We Love Our National Parks, but This Minnesota Park Is Just as Stunning

We Minnesotans are fortunate to share our beautiful state with six National Park Service units, including the gorgeous St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, which flows out of Wisconsin and forms more than 100 miles of Minnesota's border with the Badger State. The national park protects the river and its banks over much of its course but rarely extends beyond the narrow ribbons of land on either side of the waterway. Fortunately, on the Minnesota side, you'll find places like St. Croix State Park, which picks up where the NPS leaves off and offers a whole pile of recreational opportunities including and beyond the St. Croix River.

At more than 34,000 acres, St. Croix State Park is the largest state park in Minnesota, comparable in size to Bryce Canyon and Wind Cave National Parks. It's located east of Hinckley along a 20-mile stretch of the St. Croix River. The park's westernmost edge is defined by the course of the Kettle River, a state-designated "wild and scenic river." Stretching between the two rivers is a massive swath of mixed evergreen and hardwood forests, marshes, and meadows—home to diverse wildlife, including gray wolves, black bears, and dozens of bird species—all laced with 75 miles of trails.

One of my favorite hikes in the park is the relatively easy (mostly level and wide) loop formed by the River Bluff and River's Edge Trails. This 3.7-mile hike showcases some of the park's best scenery, offering views out across the St. Croix River. Download the map from AllTrails+ before you head out, as cell service is unreliable in the park. (WiFi is available in spots near the campground.)

Of course, with the St. Croix River as the star of the show, paddling is a popular activity in the park. Bring your own canoe or kayak, or rent one from the park office. Naturalists also offer several guided paddling tours during the summer season. Given the park's size and opportunities for recreation, you should definitely plan on spending more than a day. Camping is available in the park, and with more than 200 sites, you have a good chance of finding a spot to reserve—but definitely book ahead of time in the summer.

I think a visit to St. Croix State Park is one of the best ways to enjoy all that the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway has to offer. With its expansive landscape stretching between the St. Croix and Kettle Rivers, the park gives you the best of both worlds: pristine, wild and scenic rivers with plenty of surrounding land to explore and offering many opportunities for recreation. For information on entry fees and camping reservations in the park, visit the St. Croix State Park page on the DNR's website. No fees are required to paddle or enjoy the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, and the primitive campsites along the river that are managed by the NPS are available at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis.