Wild River State Park and nearby accommodations provide glamping options near Taylors Falls, Minnesota with varying levels of seclusion and amenities. The region features glacial formations along the St. Croix River Valley with elevations ranging from 750 to 900 feet. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during the day while dropping to 45-55°F at night during spring and fall seasons.
What to do
Hiking diverse terrain: Wild River State Park features extensive trail networks with varied scenery. According to one camper, "Wild River State Park is my go-to campground since it is within an hour of my home. I make it my first place to camp every season. Love the scenic trails and all the park has to offer. Hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, exploring, informational programs, and the wooded campsites."
Snowshoeing and winter activities: St. Croix State Park maintains winter access for cold-weather activities. One visitor shared, "2/8/20-2/9/20. #91. First time to this park. It's a nice distance from the cities, not too far. We planned on attending their candlelight ski and decided to camp. The campground was fully reserved but was empty, the low was 10 so people must have bowed out."
River recreation: The St. Croix River provides excellent opportunities for paddling trips. A visitor at Wild River State Park noted, "I really enjoyed the snowshoe hike along the St Croix River and watched the full moon rise. The ski trails were groomed and there were miles of trails. The candlelight ski was great and the routes were marked with different colored luminaries - for hiking and skiing."
What campers like
Secluded campsites: Many campsites offer privacy from neighboring sites. One visitor to Wild River State Park mentioned, "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."
Wildlife viewing: Stone Creek Farm provides organic farming and natural habitat opportunities. According to a visitor, this unique accommodation is "an organic farm and campground" with distinctive character compared to standard campgrounds.
Stargazing opportunities: Clear night skies away from city lights create ideal conditions for astronomy. One camper at Wild River State Park shared, "This is a solid state park offering. The sites are decently spaced with good tree cover. Noise seemed to travel between sites, I had some loud neighbors during the day but they settled down before quiet hours. The star gazing area was great!"
What you should know
Seasonal insect activity: Mosquito populations peak in early summer, particularly near water. A camper at St. Croix State Park warned, "We had a terrible experience last year trying to camp here, BUT it's not the campground's fault! Unfortunately we chose the peak of mosquitos season and camping next to slow moving water is a recipe for disaster."
Walk-in site considerations: Some luxury glamping options require carrying gear from parking areas. At Afton State Park, a visitor noted, "The hike to the campground is short and grueling. A few of the sites are in wooded areas, but we stayed in one of the prairie sites. The terrain is just hilly enough - and in August - the grass long enough to give the sites a sense of privacy and seclusion."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly throughout the area. A camper reported, "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 or getting any work done while you're here."
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation options: Country Camping Tent & RV Park offers family-friendly water features. A visitor shared, "The campground is nice and clean. Good size spaces. The tubing is a plus. Had one issue with power dropping so we had to pull the surge protector off then it was fine. Also very hot and humid so everyone was running AC to the max. Pool was small but nice. Splash pad was even nice for adults."
Playground facilities: Some campgrounds offer playground equipment for children. A reviewer noted, "This campground is great for everyone! It has a heated pool, splash pad area, BIG playground area, indoor game room, HUGE sites! You can either relax in the pool or even take a ride down the rum river in a rented canoe, tube, or kayak."
Educational opportunities: Many parks provide interpretive activities for children. At St. Croix State Park, a visitor mentioned, "We spent a weekend at the park and had a great time. Lots of trails for hiking. Cool buildings from the CCC era as well as some signs talking about camp life. There is also a 100' fire tower you can climb up and get an epic view."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Bunker Hills Regional Park offers various site types appropriate for different camping setups. A camper explained, "The lower loops are definitely better for tent campers, even though quite a few spots could support an RV. The campground map does a good job of providing visual indicators of what a site provides. The upper loop (sits 45-64) is definitely more geared towards RVs."
Amenities access: Some campgrounds require driving to shower facilities. A visitor cautioned, "Only one shower house and we had to drive there, the primitive toilet smelled so bad it burned!! It needed to be emptied and wasn't the entire time we were there."
Winter considerations: Heated glamping accommodations provide cold-weather comfort. At Wild River State Park, a camper described, "The campsite was plowed out and had a nice spot for the tent. The sites were far enough apart and it looked like it would be more private when the leaves come in."
