Is Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway worth your trip?
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway runs more than 200 miles along the St.
Croix and Namekagon rivers, crossing both Wisconsin and Minnesota. You cannot drive through it and check it off a list. Almost everything worth doing here happens on or beside the water: multi-day canoe trips, fishing for walleye and trout, camping on the riverbank, floating downstream on a tube. Most of the corridor is forested and genuinely quiet, wild in a way that asks some effort from you before it rewards you. It carries a 92 experience score and has no entry fee, yet it gets far less attention than a place like this deserves. Families, serious paddlers, and anglers tend to leave satisfied. If you show up expecting visitor-center amenities or one dramatic overlook to photograph, you will be disappointed. Bring a boat, a tent, and a few days, and the river will give you plenty to work with.
Why go
A good long weekend here looks like this: drop a canoe or kayak into the Namekagon or upper St. Croix, set up camp at a riverside site, wake to birds along forested banks, and spend the afternoon fly fishing a cold stretch of water. The river system handles everything from easy flat-water paddling to faster spring currents that genuinely demand your attention. On the calmer reaches, tubing works fine as a warm-weather option. Hikers can pick up trails at various landings and the surrounding areas. For families, the citizen science and Junior Ranger programs give you something more structured than just floating downstream. There is no entrance fee anywhere in the system, so the real costs come down to gear and time. Not many NPS units pack that much length and variety into a zero admission price.
Best for
Paddlers, anglers, and families who camp will feel right at home, and multi-day canoe trippers especially get some of the best NPS river camping in the Midwest. The forested corridor pulls in birdwatchers and wildlife watchers too. That said, if you prefer short paved walks, a one-day scenic drive, or a single concentrated landmark to check off a list, this park will probably leave you underwhelmed.
Best season
Late May through early September is the sweet spot for paddling, fishing, and camping. Temperatures are warm, water levels are reasonable, and every landing is open. Avoid early spring unless you have actual experience handling high, fast, cold snowmelt water. Late September earns its reputation, bringing fall color, thinner crowds, and cooler conditions on the water. Summer does carry real severe weather risk, so keep an eye on forecasts.
The high points
- Over 200 miles of paddleable river across two distinct waterways, the St. Croix and the Namekagon
- Canoe and kayak camping directly on the riverbanks across the length of the system
- Freshwater fishing including fly fishing on cold, clean water
- Tubing on calmer river sections as a family-friendly warm-weather option
- Wildlife and birdwatching along a largely forested, undeveloped river corridor
- Junior Ranger and citizen science programs that give kids structured riverway engagement
Know before you go
No entry fee applies anywhere along the Riverway's length. Access points, boat landings, and trailheads are spread across a long corridor in both Wisconsin and Minnesota, so sort out your put-in and take-out spots before you leave home. Some landings and trails close seasonally, and spring water conditions can turn dangerous fast. Cell coverage drops out across many stretches, so bring paper maps or download your routes offline before you go.
One more thingThe upper Namekagon is shallower and slower than the lower St. Croix, which makes it a more forgiving place to start. If your group has mixed skill levels, putting in there instead of jumping straight onto the main St. Croix gives everyone a calmer first day on the water.
