Sauk Creek

As of 2026.04.14, the wood situation has improved.

It is still recommended to put in by parking at the conservancy property, scouting Krueger Falls as you carry up, then keeping an eye toward the creek to look for wood spanning the stream. My last time there (04.14), this meant NOT carrying to the limit of the Conservancy property.

Most of the trees which had blocked much of the river upstream and downstream of the pedestrian bridge in the conservancy have flushed downstream. They are likely to have hung up elsewhere on the run, so it will be imperative (as always) to scout as many locations as possible before doing the run.

Just upstream of the Grand Avenue bridge (where the plate gauge is), a log spans the flow. It is likely submerged at good runnable flows, but TAKE A LOOK UPSTREAM FROM THE BRIDGE before putting on, to know whether it is still there, and whether it has accumulated more wood (making passage more problematic).

Downstream of Grand Avenue bridge, a good-sized tree blocks the right half of the flow. Its branches are hung-up by numerous wires. LOOK DOWNSTREAM FROM THE BRIDGE before putting on, and look closely to see the wires!

Just beyond that, a massive tree spans the river. At minimally boatable flows, you can limbo under midstream or to left (but be careful about protruding branches!). At best boatable flows, you'll need to get far river-right to duck under the trunk where it is higher up the banks.

Blockages affect this run:

UPSTREAM OF CONSERVANCY PROPERTY: Multiple trees span the creek, blocking shore-to-shore.

DO NOT USE THE FORMER PUT-IN FROM GRANT STREET. Use conservancy parking on CTH.KK/Moore Road, and carry up the path in the conservancy

AT KRUEGER FALLS: As of Spring 2025, a log (long branchless tree) is hung up at the brink of the falls. It totally blocks the left 'bypass/off-ramp', as well as blocking part of the center route. It is passable down the main 'guts' line. However, the first time the creek 'goes big' I expect this will move downriver a bit. Additional wood lies parallel to flow at river right, and more is hung up down the river-right 'off-ramp'.Make certain to scout thoroughly (to see if this is still in place for find where it has moved to) before putting on!

DOWNSTREAM OF THE FOOTBRIDGE IN THE CONSERVANCY: a huge tree blocks at least 2/3rds of the width. It is passable on the right, but will take strong maneuvering to avoid the eroded right bank downstream. It may accumulate additional wood, possibly extending the hazard to river-right of the root end. Scout this carefully to know if it is safely passable!

DOWNSTREAM OF THAT LARGE TREE: Look closely further downstream to see another tree spanning the creek. Until this flushes (or is cut out!) proceeding downstream of the bridge cannot be advised!

NEAR THE SKATE PARK: Park in the skate-park parking, walk north (upstream) just past a tree laying across the grass, and look down into the creek. A tree (~1foot diameter) lays fully across the creek. It may be low enough (end to end) to be totally submerged at any good boatable flow. However, if additional woody debris would hang up on it, that could make passage difficult or impossible. LOOK AT THIS BEFORE PUTTING ON!!!

The rest of the way from the athletic fields to the gauge bridge is clear (as of Nov.2024).

AT THE BRIDGE/GAUGE: Under the bridge, a large log blocks right-to-center, but should be easily passed to the left.

AT THE LONE BRIDGE PIER: a massive accumulation of wood blocks the left side. Some branches (on the bridge pier, and on shores below) protrude over the water and will require deft maneuvering to get through safely. Not far downstream, a large tree from the left shore block most of the stream. Passage should be possible tight to the right shore, but LOOK AT HIS LOCATION BEFORE PUTTING ON TO BE CERTAIN IT HASN'T GATHERED MORE WOOD, AND TO BE SURE YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE MANEUVERING NEEDED.

The wood situation changes often. Scout as much of this creek as you can before putting on to know whether the wood is reasonably avoidable or whether you should just go elsewhere.

Overhanging branches (in numerous locations) virtually always complicate this already narrow stream and can make passage very sketchy.
Much of this run can be very nearly equivalent to a slalom course, maneuvering to dodge branches of various sizes hanging toward or into the water!
Quick reactions, precise boat handling, and aggressive paddling are needed as levels approach or exceed 15.0' on the gauge!
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Every year (with each windstorm and each high-water event) there tends to be new deadfall at random locations, blocking safe passage.
Less experienced paddlers (at all times) or all paddlers (at higher flows) may find it difficult to impossible to avoid a 'close encounter of the worst kind' at the various and ever-changing hazards on this run.
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MAKE CERTAIN TO SCOUT AS MANY LOCATIONS AS POSSIBLE BEFORE PUTTING ON! On this entire run, eddies are few and small! Getting out to portage around nearly any obstacle will not be easy as flows go above 15.0'.
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As wood moves, any number of locations could become completely impassable! You must be a highly confident, decisive, aggressive paddler, to run this creek at any flows above ~14.7'!