Cabins in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway area range from rustic to modern, with several locations offering year-round access. The riverway stretches 255 miles along the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin, with elevations ranging from 675 to 1,350 feet above sea level. Winter cabin stays remain popular despite temperatures that can drop below zero, as many properties maintain insulated accommodations with heating systems.
What to do
Hiking to historic sites: At Banning State Park Campground, trails lead to remnants of a 130-year-old sandstone quarry. "The Quarry Loop along the Kettle River has a ton of history, allowing you to explore the remains of the 130+ year old sandstone quarry. Seeing the drill holes in the cliffs was really cool and the remains of the old buildings were a highlight even to our small children," notes one visitor.
Winter activities: Cold season cabin rentals provide access to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. "2/8/20-2/9/20. The park is huge and beautiful. We snowshoed and skied. The candlelight ski was great and the routes were marked with different colored luminaries - for hiking and skiing," reports a camper who stayed at Wild River State Park during winter.
Riverfront recreation: Many cabins offer direct river access for fishing, canoeing, and paddling. "You can rent a pontoon or take out a canoe or rowboat for free. Great fishing too!" mentions a visitor at Wilderness Way, where cabin options range from primitive to fully equipped.
What campers like
Multi-season swimming options: Wild River State Park Campground offers both natural water access and controlled swimming environments. "This site has a great view of both sunrise and sunset. Thursday night there was a gorgeous sunset over the woods reflected in deer Creek. Both mornings I woke up to watch the sunrise while drinking my coffee next to the fire," shares a backpacker who stayed at the park.
Private forest settings: Wooded cabin sites create natural privacy barriers between accommodations. "The campground was very nice. The sites are private, couldn't see any neighbors as there are a lot of trees. The park rangers were very helpful and informative," explains a visitor who appreciated the secluded nature of sites at Wild River.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Cabin locations often provide front-row views of local wildlife. "We saw sooooo many deer some even walking right through campsites! You can hear coyotes, raccoons and very loud owls," reports a camper who enjoyed the animal encounters from their cabin at Wild River State Park.
What you should know
Seasonal operating schedules: Most cabin facilities have limited seasons. "Log Cabin Resort and Campground offers river tubing with transportation service. "The people are very friendly. There is a nice inflatable park for the kids. They will bring you up the river to float down and land on their nice sand beach," notes a visitor who enjoyed the water activities.
Water hookup distances: Some cabin properties have challenging utility setups. "Our water source ended up being 75' plus from our RV. Thankfully I just happened to be carrying the extra hose for several years but never had to use it before," explains a camper at Banning RV Park and Campground.
Cell service limitations: Many cabin areas have limited 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—don't think about using the web or social media," warns a visitor to St. Croix State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Bug preparation essential: Old Logging Trail at St. Croix State Park requires insect protection, especially with children. "St. Croix SP: was quite buggy due to a lot of recent rain. Highly recommend fogging your site or having a bug enclosure to help ward of the mosquitos," advises a camper who visited with family.
Dog-friendly amenities: Certain properties provide specialized pet facilities. "We absolutely loved the dog park. It was not just some small dog area it was top of the line dog park," shares a visitor to Banning RV Park and Campground, noting the pet-specific playground.
Indoor pool alternatives: When weather limits outdoor swimming, some cabins provide indoor alternatives. "Office and store was clean and well cared for. Check in was smooth and we were shown to our sites. We were spending the weekend with friends and the campground was very accommodating," reports a visitor to Banning RV Park.
Tips from RVers
Arrival timing considerations: Banning RV Park and Campground visitors recommend early check-in. "Campground was very dark in the area of campsites which made setting up a bit difficult. Our sites were grass that was a little long and rutted from what seemed from previous tenants," notes an RVer who arrived after dark.
Seasonal site variations: Cabin and RV sites change dramatically between seasons. "This was my first solo tent camping night in June 5, 2020. There were some horse flies when I parked but they didn't seem to hang out in the shade of my campsite," reports a camper at St. Croix State Park, highlighting seasonal insect patterns.
Alternative cabin options: When state park cabins are full, private resorts offer alternatives. "We would stay here again for a quick get away from the Twin Cites but would want to arrive before it gets dark and bring a lot of hose," advises an RV camper who found a backup option when the state park was full.
