Afton State Park

This guide is for Twin Cities hikers, first-time backpackers, families booking a cabin or yurt, and cross-country skiers. It covers where you can sleep, the trails and river access, what is open as of November 2026, the costs and the drive. Facts come from the Minnesota DNR park page, its live data feed and the DNR summer map unless noted; sources are at the end.

The park in brief

Afton State Park was established in 1969 in Afton Township and covers 1,620 acres, per the DNR record. The DNR describes a rolling glacial moraine and bluffland with oak openings, upland hardwoods, remnant and restored prairie, and deep ravines cut down to the river. The two DNR sources describe the rock in those ravines differently: the park page mentions "outcrops of sandstone," while the map says "outcrops of limestone."

The map calls the park "a birdwatcher's haven with over 190 species." The DNR lists hawks and waterfowl on the St. Croix flyway, bluebirds and meadowlarks in the grasslands, and deer, fox, badgers and turkeys.

Camping and lodging at Afton

Individual campsites and lodging at Afton are reached on foot; the only drive-in vehicle sites the DNR mentions are in Group Camp 1. The DNR says "there are no RV camping sites at this park" and points RV campers to St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, which it says is open seasonally. There are no electric sites, no dump station and no showers.

How far is the hike to the backpack sites? The DNR park page says the sites "require a mile hike from the parking area." The DNR map calls it "a strenuous ¾-mile hike from the parking lots." The two DNR sources disagree on the distance, so plan for up to a mile with a full pack.

Cabins and yurts have no pets, open flames or indoor cooking; the yurts each have a covered outdoor cooking shelter. Year-round drinking water is at the visitor center, the backpack campground, the lower picnic area and the camper cabin and yurt parking lot.

Reservations: the DNR says all campsites and lodging must be reserved before you occupy them. The DNR reservation FAQ allows booking up to 120 days ahead, with online booking for a newly opened date starting at 8 a.m. Central, and same-day reservations carry no reservation fee. The state park reservations guide walks through ReserveMN.

Trails, the beach and the river

The DNR feed lists these trail totals:

The paved bike trail figure and the self-guided trail length differ between DNR sources, as shown above.

Named trails on the DNR map

• Prairie Loop, 2.1-mile loop: rolling and mowed, shared with horseback riders seasonally, with views of the river valley and the Afton Alps ski area.
• Trout Brook Loop, 1.5-mile loop: steep terrain and wooden bridges through a secluded ravine and over a bluff top.
• Deer Valley Loop, 2.2-mile loop: steep, narrow foot trail through hills and ravines.
• North River Trail, 0.8 miles one way, and South River Trail, 1.2 miles one way: flat crushed gravel along the St. Croix.

For a short visit, the park suggests the visitor center, then the paved trail behind it for the self-guided prairie walk, a scenic overlook, and the beach or lower picnic area.

Beach, fishing and boats

The swimming beach is about a half-mile walk from the parking lot, with no lifeguard; the DNR places river buoys seasonally. River access for fishing is also about a half mile from parking, and fishing is not allowed in the designated beach area. There is no boat launch, but boaters can land at designated boater beaches, and a seasonal dock is available for fishing. The park office lends fishing rods and tackle, birding kits and kids' discovery kits for free.

For more St. Croix Valley trails, see the William O'Brien State Park guide and the Interstate State Park guide.

Winter at Afton

The DNR lists the park as open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and says lodging units and backpack camping are available year-round (except during the December hunt closure below).

• Skiing: 11 miles of groomed classic ski trail. The beginner loop is 2.5 miles; the rest is intermediate or advanced. A Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required for skiers 16 and older.
• Snowshoeing and winter hiking: 12 miles of designated trail, plus cleared paved trail for winter hiking: the DNR park page says the park clears one mile of the paved bike trail, while the DNR winter map lists a plowed walking trail of 1.5 miles. Snowshoers and pets are not allowed on groomed ski trails. Snowshoes can be rented at the ranger station.
• Warming house: the visitor center has bathrooms, tables and a woodstove.
• Toilets: flush toilets in the visitor center year-round; vault toilets around the park year-round.

Alerts as of November 2026

• Deer hunt closure: as of November 2026, the DNR alert (updated November 10, 2026) says the park will be closed to the general public from 6 p.m. Monday, December 7, to 8 a.m. Friday, December 11, for a special-permit antlerless deer hunt.
• Horse trails: the same alert (updated November 10, 2026) says "Horse trails are now closed to riding for the season."
• Group camps and wall tent: closed during winter (November to March).

Fees and permits

From the DNR vehicle permit page and fee schedule. Camping and lodging fees are before tax.

The fee schedule gives statewide ranges, so ReserveMN shows the exact price for each Afton site. Example (arithmetic from the DNR fee schedule ranges, not a DNR quote): two nights in a yurt is 2 × $80 + $8 = $168 in lodging and reservation fees before tax, plus a vehicle permit ($7 overnight or $35 year-round). For multi-night stays, ask the park which permit covers your whole stay; the year-round permit covers every visit for a year.

Getting there

The DNR gives three routes:

• From St. Paul: 9 miles east on I-94 to exit 253, 7 miles south on Highway 95, then 3 miles east on County Road 22.
• From Hudson: 2 miles west on I-94 to exit 258, 8 miles south on St. Croix Trail (County Road 21), then 0.5 miles east on County Road 22.
• From Hastings: 2 miles north on U.S. 61, right onto Highway 95 north for 5 miles, then 3 miles east on County Road 22.

For GPS, use 6959 Peller Ave S, Hastings, MN 55033. The nearest town, per the DNR, is Afton. See all Twin Cities and St. Croix Valley guides or compare parks in the park finder.

Before you go

1. Reserve every campsite, cabin and yurt ahead; nothing is first come, first served.
2. Pack light for the backpack sites: the DNR park page says a mile from parking, and the DNR map says a strenuous ¾ mile.
3. Buy your vehicle permit online or at the ranger station, which is closed Tuesdays and Thursdays.
4. Check the deer hunt closure (6 p.m. December 7 to 8 a.m. December 11, 2026, per the DNR alert dated November 10, 2026) if you plan an early December trip.
5. Carry skis only on groomed trails with a ski pass if you are 16 or older; snowshoe on the designated trails.
6. Buy firewood at the park (or through the Yodel app, per the DNR); gathering wood is against park rules.

Related guides: William O'Brien State Park · Fort Snelling State Park · Interstate State Park · Minnesota state park reservations explained

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Sources

• Minnesota DNR, Afton State Park (camping, lodging, trails, seasonal update, alerts): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00100
• Minnesota DNR, Afton State Park summer map and guide (PDF): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00100_summer.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, State park fees: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/fees.html
• Minnesota DNR, Vehicle permits: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/permit.html
• Minnesota DNR, Reservation FAQ: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/reserve-faq/index.html