Saint Croix State Park is the largest park in Minnesota’s state park system at over 34,000 acres. The entrance to Saint Croix State Park is located 15 miles east of Hinckley, Minnesota. The Saint Croix River forms the southeastern border of the park and the Kettle River is found in the western portion of the park. These rivers offer canoeing, fishing, and kayaking for visitors.
Most areas of the park were once heavily wooded, but a devastating storm on July 1st, 2011 produced straight-line winds that topped 100 miles per hour which toppled thousands of trees, so a large area of the park is now quite open.
This park has an extensive trail system with 127 miles of hiking trails, 21 miles of mountain bike trails, and a 5.5 mile long paved bike trail. There are also 75 miles of trails available for horseback riding. In the winter there are 11 miles of cross country ski trails and 80 miles of snowmobile trails.
Other popular activities at the park include climbing a fire tower and swimming at Lake Clayton.
Saint Croix State Park offers a broad array of camping and lodging opportunities. There are 3 drive-in campgrounds within easy walking distance of the Saint Croix River. These campgrounds have a total of 211 sites, 71 of which have electric hookups. There are eight group campsites, 10 canoe sites, and two backpack campsites at the park. An equestrian campground is available with 40 sites; 19 of those having electricity. In addition, there are six cabins and two guesthouses available for rent.
A link to the Minnesota DNR website for St. Croix Lake State Park can be found here.
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