The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway follows the Namekagon and St. Croix rivers for 252 miles along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. It was one of the first rivers protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, and it remains one of the best paddling destinations in the upper Midwest.
The upper stretches are ideal for canoeists -- shallow, narrow, and threaded with gentle rapids. Several riverside campsites are reserved for paddlers, making multi-day trips straightforward. As the river flows south it broadens and deepens, opening up to motorboats and larger craft. The Lower St. Croix, added to the scenic designation in 1972, passes through a wider valley with bluffs and wooded shores.
The riverway supports a rich diversity of wildlife. Bald eagles nest along the bluffs, and the wetlands and forests along the banks are home to otters, herons, and a wide variety of songbirds. The towns along the river -- Stillwater and Taylors Falls on the Minnesota side, St. Croix Falls on the Wisconsin side -- make good bases for day trips or weekend paddles.