Take This Scenic Route And Drive Through 5 Minnesota State Parks In One Day
If you’re looking for a weekend adventure, this one-day road trip through five Minnesota state parks tracks the scenic St. Croix River, and it requires fewer than two-and-a-half hours of total driving time between stops.
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Of course, you could make the trip in reverse order.
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Your trip begins at St. Croix State Park, which is the largest park in the system.
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The Kettle, a state-designated Wild and Scenic River, also runs through and joins the St. Croix within the park.
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St. Croix State Park, 30065 St Croix Park Rd, Hinckley, MN 55037, USA
Explore the park’s woods on its miles of trails or take in sweeping vistas of the canopy from the fire tower. Look for black bears and white-tailed deer. If you’re lucky, you may even hear wolves howling at night.
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Further downstream, the north woods evergreens start to give way to maple forests and oak savannas in Wild River State Park’s mixed biome.
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Wild River State Park, b n, 39797 Park Trail, Center City, MN 55012, USA
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Interstate State Park spans the river and includes units in Minnesota and Wisconsin - hence the name.
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Interstate State Park, Milltown Road, Taylors Falls, MN, USA
The river bluffs make Interstate popular with rock climbers and paddlers alike.
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After the dramatic scenery of the first three parks, William O’Brien may feel a little mellower, but it's still lovely.
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William O'Brien State Park, 16821 O Brien Trail N, Marine on St Croix, MN 55047, USA
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St. Croix Boom Site, Stillwater, MN 55082, USA
The historic site is co-managed by the Minnesota DNR as a state wayside and the National Park Service as part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Several interpretive placards explain the site's significance during the area's logging boom, but its natural beauty speaks for itself.
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Be sure to leave time for lunch in Stillwater. We recommend Leo’s Grill and Malt Shop for a quick and tasty meal.
Which of these parks have you visited? Have you put together your own Minnesota state parks road trip?
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Featured Addresses
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, 401 N Hamilton St, St Croix Falls, WI 54024, USA