We stumbled upon Interstate State Park from the Wisconsin side and somehow found our new favorite place. Absolutely stunning. The trees, greenery, rock formations, and trails are gorgeous, and everything was incredibly well maintained. The Ice Age Trail was perfect with kids and had just enough adventure without turning into a family survival exercise. We already can't wait to go back. Five stars and a new pair of hiking shoes may now be required. read more

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Only an hour from the metro area, this park offers incredibly beautiful views with a variety of trails for all hiking levels. I personally prefer visiting parks earlier in the day to avoid foot traffic, but even as we left around noon it didn't feel as crowded despite how many people were there. No matter which side of the park (MN or WI) you find yourself, you will not be disappointed! read more

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Great views, easy hike, and lots of fun things to learn on the trails right in the heart of Taylors Falls. Currently the visitors center is closed for the season but the trails are still accessible. We did the glacial potholes trails which was full of rock climbers. Great views of the St Croix River. Probably spent 15-20 minutes at this trail. Then we did the Walter F Mondale trail till we decided to turn back. Lots of nature to see including hawks, robins, chipmunks, squirrels, etc. Lots of great photo ops too! Probably spent 30-45 minutes on this one. Also they have port a potty's at the parking lot which is helpful while the restrooms are closed for the season. read more

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This is a great nature park. I've loved it every time we have come (beware it's extra busy when the leaves change color!). I visited this most recent time with a four year old who absolutely loved clambering and climbing around the unique rock formations. The park had some great views over the river which come fall are even better. I am awaiting the day we get to make use of the campgrounds! read more

Beautiful! You don't need an agenda or plan, just explore and enjoy nature. The scenery is incredible. Just go, look and listen.

This park was absolutely beautiful. We went on a weekend and there was quite a few people but not too bad. Views were amazing and the trails were not hard at all. read more

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Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Watch out for them potholes they'll catch you off guard. Careful for the cliffs - Jumping off the cliffs into the water is dangerous and not worth it, stay safe. Other than that you'll feel like Legolas in these forests. Let's be real one expects to see a hobbit darting behind a tree - Pippin is that you? The sunset here is beautiful. Amazing hiking and photo spot. If you're feeling adventurous this is the place to go. Love it here. There's a reason it's a State Park. -The Tight Squad read more

What a beautiful area! A great day trip from the Twin Cities, or a pitstop on the way to/from the Hayward area or into Wisconsin. This is a very easily accessible park, with some cool things to see including: - GLACIAL POTHOLES. I didn't even know this was a thing?! Apparently it is, and you can learn all about it and see so many of them here. - TALL ROCKS. They are beautiful to look at, make for a stunning landscape, and it's popular to rock climb and boulder here! - RIVER VIEWS. Walk down to the water and get epic views of the St. Croix River! They have a river cruiser that departs from here, but you can enjoy the scenery right at the park, too. You can walk / hike as much or as little as you want here, making it a great pit stop on a road trip or a full day trip. read more

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Such a cool state park- the potholes trail is what everyone comes for but the others are great too!The trails along the river are beautiful and relatively well marked. Pro tip: be sure to walk around at sunset- it's beautiful. Campsites are all relatively exposed but have good space and are flat Bugs were not bad for July! read more

Interstate State Park - View of the river from the park road - Hiking Near Me - St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin

Interstate State Park has a good amount of hiking trails. So many have beautiful closure views of the St Croix. You can also find some historic buildings and a waterfall! The park also has picnic areas and a beach for swimming. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed (and are not allowed at the beach). There is a fee to get into the park - it varies for Wisconsin locals and out of staters ranging from about $10-$13 per car. Be sure to pack bug spray when visiting as both times I have visited there have been many mosquitos - even in a drought year - but don't let that deter you from the beautiful nature present in this park! read more

Great location for a worthwhile hike! The descriptive signs help explain the history of the area and should add to your appreciation of the geography... caution to hike the area when it is dry the Walter Mondale River Trail is a wee bit treacherous even on a sunny dry day cannot imagine what it is like when wet. The Railroad Trail is rewarding as well as the start from the south end requires some steep elevation climbs up man made stairs - this trail all levels out to an old railway bed for your final descent into Taylors Falls . Great scenery & workout! read more

The review is for the Wisconsin side of the park. Visited Interstate at midday on a Friday with my family. Wow. I can not recommend a more fun park. The trails are filled with glacial holes (holes in the rock created from glaciers melting). It's a mix of a hike and a walk . But the fall colors were absolutely spectacular, it felt like walking through a colorful dream. Some of the trails have steep points and narrow passes so be careful. Especially since the leaves and pine needles are all falling, slipping is a real possibility and these rocks are not forgiving! But, that being said, there are many smaller trails and even a picnic area you can eat lunch at. There is a fee to enter the park but I travelled with my brother who has a pass to enter the park so I'm not sure what the prices are. read more

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Perfect park not too far from the Twin Cities. Wonderful scenery and a great place to take the pups and family for a beautiful day sitting on a rock looking out at the water. The season pass is worth buying for many more return visits. read more

Great park and very well kept. We actually came for the Ice Age Trail and learned about that and more. We also did a few of the easier trails and got some great pics on a great day as far as the weather. This was definitely worth the stop. read more

We really enjoyed camping on the Wisconsin side of the park, at the South Campground. All of the campsites have a bit of shade, a bit of sun. The sites are pretty small and most are immediately next to another site, but we were impressed with the lack of bugs in mid-June. The highlight of our trip was going rock climbing along the Summit Rock trail. There is a beautiful spot near the water that is marked by the appearance of a face at the summit. The area has dappled sun/shade all day long and was also remarkably bug-free. A lot of times how much fun you have camping depends more on the weather, bug situation, and the people you are with more than the actual campsite. But the easily accessible trails in the area do help make sure it will be a fun trip. read more

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This is a cool park with nice hiking trails and views of the st croix river. The camp sites are nicely separated. Tent or smaller RVs have more options. The bathrooms could use some upgrades but the showers have been upgraded. Park staff do a good job with the resources the state gives it. A park I enjoy coming back to. There is an Ice age interpretive center and in St Crois Falls there is the Fed. St Croux Visitor Ctr. read more

Interstate State Park is the 17th Wisconsin state park I've visited and it sure is beautiful, even in the snow and cold. The roads and parking lots were well-paved and easy to drive on. With a good pair of winter boots or snowshoes, it can be a great place for a winter hike! Entering the park was a bit confusing, as no one was at the fee station to help us purchase a day pass, but no self-registration was available, either. The sign said not to go beyond that point without paying, but it turns out that you actually do have to drive beyond that point to register in the gift shop or at the self-registration station in front of it. Additionally, I was told to check out the waterfall when I was handed a park map, but no waterfall was noted on it. Needless to say, I didn't find it. As a cartographer, overlooks and points of interests were also lacking in their representation. I only stumbled onto a great lookout by accident, but it was absolutely breathtaking! I'm actually not sure what the trail was called, but it leads to the Western Terminus of the Ice Age Trail and offers a view of Dalles Creek and the famous "Old Man of the Dalles." I hope to visit again in summer! read more

Interstate State Park - View from the Western Terminus of the Ice Age Trail at Interstate State Park in Wisconsin - Hiking Near Me - St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin

A fun day trip from Minneapolis to see the glacial pot holes . Beautiful scenic view and great hiking for all levels. read more

Interstate State Park - Hiking Near Me - St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin

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The Wisconsin version of Interstate is a compact but scenic park. We parked at the amphitheater and hiked the Lake of the Delles Trail, then the Silverbrook (which ends at a mid size waterfall) and then back by the Skyliner trail. All the trails were fairly easy, the Silverbrook the only one that wasn't that scenic until the waterfall. We did have to cut back via Ravine to get to our car, and that trail was a bit more challenging - don't go up it, go down it, it is steep. The park could stand to add some signing as we were confused which way to go at some of the trail heads. read more

Interstate Park was the first Minnesota state park I visited and it wowed at every turn. The park is located in both Wisconsin and Minnesota and is a short drive from the Twin Cities! During my visit we kept to the Minnesota side, which comprises 293 acres of lush forests, multiple trails, glacial potholes, and views of fast-moving river rapids. I visited during the COVID-19 pandemic hoping it would be quieter than many Twin Cities area trails, but the opposite proved true. At many points, we had to walk over the trail just to keep a safe distance and unfortunately many visitors weren't being mindful of social distancing. The park itself has ample and convenient parking on the Minnesota side, just make sure you set your GPS to route you in the correct state (use Taylors Falls for the Minnesota side). The fast-moving St. Croix River runs directly through the park, making for gorgeous vantage points along the trails as well as opportunities for kayaking and river cruises. Many of the famous glacial potholes are a short walk from the parking lot and if you want to get an active hike in, try the 1 mile Sandstone Bluffs Trail which features a beautiful waterfall and 1.5 mile the Railroad Trail. Many trails are also great for exercising active dogs, but small dogs may find it difficult. The one downside: The highway cuts through the park at some points, which is less than ideal for quiet hikes. read more

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Great place to stay, right off the highway. Bathrooms were well kept and plenty of hot water. The staff was so hopeful and nice! Highly recommend! read more

Beautiful park, with walking trails, and plenty of rocks to climb for kiddo's, but do watch them, and keep them away from the river, the St. Croix claims lives every season. Make sure to not wear sandals. read more

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I adore nature and a good hike. My family surprised me by taking me for a pretty nice hike here on Mother's Day and it was wonderful. It was a challenging trail surrounded by nothing for a good part of the walk. Lots of rocks and narrow passages vs. wide open tree lined trail. At times I felt like a mountain goat so I would recommend wearing good shoes and taking some water. Beautiful high points along the trail to engage in photo ops and just taking in all the beauty. They have a little gift shop at the ranger station. A lot of people tend to park by the road and there was one stretch of trail that you actually walk right along the busy highway. Not as peaceful as some other trails I have been on but truly enjoyable. read more

Interstate State Park - Hiking Near Me - St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin

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This park was recommended by some nature loving friends. My waifa and I came here with our lovely Puggle Sammie. We parked at one location on the Minnesota side of the river and walked the rugged trail up to the potholes. I had never heard of them. It was a late fall day but still beautiful. I can imagine how much better this would be in the spring and summer but the fall during the color change should be great. We will be back here and try the Wisconsin side of the river next time. read more

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A spacious park on the border shared with Wisconsin. There are two entrances along highway 8 and connection by two hiking trails. The site is full of nature's wonders such as the glacial potholes which seems to be the most popular viewing and climbing site. There is a rough an rocking trail with great views of the St. Croix. All the usual amenities including camping is available. The steep rock allows for the climbers to have a challenging adventure. The East entrance is more the main part of the park with extended parking which can get crowded on the weekends of our short season in Minnesota. There is also water fountains so that you can fill your containers. read more

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One of my all time favorite parks. I have led several group hikes alone the silverbrook and skyline trails as well as exploring the pothole trail and other beautiful trails along the St Croix River. The Interstate Park on the WI side (vs MN) is far superior! The Mn side aims to be touristy with all the paved trails and metal railings vs all natural in WI (get too close to the edge on the pothole trail and you will plumet to your death). I have hiked all the trails and it never gets old. You get a different view based on season. Take the 3 mile hike all the way to the end of the silverbrook trail to a waterfall. It's an unexpected beautiful place to relax. The swimming beach is very nice and clean. Lots of parking. All vault toilets. Lots of picnic shelters and tables. So much to explore and see! This park requires a parking permit. $7 per day or $11 for out of staters (or you can purchase an annual pass). read more

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My favorite park in the vicinity of the Twin Cities by far. You get out of the vehicle, and within 20 feet you're all ready on the trail (or atop the rocks creating your own trail). Due to the varying elevations throughout the park (on both the MN and WI sides) it's a great place to bound around on the rocks, and treat it as your own personal plyometric playground. If you do so, just make sure you're on solid ground so that you're not dislodging rocks that could fall on someone below, and also be aware that it's not uncommon for someone to fall into the river, and not come up again (at least for a few days, due to the strong undercurrent). There are always a few birds of prey circling high above (often eagles, but hawks today) and the St. Croix River water is always flowing below (fast in some spots). Geologically, it's extremely cool as well, and definitely worth checking out the signs, so you get an appreciaton for the history of the area. read more

The first thing you need to know about this beautiful state park is that it's in two states. It straddles the St. Croix River, so part of it is in Minnesota and part is in Wisconsin. I went camping here last year with a big group of friends and we had so much fun that we relived the s'mores, the canoeing under the cliffs and the beer darts (will explain shortly) again last weekend. We camped on the south end of the Wisconsin side (St. Croix Falls), on account of the lax alcohol laws. The campsites are not at all private, and you will practically need a jackhammer to get pitch your tent because the ground is made of gravel (bring a tarp, mat and/or air mattress). The plus side is that you can park right on your site, and if you book early enough, you could grab one with people on only two sides of you. Despite the rocky terrain and the non-wilderness setting, there are so many pluses to this park that it still deserves five stars. We had a big group spread out on two adjoining sites, which was a challenge around the campfire during quiet hours. A little after 11 p.m., one of the rangers asked us all "not to laugh at the same time," which caused us all to laugh at the same time. Still, I think we were all pretty respectful and so were the other campers around us. The rangers were also really nice, even though one of them made every one of us show our IDs (we were all approximately seven years older than she was... but it was dark, and we look good in the dark). There was a water station near our site, and glorified outhouses nearby (I kind of preferred the woods). We never made it to the showers, but I think they have those somewhere too. On Saturday, we jumped the river to the MN side (Taylor's Falls), where we rented canoes. I really hate that you have to buy another parks pass (MN/WI), but we did it anyway because canoeing is fun. The rental place is making a killing ($46 per canoe), but it's so worth taking the 2-3-hour trip down to Osceola with a cooler full of sandwiches and refreshments (no glass). Our small fleet of paddlers was nothing compared to some of the sandbars full of partiers (someone even set up a volleyball net in the middle of the river!). For the most part though, it's quiet and relaxing. You rent upstream and then a school bus picks you up in Osceola and brings you back to your car. After canoeing, we headed to the beach on Lake of the Dalles, which is inside the park. There's a grass beach there, and lots of room to take some sun and swim. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing beer darts there. We learned this dangerous game last year on the very same beach from some crazy Wisconsinites who invited us into their fold. The rules are simple: shake up a beer, sit a safe distance away from that beer (and across from each other) and throw steel-tipped darts at each other's beers. When the can takes a dart... you shotgun it. Throwing it into the air and yelling, "RAAAA!" after that is optional. read more

Interstate State Park - Hiking Near Me - St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin

This is one of my favorite outdoor places in MN. Close enough to the cities to make a run at the spur of the moment, yet far enough away to be secluded and wilderness-ish. Ever thought about trying rock climbing? The park occasionally runs a program called "I can climb" that teaches you all the basics. Vertical Endeavors out of Saint Paul also runs guided beginner climbing clinics up here during the summer. There are a lot of good beginner climbs, as well as some more challenging ones. On the weekends most climbers make what's called a "Minnesota Alpine Start". A tongue-in-cheek way of saying that they will roll up to the climbs around 8 or 9am. Most climbs will be occupied, but most climbers are willing to share routes - just ask. Most of the climbs free up again when the afternoon heat hits around 3pm. If you want to climb, you need to get a (free) annual permit at the ranger office. Just once per season. It helps the park track usage. The park also runs a program (check the schedule) where they teach you how to geocache (a sort of electronic treasure hunt or hide-n-seek using gps receivers to find hidden stashes of little prizes) Want to try canoeing or kayaking? They have that here too. You can paddle around the area or all the way down to the river. There are several islands for you to have a secluded private picnic at. If you paddle about 2 miles down the river, to where it take a fairly noticeable right hand turn, there is a great island and sandbar that usually attracts a crowd. It's a great place for swimming and lunching. While cliff diving is officially prohibited (and you will be fined if caught - and I guess it's sort of dangerous - and they actively patrol this spot on the weekends), this spot is also a great vantage point to watch people jumping in (I won't give the spot away, but it's fairly obvious on the Wisconsin side if you are looking from the sandbar I mentioned). Something you might want to try at least once in your life! They also have a great 2 mile hike between the upper and lower parking areas. It's a very scenic river trail and definitely worth checking out. There are some parts that are a little steep or a tiny bit technical but anyone in moderate physical condition (including children) should have no problem at all. There are plenty of benches and overlooks to stop at and admire the scenery. Lots of good little places to bring a blanket for a picnic or a nap too! They have decent, though not very private, camping sites. Water and electric are available as well as a pull-through dump station if you've got a trailer. The sites are kind of crammed in there. If it's available, grab site #21. It's pretty much the roomiest and most secluded site in the camping area. A word about dogs... since we are dog lovers and ours has a great time hiking and climbing with us..... Dogs are welcome everywhere *except* the campground beach, provided they are leashed and you clean up after them. They can go on all the hiking trails, they can stay in the campground, they can accompany you when you check out the potholes area and interpretive trail, etc. They can sit at the base of the rock climbs (though local climbing 'ethics' frown on this), and If you take the river hiking trail, there are plenty of opportunities to step off the trail and walk down to the river and swim with your dog or play fetch in the water. This is perfectly fine too. It's just the one public beach at the campground that's off limits. While you're in the area.... there is a great pizza place in downtown Taylor's Falls, as well as a great little winery across the border on the Wisconsin side. Both are worth the trip after a day of hiking! read more

We came to the park to go canoeing down the St. Croix and had a really wonderful experience. Except turns out the boy and the pup are both afraid of water... But I had a great time!! The scenery on either side of the river is stunning. I prefer the MN side, but I'm clearly biased. Boo Wisconsin. There were tons of places to stop and camp, explore, or just take a whole boatload of selfies! Overall the ride was around three hours. Keep in mind that return shuttles don't arrive until 2pm and the landing is literally just some grass and a parking lot. Definitely more fun to stop at some islands along the way than to sit in a parking lot. read more

There are really 2 parks called by this name. There is the Minnesota side and Wisconsin side. First off, we visited the Minnesota side in Taylor Falls which is shares the same entrance as the Taylor Falls Boat Excursions. The visitor center was closed since we got there early before 9am. However, the park map board had some visitor maps which we picked up to navigate around. We saw several pot holes and it was nice there were railings to brace yourself hiking up and down. For the deep potholes, it was sad that the railing were underwater from all the rain water so we could not go deeper. Anyways, the filled pot holes were more marshy and boggy with all the algae on the water. We made it down all the way to the boat landing. Afterwards, we took the car to see what was near the Folsom Island area. Not much except for canoe rental if you were interested in 1-way paddling. For the Wisconsin side, the attendant at the Folsom Island entrance told us to just park near the Taylor Falls Boat Excursion and walk over the bridge. This would save Minnesota folks on parking permit. Plus, I already had a yearly pass to Minnesota state parks. Well, the grass was high and we made it over to the Wisconsin without any bug bites. Then, we took the Ice Age loop. I wasn't expecting too much but I was amazed. The views are sooo much better on Wisconsin side and hiking was spread-out. The Minnesota side was a bit cramped with a lot of pot holes. There were more delicate pot holes on Wisconsin side and trickling water made it peaceful. After doing the loop, we made our way back to the car. By then, the traffic picked up so be sure to come early to enjoy the views- sunrises and cliffs. read more

I love stopping her on the way to my cabin. The glacial potholes are so cool. It's also fun to watch climbers that are all over the place. Beautiful park! read more

This is a great state park near Taylor's Falls along the river. I hiked along the Minnesota side of the park, which was very pretty. There are a number of different length hikes you can try. We did a 3.0 mile loop that included beautiful views of the river. I have heard the Wisconsin side of the park has even better (and much longer) hiking trails. read more

This place is so quiet, family friendly, great walks, beach for swimming, boat launch, & so much more to do here. Who knows you might see me & Tidie-Hood there v be read more

Hiking trails available for all abilities from the ornery teenage in flip-flops to the experienced hiker donning trekking poles. Don't set out without a trail map. My reasoning for 3 stars is the lack of signage at the forks in the trail. Getting lost would be easy, even with a trail map in hand. Special Features: -unpaved trails -natural potholes -visitor center with gifts and literature for sale -exhibition center -pit toilets galore in camp grounds -abundant shade -natural stone stairs -abandoned copper mine Favorite moment: Spotting a young 8 point buck. read more

Awesome park to have in our back yard! The valley is awesome! The staff was great as well. My daughter had such a great time on her class field trip. The views and picnic areas are amazing. ...plus the Mighty Ducks was filmed there, how cool. read more

It is very fun and I learned a bunch of interesting things and there is so much to learn about and reading the little posters ,I've been there 2 times and I'm currently driving to go there for the 3 time and I love walking around and looking at the river read more

What a special place with break taking views and serenity just north of the TC. I would love to come back and experience the WI side or maybe do some camping. Someone recommended going to "Taylor's Falls" after visiting Minnehaha one weekend, so after a little research found that we had a state park that straddled the river and two states. [Unbeknownst to me, there aren't any actual falls in Taylor's falls or St. Croix, and there are several signs at the park explaining this phenomena.] I packed a picnic for two and a bottle of wine and made a day trip out of it. After asking my friend for advice, she recommended the Minnesota side for the rock formations. We got to the park at about 1pm on a Friday afternoon. There were only a few campers and other cars there, so it was quiet. The rangers at the station were really friendly and helpful as I told them it was my first time there and asked about the trails and if I wanted to go to the WI side how to do that. We decided to park on the South end and walked the River Trail to the north where the potholes are. On the way there we may have passed a couple people, but it was a decent hike. The only downside is it is near the road so you can still hear traffic. There are several "off the path" trails that lead to the cliffs overlooking the river. It was a warm day and the hike was enough to get us sweating. We got to the north end and there were more people there, but it wasn't crazy busy or anything like that. There are a lot of rocks to climb all over and look down into the bottomless pothole. You can even walk down there! I learned some cool information about MN geology (why don't I remember talking about this place in my college geology class? Oh yeah, that's because I didn't attend). After exploring for a little bit and getting some cool pictures, we decided to take the same trail back to have our picnic. I'm glad we did, because we picked a spot off the main trail to eat and drink wine overlooking the river. By the time we got back, it was about 4pm. There were campers coming in and more people had set up for the weekend. I at least wanted to put my feet in the water although swimming is not recommended because of the currents. I was hoping this would be a place that had nice swimming spots because I have yet to find any outside of the city and didn't get to go swimming at all last summer. Oh well, everything else about this park was beautiful and I would love to camp and go canoeing next time. The wisconsin side looked like there were many trails that could've been more interesting but we needed to get back to the bustle of the city. I'm not sure that Amy's review is very fair, by giving it 1 star because her dog couldn't go in the water. There was a family and their dog playing in the water, and they just kept him on leash. I'm pretty sure I read in several spots that as long as they are on leash they can be at the park. Maybe that's just the MN side though. Still, not a very fair rating for such a beautiful place. Note: The directions from the MN DNR website ARE correct, but when I tried to find Milltown Rd on my GPS, there was no such thing. Instead I just put Taylor's Falls city center and followed the signs. It was really easy to find. read more

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I have camp here @ least twice and had a great time both times. The park rangers are very nice and helpful. The campsites and RV park are right by the river and extremely clean. This is a panaramic, climbers, and scenic's lovers paradise. The only draw back is the road noise. The main road is practically right above you and you will hear every single semi going by. Nevertheless, this one of the most beautiful state park in MN and I am looking forward to go back real soon. Yes, they allow pets...I have no idea what the 1 star reviewer is talking about. read more

Very scenic park on the St Croix River. We just explored some trails on the Wisconsin side on our short visit. Appears to have a lot of things to do besides hiking. Visitor center gal was very helpful. The only hassle was the construction on Hwy 8 on the Minnesota side but that is no fault of the park. read more