Minnesota’s Largest State Park Is A Riverside Recreational Hub With Scenic Camping, Hiking, And Canoeing

Linda McKusick/ShutterstockThere are 64 state parks scattered across the state of Minnesota, allowing both residents and visitors to enjoy countless outdoor activities in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The largest of these, St. Croix State Park in Hinckley, is a recreational hub along its iconic, namesake river. Outdoor enthusiasts visiting St. Croix State Park are treated to scenic campsites and hiking trails, along with the opportunity to paddle stretches of both the St. Croix and Kettle Rivers.

St. Croix State Park, which covers 34,000 acres, was created in 1943. Although it is the largest of Minnesota's state parks, it is not among the top five most visited. This combination of expansive size and relatively few visitors creates a peaceful, secluded vibe. Enhancing that sense of remoteness is the fact that St. Croix State Park is sandwiched between two state forests on the Minnesota side of the St. Croix River. Additionally, the state park faces expansive natural areas that sit just across the river in Wisconsin.

The natural features of St. Croix State Park are extensive, starting with the aforementioned rivers. A 21-mile section of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway bounds the eastern side of the park and forms a portion of the border with Wisconsin. The Kettle River, which runs along the western edge of the park, was the first river in Minnesota to be designated a State Wild and Scenic River. The park also features around a dozen smaller streams and Lake Clayton. Forested areas consisting of aspen and conifer trees blanket much of the landscape and are home to an abundance of wildlife, including black bears, bald eagles, timber wolves, bobcats, foxes, whitetail deer, and more. All these features combine to make St. Croix State Park a wonderful spot for your next outdoor adventure.

Read more: Chicago Boomers Are Moving To This Vibrant Midwest City With Iconic Craft Brews Just 3 Hours Away

With a pair of scenic rivers to explore, it's little wonder paddling is a popular activity at St. Croix State Park. All told, 21 miles of the St. Croix River and 7 miles of the Kettle River are accessible from within the park — so it should be no surprise that it's often mentioned as one of the top paddling spots in Minnesota. Paddlers can traverse a combination of calm waters and mild rapids. There are a variety of launch sites within the park, ranging from carry-in bank sites to established boat launches. Paddlers will also find plenty of watercraft campsites and picnic areas along both rivers.

The first two canoe launch sites along the St. Croix River State Water Trail are situated directly in the park. The Main Landing at St. Croix State Park has a concrete launch ramp (launching at this site requires a state park vehicle permit). Meanwhile, the Head of the Rapids Landing is situated at the confluence of the Kettle and St. Croix Rivers. This gravel launch site gives paddlers easy access to calm stretches of water in both rivers. Downstream from the launch site, however, there is a small set of rapids.

Hiking is another popular way to explore St. Croix State Park. There are 127 miles of hiking trails to enjoy, some of which extend into the state forests on either side of the park. The River Bluff Trail runs along the St. Croix River, while the Kettle River Highbanks Trail follows along the Kettle River. You can enjoy views of both waterways via the Two Rivers Trail, a scenic 5-mile loop with minimal elevation gain. "Great trail, no people and peaceful," wrote one visitor on AllTrails. Note that if you visit during the winter months, many of these trails can be traversed by snowshoe.

Extending your visit for multiple days is a great way to see everything St. Croix State Park has to offer — or at least as much as you possibly can. To that end, you'll find several campsites within the park. For RVs and tent campers, there are 211 sites spread across three campgrounds. A little less than half of those sites have electric hookups. Most RVs should fit with ease, as the maximum length limit is a generous 60 feet.

Additionally, the park has a pair of backpack sites. Each requires a 5-mile hike and has screened shelters. Four walk-in tent camping sites and eight carry-in group camping sites are within a short walk of the parking area. There are also 10 canoe-in campsites for paddlers and a horse camp with 40 campsites and a corral. For something a bit more plush, check out the one-room cabins, each with a double bed, full kitchen, and half bath available mid-May through mid-September. A pair of guest houses, which can accommodate 12 to 15 people, are available throughout the year.

Whether going for a day or overnight visit, getting to St. Croix State Park is relatively simple — it's roughly a 1.5-hour drive from Minneapolis. This is also where you'll find the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), which is the closest commercial airport. Although visitors will have plenty to see and do at St. Croix State Park, there's a number of other impressive natural attractions nearby. Interstate State Park, Wisconsin's first state park, is downstream along the St. Croix River. Banning State Park, the ghost town that was transformed into a scenic state park, is less than 30 minutes away. And for more fun on the water, the scenic Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota's second-largest inland lake, is only an hour away. Consider visiting them all during an epic road trip across one of the Midwest's most beautiful regions.