.1, right bank)
DirectionsOpen map

The St. Martin gauge is downstream of the take-out. Use it as the official interpreted corridor check, not a substitute for same-day depth and wood inspection.

Road shuttle

Stage Spring Hill County Park first, then launch from Oak Township County Park. Check the St. Martin DNR gauge and inspect both county-park accesses because the gauge is downstream of this route.

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Additional access notes
  • Most shoreland away from public accesses and designated campsites should be treated as private or not available for casual stops.
More route and safety guidance
  • Use Oak Township County Park and Spring Hill County Park as the public endpoints. Do not assume private banks or farm edges are legal bailouts.
  • The St. Martin gauge is downstream of the route, so pair the official band with a same-day visual check at Oak Township and Spring Hill.
Terms and safety
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Conditions

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Sources and methodology

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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.

  • DNR recommended routeOak Township County Park to Spring Hill County Park, 10.8 mi

    MN DNR Map 1 lists Oak Township County Park to Spring Hill County Park as the recommended day trip and describes it as a long, easy route through open lowlands and tree-lined corridors.

    Source

  • Endpoint amenitiesOak RM 67.0; Spring Hill RM 56.2/56.1

    DNR Map 1 maps Oak Township County Park with carry-in access, watercraft campsite, rest area, and toilets, and maps Spring Hill County Park with carry-in accesses, campsite, toilet, rest area, and drinking water.

    Source

  • Official DNR bands14 / 15-17 / 20 ft

    MN DNR interprets St. Martin 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.

    Source

  • Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-2314.58 ft at 2026-07-23 12:00 CDT

    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.

    Source

  • Safety rulesDams, snags, private banks, designated campsites only

    DNR Sauk materials warn about dams, fallen trees, occasional fences on the northern water trail, and private-property limits; trip-planning text says to camp only in designated campsites or allowed public land.

    Source

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 21
Eagle Park to Heims MillSt. Cloud AreaModerate · 16.2 mi

Nearby routes within 75 miles

North Fork Crow RiverHighway 4 to Manannah · about 22 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 5.7 mi

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