Saint Croix National Scenic River winds along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border for 252 miles, with campsites scattered among forests of pine, maple and oak. The river valley features elevations ranging from 675 to 880 feet, creating varied terrain for camping and recreation. Summer temperatures typically range between 70-85°F with high humidity, while mosquitoes are abundant from June through August.
What to do
Stargazing opportunities: Wild River State Park Campground has designated star gazing areas for night sky viewing. Katherine T. notes, "The star gazing area was great! Intermittently had 1-2 bars of T-Mobile with LTE Internet. Wi-Fi is available at the park entrance."
Seasonal activities: St. Croix State Park offers winter camping experiences with groomed ski trails. Joanna B. shares, "The candlelight ski was great and the routes were marked with different colored luminaries - for hiking and skiing. We really enjoyed that. Would like to return to explore more of the park."
Wildlife viewing: Saint Croix State Forest Boulder Campground provides opportunities to see large mammals in their natural habitat. According to Scot L., "We like camping in state forest for the wild life experience. We seen Bear, Wolf, and plenty of Yote's. This is nature at it's finest."
What campers like
River access: Wild River State Park Campground offers multiple riverside sites with direct water access. Sarah D. describes her experience at the Deer Creek backpack site: "This site is accessible by either hiking or canoe. It took me about 30 minutes to hike in from the visitor center parking lot. There is easy access to river water to boil or filter from the canoe landing."
Secluded sites: Old Logging Trail — St. Croix State Park provides isolation from other campers. According to The Rolling Panda, "I was initially worried because I didn't realize the site was right next to a vault toilet, but besides for the occasional flashlight at night, it felt secluded."
Spacious camping areas: Many campsites throughout the region offer ample space. Daniel H. says of Saint Croix State Forest Boulder Campground, "The sites are spaced out and although it is a long drive in from the tar and gravel, it's worth the trip. A beautiful lake and lots of trails."
What you should know
Insect preparation: Riverview Campground — St. Croix State Park requires serious mosquito protection. RK M. warns, "There were HOARDS OF MOSQUITOS. We used 40% deet spray and fogged our campsite 3x over the 3 days so we could reduce the bites."
Limited amenities: State forest campgrounds offer rustic experiences with minimal facilities. Scot L. explains about Boulder Campground: "Heads up! No hook up's. Vault bathrooms only."
Weather considerations: Extreme weather can affect camping comfort at certain times. ERolf P. shares about Riverview Campground: "Spent two nights at the campground. Night one was extreme heat and humidity and night two was extreme storms. Because of a large wind storm several years ago, there is very limited tree coverage in the campground."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River offers dedicated children's play areas. Beasty B. mentions, "I stayed here 3 weeks ago with my wife and 2 young children and it was fantastic great playground and heated pool the spaces were well kept and spaced apart 10-10 would most defiantly go again! A ton for the kids to do!"
Fishing opportunities: Riverview Campground provides shoreline fishing suitable for children. According to RK M., "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!"
Educational programs: Several parks offer ranger-led activities for children. Sara P. explains, "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."
Tips for RVers
Site selection: St. Croix State Park provides varying options for different RV sizes. Ari A. advises, "This park has a ton of camping available, particularly if you don't need electricity and have a smaller rig because then you can get into more of the campground loops. (There is electricity here, but there are many more sites without.)"
Parking considerations: When selecting horse campgrounds near Saint Croix National Scenic River, consider site angles. Scott G. notes about St. Croix State Park, "Campsites were nicely angeled for easy parking. Fire ring and table at each site."
Utility availability: Equestrian camping near Saint Croix offers various hookup options. Spencer C. explains about Country Camping, "This place does have 30amp and 50amp hook ups and has pull through spots and sewer sites so that needs to change on this app. Max trailer length that I've seen here is 70'. Anyone can fit in here!"
