St. Croix Falls: River Landscapes, Trails, and Park History

St. Croix Falls combines an impressive river landscape with several different ways to enjoy the outdoors. Interstate State Park offers views of the St. Croix River and the steep-walled Dalles of the St. Croix gorge. St. Croix Falls is also home to the western termini of the Ice Age Trail and the Gandy Dancer Trail. A nature center with year-round programs and an annual festival round out the picture. When planning your trip, it’s worth distinguishing between the landscape, long-distance trails, local routes, and cultural experiences.

River Landscape and Park History

Interstate State Park is Wisconsin’s oldest state park, established in 1900. Its views of the St. Croix River and the Dalles of the St. Croix make the gorge a defining feature of the destination. The combination of river and steep-walled gorge gives the park its distinctive landscape. Visitors especially interested in nature and the history of protected areas will find a clear focus for their stay here.

From the Ice Age Trail to the Gandy Dancer Trail

St. Croix Falls is the western terminus of the Ice Age Trail, located in Interstate State Park in Polk County. The trail is open to hiking, backpacking, and snowshoeing. This offers several ways to explore the outdoors that you can consider for your trip, depending on your interests. The terminus’s location in the park connects the town’s name with a specific stop along this long-distance trail.

The Gandy Dancer Trail also has its western terminus in St. Croix Falls. From there, the 98-mile trail heads north to Superior along the former rail corridor of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad. Its length and route along a former rail line distinguish it from the Ice Age Trail. If you’re interested in the history of old transportation routes, you can consider this background alongside today’s hiking opportunities.

More Trails and Nature Experiences

Nearby, River Road begins north of St. Croix Falls at Highway 87 and runs for 29 miles along the St. Croix River. It is another local reference point for finding your way along the river. This information describes its route and length; the Ice Age Trail, Gandy Dancer Trail, and River Road are separate routes and should not be treated as a single trail.

For cyclists, St. Croix Falls has 7 miles of singletrack trails maintained by the Wooly Bike Club. This local option differs from both the long-distance trails and River Road. When weighing different outdoor activities, you can distinguish between hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, and singletrack trails rather than grouping them into one outing.

Exhibits and Programs at the Ice Age Interpretive Center

The Ice Age Interpretive Center includes an exhibit area, a classroom, an auditorium, and a gift shop. Interpretive programs are offered there year-round. These include guided hikes, wildlife programs, and family-friendly activities. They are led by the park naturalist, partner groups, volunteers, and guest speakers. The variety of programs makes the center a destination in its own right for anyone who wants to explore nature topics as well as spend time outdoors. For families, the selection offers a range of activities to enjoy together, from guided hikes to wildlife programs.

An Annual Festival in Two Communities

The annual Wannigan Days Festival is celebrated in the neighboring communities of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, and Taylors Falls, Minnesota. If you’d like cultural experiences to shape your trip, you can consider this annual tradition alongside the park, trails, and nature programs.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Accommodation Search

It helps to keep your planned focus in mind when choosing where to search. If you’re planning to visit the western terminus of the Ice Age Trail, Interstate State Park, or the Gandy Dancer Trail, you can focus your vacation rental search on St. Croix Falls. These are different travel interests; the right vacation rental for you depends on which experiences you want to shape your stay.

For more pages about nearby towns, you can also visit Luck.

For the broader travel overview: Polk.