Minnesota is a state for people who love the outdoors. The state has dozens of state parks – 66 in all – and even the smallest (Franz Jevne State Park) is wild and beautiful. However, one massive state park offers a bigger experience for people who love to explore. St. Croix State Park covers a vast area of eastern Minnesota, and while it makes a great day trip, to truly experience the park, you’ll want to take a little more time. Here’s why.
The park is a wild escape that’s easy to reach for much of the state’s population. In less than 90 minutes, you can travel from the center of downtown Minneapolis to the heart of this wild state park.
Alltrails / Ben Talaska
The park is located in Pine County and is huge, covering nearly 34,000 acres. In the 1930s, it was created as a Recreational Demonstration Area - a national program to create parks across the nation, leveraging Great Depression-era labor programs.
Alltrails / Kelsey Arens
Nearly a century later, the park is an escape for thousands of people seeking the state’s wild beauty. The trails are nearly endless. The park has 27 miles of hiking trails, 21 miles of mountain biking trails, and 75 miles of equestrian trails.
Alltrails / Krista Skoglund
That’s just the start of what you can experience in the park. Paddlers will find some incredible stretches of river to explore. The park follows 21 miles of the St. Croix River and it contains seven miles of the Kettle River. The St. Croix River is flat and easy paddling while the Kettle River contains some rapids.
Alltrails / Bret Bartness
The park is wonderful for camping. You’ll find more than 200 campsites, including accessible sites, group campsites, and backcountry sites for those seeking tranquility.
Alltrails / Pamela Buerck
The park can be the gateway to other wild adventures. It borders Chengwatana State Forest to the southwest and Saint Croix State Forest to the northeast. Across the Wisconsin border lies the Governor Knowles State Forest, and the corridor surrounding the park is part of the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway.
Alltrails / Krista Skoglund
Learn more about the St. Croix State Park by visiting the park’s interpretive center or checking out the park’s website. If you love exploring Minnesota’s state parks, here are some underrated parks you should put on your list.
Alltrails / Ben Talaska
Alltrails / Kelsey Arens
Alltrails / Krista Skoglund
Alltrails / Bret Bartness
Alltrails / Pamela Buerck
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Address: 30065 St Croix Park Rd, Hinckley, MN 55037, USA
