Sauk River State Water Trail

Sauk River State Water Trail is designated canoe, boat waterway

The Sauk River runs 126 miles across Minnesota, beginning at its outlet from Lake Osakis. Along its route, there are various parks, accesses and campsites. The Sauk enters the Mississippi River on the north end of St. Cloud, just above the Sauk Rapids of the Mississippi. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website, near Richmond, the river forms a “Chain of Lakes” where more than 80 miles of continuous shoreline are encountered over a river length of less than 8 miles. The river continues, fl owing past granite outcrops and small hills. Near St. Cloud, the river becomes a series of rapids until it joins with the Mississippi River. There are many points of interest along the river, including an elevated tamarack bog on the north bank near Rockville. Along the river: Note: R and L represent left and right of the river bank when facing downstream. • Sauk Lake (mile 102.9 L) Diamond Point – trailer access • Sauk Centre (mile 95.8 R) Sinclair Lewis Park – trailer access, campground, fi shing pier • Sauk Centre Dam (mile 95.6): Portage left • Melrose (mile 79 R) – Trailer Access • Melrose (mile 78.5) Melrose Dam: Portage left • Melrose (mile 78.4 L) Sauk River Park – carry-in access, camping, picnic area • Spring Hill (mile 56.4 L) Spring Hill County Park – watercraft campsite • Spring Hill (mile 56.1 R) Spring Hill County Park – carry-in access, picnic area, drinking water • St. Martin (mile 47.1 R) – carry-in access • Richmond (mile 31.5 L) City of Richmond Park – carry-in access, picnic area • Cold Spring (mile 22.3 L) Lions Park – trailer access, fi shing pier, picnic area • Cold Spring (mile 22) Cold Spring Dam: Portage right/Burlington Northern Railroad bridge • Cold Spring (mile 21.8 L) Frogtown Park – carry-in access • Rockville (mile 16.5 L) Rockville County Park – watercraft campsite • Rockville (mile 16.2 L) Rockville’s Eagle Park – carry-in access • Miller Landing (mile 7.6 R) – carry-in access • St. Cloud (mile 6.2 L) Pineview Park – carry-in access • St. Cloud (mile 4.5 R) Knights of Columbus Park – carry-in access, picnic area, drinking water • Sauk Rapids (mile 0.0) Heim’s Mill carry-in access, confl uence with Mississippi River For more details on roads and bridges along the Sauk River, please visit https://fi les.dnr.state.mn.us/ maps/canoe_routes/sauk.pdf

Information courtesy of Minnesota DNR river bank when facing y ty aark ler age ry-in rk k in acPark ccess,

PHOTO BY RACHEL BORGERDING The dam at Melrose is one of three portage points along the Sauk River; portage left.

PHOTO BY RACHEL BORGERDING PHOTO BY RACHEL BO (Above) The Sauk River is a (Above) The Sauk R designated state canoe and designated state can boat waterway, and runs 126 boat waterway, and r miles from its beginning at Lake miles from its beginning

Osakis to its confl uence at the Missis-Osakis to its confl uence at th sippi River at Sauk Rapids. sippi River at Sauk Rapids.

PHOTO BY DIANE LEUKAM PHOTO BY DIAN (Left) The dam in Sauk Centre is a portage (Left) The dam in Sauk Centre is a point where canoers can portage left and point where canoers can portage re-access the river at the Conservation Club re-access the river at the Conservat below the dam on the east side of U.S. Highbelow the dam on the east side of U way 71/Main Street. way 71/Main Street.