St. Croix River: Interstate State Park Section

Paddling a canoe or kayak down the St. Croix River from Minnesota’s Interstate State Park to the boat landing near Osceola, Wisconsin, is a pleasant journey that can be enjoyed by paddlers of all skill levels. This paddle is 7 miles long and takes two or three hours to complete. Since the St. Croix River is a National Scenic Riverway, there is not a lot development along the river, which increases the chances of seeing birds and other wildlife. The river flows past basalt rock cliffs as well as sandy beaches that make for great spots to stop and stretch your legs or cool off in the clean waters of the St. Croix.

Canoe and kayak rentals are available by a privately run business at the boat landing near the campground at Minnesota’s Interstate State Park. You will need a state park permit. When your trip is complete you will be shuttled by bus back to the state park. You can also use your own canoe or kayak and use a shuttle service to get back to your vehicle. In addition to paddling down the St. Croix to Osceola, hourly rentals are available. You can also take a longer trip further downstream to William O’Brien State Park, which is a five to seven hour paddle. There are other companies that provide rentals that launch from other spots on the river.

Before or after your paddle, be sure to check out one or both of the state parks in the area. In addition to the Minnesota park there is a Wisconsin Interstate State Park on the other side of the river. Both parks have excellent views of the Dalles section of the St. Croix, and on the Minnesota side you can see huge potholes created by erosion.