Adjacent to the nationally designated Wild and Scenic St. Croix River, this state park just outside the Twin Cities is a popular place to escape into nature. In addition to many hiking trails, this park has a swimming beach, several picnic areas, and great opportunities for paddling the St. Croix River. This area is notably hilly, and unsurprisingly there is a ski resort located next to the park. Camping here is more rustic than other Minnesota State Parks, consisting only of canoe or backpack sites.
Trails in the park offer a wide variety of scenery, ranging from the hilly bluffs near the river to the restored prairie in the interior of the park. Most people hike the short trip to the swimming beach, so you can escape the crowds by trying the other 20+ miles of trail. The hills provide a challenge but offer rewarding views, especially from the two overlooks in the northern portion of the park along the St. Croix River. The trail network was designed so you can make your own loop hike of whatever distance you desire.