The Dalles of the St. Croix at Interstate State Park

Twin Cities & St. Croix

State parks within an easy drive of Minneapolis and St. Paul, including the St. Croix River valley.

Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Planning guides

A curving paved park road at Afton State Park passing a hillside of prairie grass and a tree turning yellow in fall

Afton State Park

Afton State Park guide: 27 hike-in backpack sites, camper cabins and yurts, 20 miles of bluff and ravine trails, the river beach, winter skiing, fees and directions.

Snow-covered shore at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers in Fort Snelling State Park on a clear winter day

Fort Snelling State Park

Fort Snelling State Park guide: Pike Island and the river confluence, Snelling Lake beach, 18 miles of trail, winter skiing, permits, transit and what is open now.

The St. Croix River flowing through the rock-walled Dalles of the St. Croix at Interstate State Park in Taylors Falls

Interstate State Park

Interstate State Park in Taylors Falls, Minnesota: the glacial potholes, Dalles of the St. Croix trails, 37 campsites, rock climbing permits, fees and closures.

A row of overturned aluminum DNR canoes resting on logs beside tall grass at Lake Maria State Park

Lake Maria State Park

Lake Maria State Park guide: 17 hike-in backpack sites, three walk-in camper cabins, 14 miles of Big Woods trails, ski trails, the December hunt closure and fees.

The shallow, rocky Sunrise River under green trees in Wild River State Park, just upstream of the St. Croix

Wild River State Park

Wild River State Park guide: 94 drive-in campsites with winter camping, six camper cabins, 30-plus miles of trail on the St. Croix, ski trails, fees and GPS tips.

Late autumn prairie grass with bare trees and a lone pine under a cloudy sky at William O'Brien State Park

William O'Brien State Park

William O'Brien State Park guide: 114 campsites, camper cabins, St. Croix trails and skiing, the Lake Alice closure, the November hunt, fees and directions.

State parks in this region

6 state parks. Compare all 64 in the park finder.

ParkNearest townCampingDetails
AftonAftonwalk-in, backpack; camper cabinsOur guide
DNR page
Fort SnellingMinneapolis and St. PaulNo campingOur guide
DNR page
InterstateTaylor Falls37 drive-in, 22 electricOur guide
DNR page
Lake MariaMonticello17 backpack; camper cabinsOur guide
DNR page
Wild RiverCenter Citydrive-in, electric, backpack, canoe-in; camper cabinsOur guide
DNR page
William O'BrienMarine-on-St. Croixdrive-in, electric; camper cabinsOur guide
DNR page

Source: Minnesota DNR park data, retrieved November 11, 2026. Check the DNR page before you go.