See all 11 routes on St. Croix River
Minnesota | East Central Minnesota
St. Croix RiverSand Creek Landing to Highway 70 Landing
Plan a St. Croix River paddle from Sand Creek Landing to Highway 70 using NPS Map 6. This reach lies downstream of the Little Yellow River-to-Sand Creek section and upstream of the Highway 70-to-Wild River section.
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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
Launch at Sand Creek Landing and take out at Highway 70 for the NPS Map 6 St. Croix section. The route uses the upstream Danbury DNR gauge conservatively and requires a local visual check because the Kettle River joins near the lower miles.
Access map
Put-in
St. Croix River, Mouth of Sand Creek Public Water Access SiteMinnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Sand Creek as WAS01894 and Highway 70 as WAS00085 with public administrators, river miles, and coordinates.
Take-out
St. Croix River, Highway 70 LandingThe Danbury gauge is upstream of the route and above the Kettle River confluence; it is intentionally conservative for low-water calls, not an exact lower-route reading.
Road shuttle
Stage Highway 70 first, then drive back through the St. Croix State Park / Sand Creek access corridor. Inspect the Highway 70 landing and the first riffles before leaving a vehicle because low water can make the final miles slower than the map distance implies.
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Mouth of Sand Creek Landing to Highway 70 Landing is about 15.0 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- NPS Map 6 warns that the river splits around large islands. Stay left for the deeper main channel unless intentionally paddling and scouting the Kettle River Slough route.
More route and safety guidance
- The Kettle River Slough option includes a ledge and regular Class II rapids near the St. Croix confluence; scout or avoid it if the group is not prepared for swiftwater.
- Sandrock Cliffs channel can dry up in low water, and downed trees can catch and overturn boats.
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Conditions
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official sectionSand Creek Landing to Highway 70
NPS Map 6 is the current 2024 section map for Sand Creek Landing to Highway 70 and identifies access, safety, camping, rapid, island-channel, and current-condition guidance for this reach.
- Recommended one-way15.3 river miles
MN DNR lists Sand Creek Landing in St. Croix State Park to Highway 70 Landing as a recommended NPS Map 6 one-way section.
- Public access recordsWAS01894 to WAS00085
Minnesota public-water-access GIS resolves Mouth of Sand Creek at river mile 104.5 and Highway 70 at river mile 89.5 with source-backed coordinates and public administrators.
- DNR bands1,250 / 1,500-2,200 / 6,000 cfs
MN DNR interprets the Danbury gauge as Scrapable below 1,250 cfs, Low from 1,250 to 1,500, Medium from 1,500 to 2,200, High from 2,200 to 6,000, and Very High above 6,000.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-23633 cfs at 2026-07-23 23:00 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.
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 St. Croix River
All 11Nearby routes within 75 miles
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