Sauk River — Cold Spring to St. Cloud: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 26, 9:00 PM UTC
Too low to paddle
Not enough water to float well — expect scraping and walking. Wait for rain or a dam release.
62 cfs
1.3 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 05270500
Runnable 98 – 1,200 cfs
What this means today
At 62 cfs the Sauk River is 36 cfs short of the 98 cfs this reach needs to float — that is the gap between today's reading and the bottom of the runnable range, not a small margin you can paddle through.
Over the last 24 hours it has barely moved, 58 cfs to 62 cfs. Daily means over the past 7 days have run between 61 cfs and 80 cfs, 24% lower at the end of the week than the start.
Paddling Cold Spring to St. Cloud
Sauk River at Cold Spring to St. Cloud is a Class I run in Minnesota — easygoing moving water with light riffles and nothing technical. Most paddlers put in at Cold Spring access and take out at St. Cloud (confluence access).
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at 98–1,200 cfs. Much below that and the Sauk River gets low and bony, so you end up scraping gravel and walking the shallows; well above the top of the range it turns fast, cold and pushy, which is a more serious day than most casual boaters want. We read USGS gauge 05270500 about every 30 minutes and compare the live number to that window, so the verdict at the top of this page reflects conditions right now rather than a monthly average.
Flows here are usually most dependable April–September. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt, and late summer often drops too low to float well — but the gauge always beats the calendar, so check today's reading before you go.
7-day flow trend
Section facts
- Difficulty
- Class I
- Length
- —
- Float time
- —
- Best months
- April–September
- Put-in
- Cold Spring access
- Take-out
- St. Cloud (confluence access)
Reading USGS gauge 05270500 — SAUK RIVER NEAR ST. CLOUD, MN ↗
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Sauk River — Cold Spring to St. Cloud?
- This section is generally runnable at 98–1,200 cfs. Below that it gets too low and bony; well above the top of the range it becomes pushy and then dangerous. We compare the live USGS reading to that range to produce today's verdict.
- How do I check Sauk River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 05270500 — the same public data USGS publishes — about every 30 minutes and compare it to the runnable range for this reach. You can also view the raw gauge yourself at waterdata.usgs.gov.
- Is Sauk River — Cold Spring to St. Cloud good for beginners?
- This section is rated Class I. At good levels it suits confident beginners and up, but it can have riffles or small rapids. Scout anything you can't see, and stay off it at high water.
- When is the best time to paddle Sauk River here?
- Typically April–September, when flows are most reliable for this section. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt; late summer can drop too low. Always check today's gauge reading rather than assuming.