St. Croix State Park is a Minnesota state park near Hinckley, covering 34,086 acres. Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It offers camping or lodging. Entry needs a state park vehicle permit, $7 for a day, as the DNR fees page said on October 19, 2026.
- 34,086acres
- Hinckleymailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Camping
- Extensive Trail System
- CCC Construction Buildings
- Two Scenic Rivers Offer Excellent Canoeing
- Birding/Wildlife Observation
- Firetower
Plan It In Three Lines
- Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Cost: a $7 one-day vehicle permit or a $35 year-round permit, per the DNR fees page of October 19, 2026; confirm before you go.
- Pets: leashed (six feet or shorter) outside buildings, lodging and beaches, per the DNR rules page; park-specific limits are listed below.
About The Park
The DNR describes it: Plan an extended visit to St. Croix. With over 34,000 acres and two great rivers—the Saint Croix River, which is a National Scenic Riverway, and the Kettle River, a State Wild and Scenic River—there's so much to do. Explore the rivers by canoe or with a fishing pole. Swim at Lake Clayton or climb a fire tower.
Wildlife. The habitats consist of both aspen and conifers, which benefits wildlife including black bear, bobcats, coyotes, beaver, raccoons, gray and red fox, and deer. Eastern timber wolves are also found in the park but are not commonly seen.
History. The St. Croix River was an important trade route for hundreds of years, first for the Native Americans, and then for the French, English, and American fur traders.
Geology. During the last glacial period, about 10,000 years ago, the St. Croix River valley served as a major drainage channel for glacial meltwater from Lake Superior.
Visit Facts
- Address30065 St. Croix Park Road Hinckley, MN 55037
- Phone320-280-7880
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursMonday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Saturday & Sunday CLOSED Hours are subject to change.
- Emailstcroix.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point46.01201, -92.61789 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for St. Croix State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Accessible | 1.5 miles | The park has 1.5 miles of accessible trails. |
| Summer | Self-Guided | 1.5 miles | The park has 1.5 miles of self-guided trails. |
| Summer | Hiking | 127 miles | The park has 127 miles of hiking trails throughout the park and along the river. |
| Summer | Paved Bike | 5.5 miles | The park has 5.5 miles of paved bike trails from the campground to the beach. |
| Summer | Unpaved Bike | 21 miles | The park has 21 miles of unpaved bike trails on the Matthew Lourey State Trail that runs through the park. |
| Summer | Horse | 75 miles | The park has 75 miles of horse trails available from April 15 through the first snowfall. |
| Winter | Groomed Cross-Country Skiing Classic | 11 miles | The park has 11 miles of easy classic ski trails that wind through the woods along the river. A Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required on groomed ski trails for skiers age 16 and up. |
| Winter | Snowmobile | 80 miles | The park has 80 miles of snowmobile trails that connect with Chengwatana and St. Croix state forests and grant-in-aid trails. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | Anywhere in the park, except groomed trails | Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the park, except on groomed ski or snowmobile trails. Snowshoe rentals are available at the ranger station. |
| Winter | Other | — | One mile of trail is kept open in winter for hiking. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | — | The park has 211 drive-in sites across three campgrounds. RVs may prefer the Riverview campground. |
| Electric Sites | — | The park has 81 electric sites. Riverview campground has 42, Paint Rock Springs campground has nine, Old Logging Trail campground has 20, and the horse campground has 19 |
| RV Length Limit | — | The max RV length is 60 feet. Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Backpack Sites | — | The park has two backpack sites within a five-mile hike. Each site has two screened Adirondack buildings. Carry in or filter your water. |
| Walk-in Sites | — | The park has four walk-in sites 50 to 150 feet from the parking area. |
| Canoe-in Sites | — | The park has 10 canoe-in sites along the Kettle and St. Croix rivers. These sites are first-come, first-served and only accessible by watercraft. |
| Horse Camp | — | The park has 40 horse campsites, 19 of which are electric. Facilities include drinking water, overhead ties, a corral and a shower building. |
| Group Camp | — | The park has eight group camp sites that accommodate 25 people. These sites are tent only, carry-in sites within 50 to 200 yards from parking. Flush toilets are open year-round and water spigots are available. Reserve Now –> |
| Group Center | — | The park has two seasonal group centers. Each includes bunkhouses, staff quarters, a dining hall and commercial kitchen, bathroom and shower buildings, a craft hall, fire rings, ball fields and more. |
| Accessible Lodging | — | Cabin E and Guesthouse 1 are accessible. At Head of the Rapids Group Center, the A-Village restroom, Cabin A2, dining hall and the infirmary are accessible. At Norway Point Group Center, cabin A7, A-Village restroom, dining hall, infirmary and latrine are accessible. |
| Cabins | — | Details about the six CCC cabins |
| Guest House | — | Details about the two guest houses |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming Beach | — | The park has a swimming beach on Lake Clayton. |
| Boat Access | — | — |
| Canoe Access | — | — |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | — | The picnic area includes tables, pedestal grills, flush toilets, playground volleyball, horseshoes, and access to bike trails and fishing. |
| Picnic Shelter | — | The enclosed picnic shelter has electricity, a fireplace, tables, and counter area. Reserve by calling the park. |
| Playground | — | The playground has slides, climbing sets, and swings. |
| Volleyball | — | Pick up volleyball equipment at the ranger station. |
| Horseshoes | — | Pick up horseshoes at the ranger station. |
| Warming House | — | The trail center serves as a warming house year-round. It has tables, bathroom facilities, and two indoor fireplaces. Wood is provided by the park. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | Visit the ranger station for vehicle permits, camping registration and park information. Horse camp, lodging, group camp and group center registration is also handled at the ranger station. |
| Visitor Center | — | The St. Croix Lodge is a historic log and stone building near the campgrounds. The lodge has flush toilets available year-round and a shelter with a fireplace and seating for indoor programs. The lodge overlooks the St. Croix River. |
| Naturalist Programs | — | Summer naturalist programs include activities for all ages. Our major interpretive themes include the habitats and wildlife of the park and cultural heritage of Dakota and Ojibwe peoples, fur traders, loggers, settlers and New Deal era work programs. Join the naturalists for hikes, paddles, bike rides, crafts, nature carts and traditional ranger talks. |
| Historic Site | — | St. Croix State Park is listed as a National Historic Landmark. |
| Gift Shop | Nature Store | The Nature Store is open middle of May to end of September. |
| Rentals | — | Fishing kits (rod, reel, stocked tackle box), birding kits, sensory kits (headphones, fidget toys, calming toys), GPS units, and kids' discovery kits (activities and stories designed for age 5-12) are available to check out for free at the visitor center. |
| Firewood | — | Buy firewood year-round at the ranger station or through Yodel. Firewood is also available in the campground during the camping season. Gathering firewood can spread tree-killing insects and is against state park rules. Protect our trees – please burn only approved firewood! |
| Ice Sales | — | Buy ice at the ranger station and Nature Store Memorial Day through Labor Day. Service is extended on weekends between May 1 and Oct. 1. |
Pets And Permits
Statewide, the DNR rules page says pets are welcome in state parks on a leash six feet or shorter, attended at all times; only service animals are allowed in buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas. A vehicle permit costs $7 a day or $35 a year (DNR fees page, read October 19, 2026). See the parks passport page for the full price list.
Directions
The park is located 15 miles east of Hinckley on State Highway 48, then 5 miles south on County Road 22.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Banning State ParkState Park, about 16 miles away in a straight line
- Moose Lake State ParkState Park, about 30 miles away in a straight line
- Wild River State ParkState Park, about 34 miles away in a straight line
- Father Hennepin State ParkState Park, about 42 miles away in a straight line
- Interstate State ParkState Park, about 43 miles away in a straight line
- Jay Cooke State ParkState Park, about 46 miles away in a straight line
What We Could Not Verify
- Current alerts, closures, trail and campground conditions: they change daily. Read the DNR park page before you go.
- County: the DNR page does not state it, so we do not print one.
- Fees for lodging and group sites, and day-by-day availability: set by the DNR reservation system.
- Permit prices were read on October 19, 2026 and the DNR page shows no effective date.
- The map point is the park’s printed coordinate, not a verified entrance.
More In St. Croix Valley & East Central
- Banning State Park
- Interstate State Park
- Wild River State Park
- Events in St. Croix Valley & East Central
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is St. Croix State Park?
It is near Hinckley, Minnesota. The DNR address is 30065 St. Croix Park Road Hinckley, MN 55037.
How much does it cost to visit St. Croix State Park?
A one-day vehicle permit is $7 and a year-round permit is $35 on the DNR fees page we read on October 19, 2026. Check the fees page before you go.
Are dogs allowed at St. Croix State Park?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. The park page states no extra limits we could read.
Sources
- St. Croix State Park (DNR Recreation Compass data) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park fees (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park rules (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota State Parks Passport, all places, park fees and rules.