Sauk River

The Sauk River is a river in central Minnesota. It begins at Lake Osakis in Todd County and flows 126 miles across central Minnesota to join the Mississippi River. The river is shallow. Along its course it passes farmland, residential areas, restored prairie, swamps and hardwood forests. Its upper reaches run through flat swamp vegetation. Oaks, elms, silver maples and willows are the most common trees in most of the valley. Rock outcrops along the river include some of the oldest rocks in the world, a few dated at more than 3 billion years. The two main glacial features along the river are a whaleback in the Chain of Lakes area and moraines, including exposures of the St. Croix moraine.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources manages the river as the Sauk River State Water Trail. The trail is divided into two segments: Osakis Lake to County Road 14, and County Road 14 to the Mississippi River. Parks, river accesses and campsites line the route. The DNR describes most of the river as suitable for paddlers of all skill levels. Public accesses include Spring Hill, St. Martin, Miller Landing and Rockville County Park (Stearns County), Lions Park and Frog Town Park in Cold Spring, Knights of Columbus and Pineview Park in St. Cloud, and Heims Mill near the Mississippi confluence. All of the listed accesses are carry-in except Lions Park, which has a ramp.

Redhorse and suckers live in the river. Panfish are found in the Chain of Lakes area, and walleye and northern pike in the Chain of Lakes area and near the Mississippi. A restored prairie is preserved near Spring Hill County Park, and an elevated tamarack bog lies on the north bank near Rockville.