See all 21 routes on Sauk River
Minnesota | St. Cloud Area
Sauk River
Rockville County 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
Launch at Rockville County Park and finish at Heims Mill for the longest lower-Sauk day route that still fits the product’s normal day-trip ceiling. This is the one-card choice when you want the full lower corridor plus the DNR-noted Class I-II mouth 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
Rockville County Park carry-in accessRockville County Park has posted hours, drinking water, and a watercraft campsite, but local rules still override any stale assumptions when you arrive.
Take-out
Heims Mill Canoe AccessHeims Mill is a managed carry-in with restroom and picnic amenities, not a broad paved ramp or a place to sort out a casual shuttle plan.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Rockville County Park has posted hours, drinking water, and a watercraft campsite, but local rules still override any stale assumptions when you arrive.
- Heims Mill is a managed carry-in with restroom and picnic amenities, not a broad paved ramp or a place to sort out a casual shuttle plan.
- Because the route is long and the technical section comes late, it is worth scouting the take-out before you launch.
Watch for
- Vegetation, shallow stretches, and extra drag when the St. Martin gauge trends toward 14 ft.
- Boulder-filled Class I-II rapids in the final 2.5 miles, especially at lower water.
- Snags and fallen trees where current narrows your options near the Mississippi confluence.
- Private shoreline outside designated public accesses and campsites.
- Fatigue on a 16.8-mile route whose technical section comes at the end.
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 shape16.8 river miles
MN DNR Map 2 places Rockville County Park at river mile 16.8 and Heims Mill at river mile 0.0.
- Rapid finishClass I-II in final 2.5 mi
MN DNR warns the last 2.5 miles offer nearly continuous Class I-II rapids and may not be passable at low water.
- Camping and servicesWatercraft campsite at put-in
Stearns County confirms Rockville County Park has a watercraft campsite and drinking water, while Heims Mill provides managed carry-in access, restroom, picnic area, and fishing.
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.
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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 Rockville County Park carry-in access and ends at Heims Mill Canoe Access, about 16.8 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.