St. Croix State Park

This guide is for families, horse campers, paddlers and anyone planning a multi-day stay. It covers the campgrounds and lodging, the trails and rivers, what is open as of November 2026, the costs and the route in. Facts come from the Minnesota DNR park page, its live data feed and the 2026 DNR summer map unless noted; sources are at the end.

The park in brief

The DNR record lists 34,086 acres; the 2026 map calls it "Minnesota's largest state park with over 33,000 acres." Twenty-one miles of the St. Croix River, a National Scenic Riverway, form the eastern boundary, and the Kettle River, Minnesota's first Wild and Scenic River, joins it along the western boundary.

The park started as farmland that settlers struggled to make a living on. In 1934, 18,000 acres were purchased, and in 1935 the land became the St. Croix Recreational Demonstration Area. The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration built group camps, roads and campgrounds under the National Park Service, and the area became St. Croix State Park in 1943. The DNR notes the park is listed as a National Historic Landmark.

Camping and lodging

The park has three drive-in campgrounds, Riverview, Paint Rock Springs and Old Logging Trail, plus a horse campground. The DNR suggests RVs may prefer Riverview.

Electric count: the DNR's camping table adds up to 81 electric sites, while its seasonal update says "Park has 71 electric sites." Confirm on ReserveMN when booking.

Year-round camping: the DNR says camping, including electric sites, is available year-round. Riverview can be reserved year-round, while Paint Rock Springs and Old Logging Trail open for reservations in April. The guest houses are available year-round, and the housekeeping cabins run mid-May to mid-September. Every site must be reserved and paid for ahead of time.

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. The state park reservations guide explains how ReserveMN works.

Trails, rivers and the fire tower

The 2026 map highlights these routes:

• Kettle River Highbanks Trail, 3 miles one way on packed dirt along the Kettle River, with rapids, nesting eagles and an overlook deck.
• River Bluff to CCC Camp, 2 miles one way from the St. Croix Lodge to the historic CCC camp site; loop back on the paved bike path.
• Two Rivers Trail, a 5-mile loop from the Kettle River Overlook to the confluence of the St. Croix and Kettle rivers.
• Paved bicycle path, 5.5 miles one way from the campground to the Lake Clayton Beach picnic area.

With only an hour, the DNR suggests a scenic drive and a climb up the fire tower, the 1-mile loop from the River's Edge Trail to the River Bluff Trail starting at the St. Croix Lodge, or the 1-mile Sundance Trail.

On the water: there is a swimming beach on Lake Clayton, plus boat and canoe access. The DNR notes canoe rentals are no longer available, so bring your own boat. A seasonal naturalist runs programs April through October.

When to go and current closures

As of November 2026, the DNR alert (updated October 21, 2026) lists:

• Hunt closures: the park is closed to the public for the rifle deer hunt November 19 to 22 and the muzzleloader hunt December 1 to 6, 2026.
• Water: all water was turned off October 23, 2026; the estimated turn-on date is May 7, 2027. Water is still available at the faucet outside the St. Croix Lodge and at the All-Season Trail Center, where showers are also available. The St. Croix Lodge has bathrooms year-round.
• Showers, campground bathrooms and the dump station are closed for the season; the shower buildings and dump station normally run early May through early October.
• Entrance road: a repaving project continues into November with one lane open. The DNR gives an alternate route from County Road 21 in Cloverdale via Sand River Road to County Road 22.
• Nature Store: closed until May 2027.

Winter: the park grooms 11 miles of easy classic ski trail (a Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required for skiers 16 and older), maintains 80 miles of snowmobile trail and keeps 1 mile of trail open for winter hiking. Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere except groomed ski or snowmobile trails. The trail center serves as a warming house with two indoor fireplaces, and the park provides the wood. For a winter trip on Lake Superior instead, see the North Shore in winter.

Fees and permits

From the DNR vehicle permit page and fee schedule, before tax:

Buy firewood at the ranger station or through Yodel; gathering it in the park is not allowed.

Getting there

The DNR directions: from Hinckley, go 15 miles east on State Highway 48, then 5 miles south on County Road 22 (St. Croix Park Road). The map advises checking your gas tank, since it is a 12-mile walk back from Head of the Rapids.

St. Croix is one of the parks in the Duluth and I-35 corridor, along with Banning State Park and Moose Lake State Park. For parks in the Twin Cities and St. Croix region, start with the Wild River State Park guide. Use the park finder to compare them.

Before you go

1. Check the hunt dates; the park is closed November 19 to 22 and December 1 to 6, 2026.
2. Reserve ahead; every campsite must be registered and paid for in advance.
3. Bring your own canoe or kayak; rentals have ended.
4. Check your gas tank before driving in, and download maps before you lose signal.
5. Store food, coolers and toiletries in your vehicle; the map warns that bears and raccoons can open a locked cooler.
6. Buy a ski pass or horse pass if you plan to ski groomed trails or ride.

Related guides: Moose Lake State Park · Savanna Portage State Park · Banning State Park · Wild River State Park

---

Sources

• Minnesota DNR, St. Croix State Park (camping, trails, seasonal update, alerts): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00253
• Minnesota DNR, St. Croix State Park summer map and guide (PDF, 2026): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00253_summer.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, St. Croix State Park campground map (PDF): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00253_camp.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, Reservation FAQ: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/reserve-faq/index.html
• 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