St. Croix State Park encompasses 34,000 acres of wilderness terrain at the confluence of the St. Croix and Kettle Rivers in east-central Minnesota. Located approximately 35 miles from Carlton, the park's unique ecosystems transition between coniferous and deciduous forests. The park rebuilt many facilities after a severe 2011 windstorm that damaged over 13,000 acres and removed much of the tree canopy in camping areas.
What to do
Climb the fire tower: The 100-foot observation tower provides panoramic views across the expansive park landscape. "There is also a 100' fire tower you can climb up and get an epic view," notes Scott G. about Old Logging Trail — St. Croix State Park.
Explore CCC historic sites: Tour the restored Civilian Conservation Corps camp buildings from the 1930s. "Cool buildings from the CCC era as well as some signs talking about camp life," reports a visitor to Old Logging Trail.
Wildlife viewing: The remote forest areas offer opportunities to spot diverse wildlife. According to one camper at Saint Croix State Forest Boulder Campground, "We like camping in state forest for the wild life experience. We seen Bear, Wolf, and plenty of Yote's."
Fishing from shore: Fish directly from the riverbanks without a boat. One family at Riverview Campground reported, "We fished right off the shore and were catching very small catfish and river chub faster than we could set our reels which was great for the kids!"
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many sites at Old Logging Trail feature natural screening. "The sites in the Old Logging Campground were close together but many had vegetation between them offering some privacy. Site 207 was especially tucked in," notes Ari A.
Clean facilities: The park maintains well-kept bathroom facilities. "Nice modern bathrooms as well," mentions a reviewer at Old Logging Trail, while another notes "The showers and bathrooms were very clean" at Riverview Campground.
Remote location feel: The separation from urban areas creates a true wilderness experience. A camper at Riverview Campground — St. Croix State Park commented, "It's very very secluded from the near by town. On days that the moonlight is not out bring flashlights because when the moon is not shining it's pitch black."
Trail system variety: The park offers extensive hiking options. "Lots of trails for hiking," reports Scott G., who appreciates the varied terrain throughout the park.
What you should know
Seasonal mosquito populations: June typically has the highest mosquito activity. "Do Not Camp In June... Unfortunately we chose the peak of mosquitos season and camping next to slow moving water is a recipe for disaster," warns Lili R. about her experience at Old Logging Trail.
Limited cell service: Connectivity is minimal throughout the park. Tori K. advises, "Cell service is fairly spotty here so come with podcasts or shows downloaded ahead of time!"
Rustic options available: For those seeking a more primitive experience, Boulder Campground offers no-frills camping. "For $17 a night you can't beat a state forest campgrounds. This is real camping for the kids," explains Daniel H. from Boulder Campground.
Campground differences: Riverview is more open while Old Logging offers more vegetative screening. "Very open, lawn like, no vegetation between or bordering sites," describes Mike P. about Riverview Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Ranger programs: Take advantage of educational activities led by park staff. Sara P. recalls, "We DID have fun doing some of the activities like hunting for insects/animals in the pond with the ranger, hiking to the ranger tower, playing at the playground, and trying to catch butterflies with the ranger."
Bug protection strategies: Pack appropriate insect repellents and treatment options. One camper at Riverview shares their approach: "We used 40% deet spray and fogged our campsite 3x over the 3 days so we could reduce the bites."
Kid-friendly fishing spots: Children can enjoy shore fishing success with minimal equipment. RK M. notes, "The swimming beach is a couple mile drive but the water was nice and cool... We fished right off the shore and were catching very small catfish and river chub faster than we could set our reels which was great for the kids!"
Weather preparedness: Summer storms can be intense in this region. Duncan G. reports from Riverview, "We also experienced the most intense and violent thunderstorm of my life. One lightning strike hit within 100 yards of our site."
Tips from RVers
Electric site availability: Most electric hookups are concentrated in specific areas. "The Riverview loop is 1 of 3 at St. Croix State Park. This loop is where 90% of the electric sites are, but it is also a very open campground," explains Amber Z.
Reservation strategy for non-reservable sites: First-come, first-served areas require early arrival. For Boulder Campground, Daniel H. advises, "Get there early in the day because there are no reservations and it's first come first served."
Site angles for parking: The design of sites facilitates easy RV positioning. Scott G. observes at Old Logging Trail, "Campsites were nicely angeled for easy parking."
Horse campgrounds near Carlton, Minnesota: While St. Croix State Park offers equestrian camping options, specific horse facilities are limited to the designated horse campground areas. Most sites are designed for general camping rather than specialized horse accommodation.
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