3 USGS Streamgages · North Fork Skagit River system
Sauk River flows and levels
Sauk River is gauged at 3 USGS streamgages in Washington, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 56 miles (90 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the North Fork Skagit River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 152 square miles at Sauk River Ab White Chuck River near Darrington, WA up to 714 at Sauk River near Sauk, WA. The gauged reach falls about 866 feet, from 1,139 feet down to 273. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned 14-day flow outlook at 2 of them.
Gauges on this river, upstream to downstream
Ordered by drainage area, which is how far down the river each gauge sits. April and July figures are long-term median daily flows for that month from the USGS record — historical normals, not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Gauge | State | Drainage sq mi | Elevation ft | April p50 cfs | July p50 cfs | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauk River Ab White Chuck River near Darrington, WA | WA | 152 | 928 | 941.2 | 1,151.3 | 14-day + temp |
| Sauk River at Darrington, WA | WA | 293 | 1,139 | 1,923 | 2,086.5 | — |
| Sauk River near Sauk, WA | WA | 714 | 273 | 3,556 | 4,882.6 | 14-day + temp |
Typical flow by month at Sauk River near Sauk, WA
The furthest-downstream gauge on this river, so the fullest flow it carries here. Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 98 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Month | Low p10 | Typical p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1,612.6 | 3,204.2 | 8,266.8 | |
| February | 1,575.2 | 2,854.1 | 6,847.9 | |
| March | 1,715.8 | 2,771.3 | 5,691.6 | |
| April | 2,259 | 3,556 | 6,359 | |
| May | 3,710 | 5,880.3 | 10,422.6 | |
| June | 4,425 | 7,158 | 11,713.3 | |
| July | 2,759.4 | 4,882.6 | 9,007.7 | |
| August | 1,599.4 | 2,337.4 | 4,378.7 | |
| September | 1,111.5 | 1,645.3 | 3,328 | |
| October | 968.2 | 2,024.8 | 5,793.5 | |
| November | 1,452 | 3,412 | 9,164 | |
| December | 1,727.4 | 3,438.7 | 8,757.7 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does the Sauk River run highest?
- June, on the long-term record at Sauk River near Sauk, WA — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 7,158 cfs that month, against 1,645.3 cfs in September, the lowest. Upstream gauges peak on their own schedule; the table on this page gives April and July for each.
- How many gauges are on the Sauk River?
- Rivermatics tracks 3 USGS streamgages on the Sauk River, across Washington. Each has its own page with the site's full flow record and monthly normals. The river may carry other gauges that publish neither daily values nor discharge statistics; those are not tracked here.
- Is there a flow forecast for the Sauk River?
- Yes, at 2 of the 3 gauges. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on each basin's observed flows, weather and snowpack, and issues a daily outlook reaching 14 days ahead: a median estimate inside a confidence band, not a single number to bet on. Every forecast is scored against days the model never trained on, and that track record is published on each gauge's live screen.
- What river system is the Sauk River part of?
- The Sauk River drains into the North Fork Skagit River system — it is a tributary somewhere in that chain, following the flowpath down to its terminal river. Rivermatics builds this from the USGS/geoconnex reference-mainstem network rather than from names.
- Can I use Sauk River data for flood or safety decisions?
- No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.
Other rivers in the North Fork Skagit River system
- Baker River 2 gauges
- Newhalem Creek 2 gauges