Star Publications // Outdoor Adventures - February 8, 2022 // 15
Sauk River State Water Trail
is designated canoe, boat waterway
PHOTO BY RACHEL BORGERDING The Sauk River runs 126 miles across Minnesota, beginning at its outlet from Lake Osakis. Along its route, there are various parks, accesses and camp- The dam at Melrose is one of three portage points along the Sauk River; portage left. sites. 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, flowing 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, fishing 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 Countyy Park – watercraft campsite PHOTO BY RACHEL BORGERDING BO ty • Spring Hill (mile 56.1 R) Spring Hill County (Above) The Sauk River R is a aPark – carry-in access, picnic area, drinking wadesignated state can canoe and ter boat waterway, and rruns 126 • St. Martin (mile 47.1 R) – carry-in access miles from its beginning at Lake ark • Richmond (mile 31.5 L) City of Richmond Park Osakis to its confluence at th the Missis– carry-in access, picnic area sippi River at Sauk Rapids. ler • Cold Spring (mile 22.3 L) Lions Park – trailer PHOTO BY DIANE DIAN LEUKAM access, fishing pier, picnic area (Left) The dam in Sauk Centre is a portage • Cold Spring (mile 22) Cold Spring Dam: Portage age point where canoers can portage left and right/Burlington Northern Railroad bridge Club re-access the river at the Conservation Conservat ry-in • Cold Spring (mile 21.8 L) Frogtown Park – carry-in below the dam on the east side of U.S. U Highaccess way 71/Main Street. rk • Rockville (mile 16.5 L) Rockville County Park – watercraft campsite • Rockville (mile 16.2 L) Rockville’s Eagle Park k – carry-in access • Miller Landing (mile 7.6 R) – carry-in access • St. Cloud (mile 6.2 L) Pineview Park – carry-in in access • St. Cloud (mile 4.5 R) Knights of Columbus Park – carry-in access, picnic area, drinking water ccess, • Sauk Rapids (mile 0.0) Heim’s Mill carry-in access, confluence with Mississippi River
For more details on roads and bridges alongg the n.us/ Sauk River, please visit https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/ maps/canoe_routes/sauk.pdf Information courtesy of Minnesota DNR
