Sandstone, Minnesota sits at the junction of the St. Croix and Kettle Rivers, with an elevation of approximately 1,089 feet. The area experiences hot summers with frequent mosquito activity and cold winters that transform the landscape into a snow-covered retreat. Winter temperatures can drop below -20°F, while summer can bring 90°F heat with high humidity, creating distinctive seasonal camping challenges.
What to do
Climb the fire tower: At St. Croix State Park, visitors can ascend a 100-foot fire tower for panoramic views of the surrounding forest. "The park itself has a lot to offer being right on the St. Croix River, plus there are hiking trails, a paved bike path, a fire tower you can climb," explains a camper at Old Logging Trail — St. Croix State Park.
Explore CCC history: The park preserves historic Civilian Conservation Corps structures and interpretive areas. "Cool buildings from the CCC era as well as some signs talking about camp life," notes a visitor, who adds that "there is also a 100' fire tower you can climb up and get an epic view."
Paddle the St. Croix: Launch from riverside campsites for kayaking and canoeing. "We had a nice site on the corner, very close to the river to drop in our kayaks," reports a camper at Fond du Lac City, noting the convenient river access for water activities.
Bike on paved paths: Ride the dedicated cycling trails through forest and prairie. "The park has a flat, brand new 5 mile paved bicycle path that goes from the campground to the beach," shares a visitor at Paint Rock Springs Campground.
What campers like
Wooded campsites: Many campgrounds offer sites tucked among tall pines for natural privacy. "The campsites are large, beautiful tall trees, lots of trees for hammocks, and on the way to Duluth. We would definitely come back," writes a camper at Willow River.
Wildlife viewing: The area hosts diverse animal species including bald eagles and black squirrels. "Two bald eagles had a nest across the river so I got to see and hear them the whole trip," reports a backpacker at Wild River State Park Campground, who also mentioned hearing "all types of owls" during their stay.
Proximity to attractions: Campsites provide convenient access to both wilderness and urban amenities. "Easy access to Jay Cook State Park. Jay Cook has a lot to offer; a suspended cable walking bridge, great moderate hikes, waterfalls, climbing on rocks, and amazing river views," notes a camper at the Cloquet-Duluth KOA.
Prairie ecosystems: Fall brings colorful native grasses and plants. "The prairie was beautiful this fall with all the native grasses and plants," observes a visitor at Paint Rock Springs Campground, who also mentioned spotting "MANY BLACK Squirrels in the park!"
What you should know
Mosquito seasons: Insect activity peaks in early summer, especially near water. "Unfortunately we chose the peak of mosquitos season and camping next to slow moving water is a recipe for disaster," warns a camper at Old Logging Trail who had to leave early when their dog became ill from insect bites.
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have minimal connectivity. "Cell service was incredibly spotty on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Depending on where you're at, you'll get a low signal, but often it was only enough for texting," reports a visitor at Jay Cooke State Park Campground.
Train noise: Railroad tracks near some campgrounds create nighttime disturbances. One camper mentioned being "woken up around 4 times that night" by train whistles despite using earplugs at Jay Cooke State Park.
Seasonal water levels: River conditions vary dramatically throughout the year. "Water levels were low, so we clambered around on the sculpted granite rocks that line the river and falls, dipping on and out of pools and up slick rock faces," describes a day visitor to Jay Cooke State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Some campgrounds offer multiple play areas for different age groups. At Banning RV Park, there are "playgrounds for children in different places around the campground" and even "a huge dog walking and play area" with "a complete dog playground with all the standards elements of a dog agility course."
Activity centers: Look for campgrounds with organized programming. "The campground pavilion includes picnic tables, family bathrooms with showers, playground, activity center with craft classes etc, and laundry room," notes a visitor about the facilities at Banning RV Park.
Beach access: River beaches offer swimming opportunities during summer months. "The beach is on the river and is very slimy bc of years of artificial beach making. Some of the other parts of the river are nicer and enjoyable," advises a camper at Paint Rock Springs Campground.
Game facilities: Some campgrounds provide outdoor games and equipment. "Horseshoes, ladder toss, and bag toss provided by campground," mentions a visitor at Fond du Lac City, highlighting the ready-to-use recreational options.
Tips from RVers
Water hookup sharing: Some sites require Y-adapters for water connections. "Water hookups were shared with other sites and required 'y' connections at the spigots," explains a visitor at Banning RV Park and Campground, who was surprised to discover their "water source ended up being 75' plus from our RV."
Hose length planning: Pack extra-long water hoses for certain campgrounds. "Bring a lot of hose," advises an RVer who fortunately "just happened to be carrying the extra hose for several years but never had to use it before" until needed at Banning.
Leveling challenges: Some sites require additional equipment for proper setup. "Our sites were grass that was a little long and rutted from what seemed from previous tenants. This made getting leveling a little difficult," notes an RVer about their experience at Banning RV Park.
Dump station timing: Plan for potential delays when exiting popular campgrounds. "Dump station is conveniently located on your way out of the grounds but can get backed up at the end of a busy weekend and can make it difficult to exit the campground," warns a camper about the Cloquet-Duluth KOA.
