See all 2 routes on Sauk River
Minnesota | Central Minnesota
Sauk River
Spring Hill County Park to St. Martin
Check current paddling conditions for this Sauk River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Use Spring Hill County Park as the put-in and the St. Martin carry-in as the take-out. This creates a cleaner gauge-backed Sauk day than the older Spring Hill-to-Rockville multi-day draft.
Put-in
Spring Hill County Park carry-in access Open mapStearns County confirms St. Martin Canoe Access as a one-acre county site retained as access to the Sauk River, but it is still a simple carry-in rather than a full-service park landing.
Take-out
St. Martin Public Water Access / County Road 12 Open mapLow water and summer vegetation can make this short route slower and less pleasant than the mileage suggests.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats
- Stearns County confirms St. Martin Canoe Access as a one-acre county site retained as access to the Sauk River, but it is still a simple carry-in rather than a full-service park landing.
- Low water and summer vegetation can make this short route slower and less pleasant than the mileage suggests.
Watch for
- Shallow riffles and vegetation as the St. Martin gauge falls toward 14 ft.
- Fresh wood and strainers after storms.
- Cold-water exposure in spring and fall.
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.
Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this score Today's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
Outlook Tomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the score Gauge, 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 |
| Data confidence 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 |
Notes What to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- DNR bands 14 / 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 shape About 9.1 river miles
MN DNR Map 2 names Spring Hill County Park at river mile 56.2 and St. Martin carry-in at river mile 47.1, making this a cleaner day route than the longer Spring Hill to Rockville draft.
- Access support Official county/DNR access points
Spring Hill County Park is a Stearns County park on the Sauk, and Stearns County confirms St. Martin Canoe Access is a one-acre county site retained as Sauk River access.
Verify it yourself Check 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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
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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 Spring Hill County Park carry-in access and ends at St. Martin Public Water Access / County Road 12, about About 9.1 river mi on the water.
Is this Sauk River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.