Interstate State Park Reviews

We stopped for a Mother’s Day outing- the glacier potholes trails were very fun and scenic- kids had fun climbing on the rocks and great views of the St Croix river valley. Found parking and bathrooms right before you head out on the trail. Fun stop!

we thought that there were waterfalls here when we came, but the park attendant said that is the most commonly asked question, but there are no waterfalls. They do have rock climbing, kayaks and a cruise tour, the glacier potholes were interesting, we did not have time for the other activities, but it is a beautiful park.

One of the best parks close to metro area to climb and prepare for a national park hiking trip. The trails have some steepness and ruggedness to give you a nice workout. Challenging, but hey it's Minnesota and the vertical is what it is...the uphill is not long. Park is well maintained. Beautiful scenery overlooking river. You can white water kayak if you're a very experienced paddler.

We visited on the Wisconsin side and hiked Pothole Trail. It was a little challenging for seniors but were rewarded with beautiful views of the river below us.

Today, my husband and I visited the Interstate State Park at Taylors Falls, MN. It was a very interesting State Park - and was told it was the 2nd state park created in Minnesota. The name - Interstate is because - half of the park in in Minnesota and the other half in Wisconsin - both sides bordering the beautiful St. Croix River.

The terrain is rather rocky - so be prepared to do some rigorous hiking.

A delightful visit.

The trails on the Minnesota side were easily accessible and easy to follow. There is plenty of options for those wanting a more strenuous hike and those with small kiddos that want a shorter hike. You can do it in a day or even half and many spots to stop and check out the river. Plenty of space and locations for a light lunch or snack. There are not many bathrooms along the routes so be prepared. And bring your water!

I love this place. It was an unseasonably warm February day and sunny. I had a guest in from out of town and was hoping we could hike and climb the rock formations to see the potholes. Unfortunately, the ice and snow prevented access to some areas. Still there were a lot of climbers and families enjoying the park. We were able to sit in the sun at the river’s edge. Come in the spring and summer for full access.

The trails were easy to walk with good interpretive signs explaining what you were seeing. Not too much of a visitor center but it was ok. (If you enjoy visitor centers, the best visitor center in the area is actually the National Park National Scenic Riverway in St. Croix Falls.)

Loved walking along the rocks and reading about the round stones.
Wear good walking shoes, and don't venture off the path. Much better than the WI side.

Spent a couple of hours there Memorial Day weekend.

Parking was definitely tight but ended up getting a spot. Took the 80 minute boat tour. Then spent time going through pothholes. The pothholes were pretty cool. There is opportunity to do some longer walking there but didn't do it.

Overall a good attraction to stop at.

This is a terrific state park that offers excellent hiking, camping, boating, and picnic options. Located alongside the St. Croix River, the trail system offers plenty of opportunities to view this beautiful area along the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Although the River Trail is heavily traveled, it offers a 1.5 moderate trail between the park and the town of Taylors Falls. Less traveled is the trail located on the west side of the highway. That trail begins on an old rail bed and includes some vertical trails that will take you higher than the River Trail. Together, these make for a great day outside! By the way, it is awesome in the fall!

Have been coming here for years and still enjoy it. The trails are difficult and very rocky, but that's what I love about it. Great place for rock climbing & bouldering. Unfortunately, with many awesome places, it is usually very crowded. Parking can be difficult and there are people everywhere. It is a rather small place so there isn't many places for the crowds to disperse. The good news is that most people only stay for an hour or so.

We enjoyed the stroll to the potholes but the person selling the tickets was really rather rude. The walk to the end (river) was pretty easy and handicapped accessible. However, to see most of the potholes there are steps to climb. The view of the river is very nice. You can easily see it in an hour if you are short on time. Or spend a couple of hours.

This was a nice park to meet family and relax. The colors were just changing the first weekend in October. The trails were very scenic and not too long for the hesitant hikers. It was fun exploring the glacial potholes and climbing on the rocks. There are only 3 trails, so don't skip the Scenic Bluffs trail. The views were amazing and the trail was picturesque. WIll have to return to do some kayaking and canoeing when the water is warmer. The campground is small but that means the bathhouse was close by. THe only negative for the weekend was the office staff and cleaning staff were very gruff and unfriendly.

Brought my wife here for her first trip to Taylors falls and we had a blast. Its a great place to just relax and take in the nature around you. So scenic and beautiful, plus if your lucky you can see some climbers scaling the rock faces. We only had time to go to the Minnesota side of the park, but I hear the Wisconsin side is just as cool. Worth a stop.

I visited this park on October 16th. The paths were easy to follow and full of beautiful views of the river and trees. I really enjoyed my time there. Next time I would like to take one of the boat tours. I saw them pass by on the river while I was on the trail and it looked like a lot of fun.

The hiking trails are moderately difficult. It's not for small kids or the elderly. The views are fantastic!

This is a small, congenial, fully shaded campground with 37 good-sized sites, 22 of which have electric. Not recommended for large bus-type RVs. Several non-electric sites are directly on the river bank, good for tent or small-trailer camping. Unfortunately, most of the riverfront sites have shrubbery that blocks the water view, but you can walk 30 feet to the water's edge; only site 21 is "perfect." Good ADA access everywhere. The showers/restrooms are clean and the whole property is well maintained. Mellow place with good enforcement of noise rules. Non-noisy pets are welcome everywhere.

The funky town of Taylors Falls is just a mile down the road (groceries, supplies, restaurants and ice cream shops) and the strip mall in the town of St. Croix Falls, about 4 miles away, has a Walmart, a Tractor Supply store, and an auto supply store for misc gear.

The only downside (besides the waterfront shrubbery) was this park's closeness to Hwy 8, which has semi-truck and general traffic noise. But after 10:00 pm that pretty much subsides, so you can sleep well here. Scenic hiking trails, good river fishing, and the mosquitoes were not too bad (but still prep for them).

We hiked the potholes trail which took approximately an hour. Liked the informative displays that explained the potholes. Great views of the St. Croix River. Parts of the trail are handicap accessible.

So many paths to take and cool things to look at! River views are gorgeous! Only negative thing to say is that if you have small children watch them carefully. When you are walking on the rocks near the river there are no safety railings and it wouldn't take much for little kids who like to run around to go flying off...

We went here expecting some great hiking trails and they have some but it wasn't a good as I was expecting. The Potholes trail is the best one we were on and it was neat. River Bluff was ok. I am glad that I didn't make the 200 mile trip just to go to the park. Nice and would go back if in the area but not everything I was hoping for.

My family (35,30,11 years old) walked around the Glacial Potholes for the day. It was a beautiful day. The paths have numerous plaques to inform us of the information and history of the potholes. There are several paths that took us all over the area, including up by the interstate which led us to where the Devils Chair once sat. We got to watch several parties partake in rock climbing lessons. During our time at The Park, we got to see both The Queen and The Princess paddle boats travel up and down the St. Croix river. Rides can be purchased on site for a 80 minute paddle boat ride. In addition, there are people canoeing and kayaking on the St. Croix river. All the activities around The Park can be items self provided or can contact to set up lessons (rock climbing) or rent (canoes and kayaks). During the heat of the summer, you can even see people tube down the river.

Beautiful park, great scenery to look at hiking. There were a lot of visitors, even people rock climb cliff faces over the river. Good stop to stretch the legs out!

This park is a quick, scenic drive away from the cities. It was peak fall colors on an 80degree day. There were tons of lookout points and rock formations. It was nice being able to find a place to hike close to the cities with some incline. I am definatly going back again this summer!!!

There are wonderful trails for all skill levels - about 5 miles if you do them all. Beautiful scenery and fun things to experience along the way.

great park for camping and just visiting nature. you will enjoy your day here. We had a guided tour w/my sons school. fun day

Nice place to come when its not busy. If its busy, not too much fun. Great views and paths to walk and climb.

The pot hole trails on the Minnesota side are a surprise to visitors. They are very deep and unexpected! Walk under the bridge to Taylor's Falls and go down main street for treats. Take the river boat down the river.

Very nice, but short walking paved walking path along the St. Croix River. Spectacular views of the river, and rocky terrain where you can look at the naturally developed potholes formed from glaciers and millions of years of rushing water. Fun, short adventure for people of all ages. Dogs are welcome!

We recently visited the potholes area of the state park and we had a great time. It was a nice day, and there were lots of people there but there was enough room for everyone to walk around, and it didn't feel crowded. They do a good job offering additional tours/information on the unique geological sites. The views from the bluffs are amazing.

This park is amazing. Lots of hiking, trails, glacier pot holes, the beautiful river. Parking was cheap.

Honey by a 7 year old and 11 year old. We hiked both sides of the river. Watched the boat as it pulled out and enjoyed some time at the gift shop and interpretive center. Definitely going back in the fall!

Amazing views of the cliffs and good hiking! Perfect for a quick getaway! There is a parking fee, but worth the price to see the views.

For several years I have wanted to give camping at Interstate Park a shot. Unfortunately, it is always booked and I was never able to get a sight until this year.

I knew the campground was small, but it was smaller than I imagined! The campground itself was small and the sites were small as well. We were camping with a group and had four sites side-by-side. One of them barely had enough space for their tent, but luckily we could use the space of all sites to fit everyone. The other unfortunate thing about the space was that we usually like to set up some yard games, and finding the space for that was a struggle as well.

Our sites were on the inside loop, which are those with power. After comparing the sites, those without power were definately better; especially those on the river!

With that said, we made due and did have a really great time at this park! The hiking trail along the river was great! In fact, it is one of the best I have hiked in the other parks near-by. The trail takes you through the woods along the river up and down some interesting terrain with various lookout points over the river. The 1.25 mile trail leads to the site of the Glacial Potholes which is very interesting. You may also get on the Taylors Falls Boat Tours here.

Other activities like canoeing and boating on the river are very convenient from the park because the landing is so close. They also have a nice picnic area with volleyball net available.

All-in-all, the campground itself was not my favorite when compared to the others that are so close, but definately worth checking out.

The interstate park offers many things to do and is absolutely beautiful. It costs $5 for a day park pass, which is well worth it! We choose to take the short distance walk thru the glacier potholes. Pretty amazing! You make ask yourself what is a glacier pothole and I will leave that to you to find out by going to the park. The views of the river are fantastic! If you are capable of renting a canoe I would highly recommend it. We spent about 45-1hr in this area. Just and FYI are there are no falls in Taylors Falls, This area had a series of rapids at one time that were like falls in some areas but with the installation of the Dam the rapids/falls do not exist anymore. You can cross into the Wisconsin side and view the Dam area as well just down from the Dam the DNR has a great display about the area and other informative info. I would recommend bringing a picnic for lunch as Taylors Falls offers a few places to eat. One a cafe, and ice cream/pizza place, and a bar/restaurant. The bar/restaurant might be okay but the cafe and ice cream/pizza place were expensive and nothing to write home about. I think a picnic in the park would be far better.

The park is very nice, the potholes are awesome. The Riverboat is awesome to watch go up and down the river from different views and elevations throughout the park. The park can be confusing due to Highway 8 being so close to it. The St. Croix River and Highway 8 run parallel and the park falls between the two. When hiking, you actually are next to the road and when by the river you hear traffic. This does not negate the beauty, but does take away from the serenity most look for in a State Park getaway. Also there are two entrances which are not connected by a common road. So if you are camping and decide to see the potholes, and you don't feel like a hike, you have to drive onto the busy highway and go to the other entrance.

This is a great park to visit at any point in the year. Spring and Fall are my favorites but winter has a beauty here that is great. Easy trip from the Twin Cities for the day .

This park is well kept, the spaces are average in size. There is little coverage between sites but it is pretty, there are some pretty trails. The fire pits are well kept, along with the picnic tables at each site. The bathrooms are also well kept, I wasn't a fan of the showers which were push button with the shower heads that spray water, also no heat so chilly in September. They have a cute little room with older toys and puzzles the kids thought was cool. Most of the park staff were very nice and helpful but I was un-pleased with the park Managers demeanor towards my mother and I. I considered making a formal complaint, however I think a review will suffice. The rules are a little over the top, trailers and vehicles can't be parked even a few inches on the grass and must be parked in-front of trailers, bikes can't be rode after dark period and in general since their aren't many spots in this park I felt like I was under a magnifying glass. I understand it helps keep the park nice but they should really add rock to widen spots if they are going to be particular about being on the grass a little.

The potholes are cool and the park is nice, but I'd avoid the other hikes. They are so close to the highway, and therefore so loud that it's hard to enjoy them. The kayaking is great too.

The park is very nice and we had a great time. The biggest problem going to this park is parking. They need more parking.

I just wanted to make it clear to this park ranger that my family and I fully intend on coming back to this campground but that if we are harassed again we will be going to great lengths to report you to your higher ups. I certainly understand a park ranger’s job is to ensure everyone has stickers and is following park rules... but there are polite and there are very impolite and downright rude ways to deal with problems. I am going to ask in advance and hope you read this.. Because if you care about your park you should be reading your reviews. Please remember that not everyone knows all the rules even if you post them, most times a friendly reminder will solve all the world’s problems. Also please don't belittle and berate elderly women to make yourself feel better. There seems to be some sort of connection between women and park ranger harassment here as read in other reviews...I hope that’s not the case and your just not aware of how your coming off. Frankly it’s not going to stop the anger your feeling and you’re not doing yourself or anyone a favor by berating and harassing them to indulge your temper. See you this summer and hopefully in a much better mood.

Just to look at the natural rock formations, the Glacial Potholes, the views of the river is inspiring. Besides there is a lot of things to do there, ie. hiking, camping, boating etc.

Been here several times. Often with Cub Scouts. Hiking is incredible.

Spectacular Views. The trails were fairly easy with sections of up and down rocky portions. There are cliffs that require watching your small kids.

This was a great afternoon trip with teenagers. Very interesting and lots of climbing, up very well marked paths and steps. Hand rails for safety and help up and down the stone steps. Pot holes were fascinating.

The formation and Pot Holes are outstanding The river was really powerful a long time ago when it created this area , easy to walk around

Always so much fun to visit the park! Great trails, beautiful scenery, awesome campsites and just all around a fun-filled time!

If you'd like some hiking trails that make you feel like you're off in the woods even while close to the Twin Cities, check out Interstate State Park. The Railroad Trail takes you up the ridge above the highway and St. Croix river, and the River Trail up alongside the river itself. It's especially beautiful in mid-October during the height of fall color. It's only about 3 miles loop trip from the parking lot to take in both trails. Get there early to avoid some of the crowds, especially on the weekends!

This park and its potholes and stunning river views make this a must see. The wonderful hiking trails make the park easy to enjoy.

Spent an afternoon here hiking, exploring the glacial pits, enjoying the peacefulness by the river, and the walk across the bridge to the WI side. Great for a couples day trip!

We rented canoes from Eric's and they dropped us off to paddle through Interstate State Park. It was a great way to spend a Saturday.

Love, love, love this park! Wish I lived closer! If you have a fear of heights or falling, maybe this park isn't for you. But if you have kids that like to climb then make your way here! We found frogs in the pot holes, lots of mushrooms, and even a skink today too! The bouldering was awesome. Even my 67 year old Mom was having a blast. Love the tight squeeze areas and watching the actual climbers do their thing as well. It's an amazing geological place to see. Highly recommend it!

Nice scenery and good fun climbing around on the rocks near the river. We went on the Paddle Boat trip and it was nice. People working at the State Park were very friendly and helpful.

Wonderful place for hiking of all levels, skills & abilities! Plan to return very soon! Recommend taking advantage of the guided tour right in Taylors Falls.

If you are taking the riverboat it's a must see. They usually have very interesting free programs that are offered throughout the day.

Beautiful scenery. Knowledgeable guide on the geology. Bring your food for a picnic, as the visitor center is small and does not sell food. We did not take the river cruise, but may be worth checkout out.

Enjoyed the trailers through the park, maybe a few more signs about which trail I was on might be helpful but since I'm not an avid hiker the markers may have been sufficient. Very much enjoyed, even our 16 year old daugher enjoyed the trails.

Small but decent campground, beautiful area with breathtaking views. Down side was the rangers in the campground were overly agressive in enforcing rules - they seemed especially strict about how and where park stickers were placed. In the 20 + years I've been camping I've never felt so "watched". It made the weekend much less enjoyable. By the way, we did have a valid sticker and it was in the correct location on my vehicle.

We camped (tent) on the WI side in the North campground with electric. It was a beautiful site and we enjoyed that part, and the bathrooms and shower were fine. We had a nice campfire and walked around enjoying the scenic view. The staff were very, very friendly too. But oh my goodness, the entire night all we heard was the incredibly close highway noise. The semi truck noise was constant throughout the night and VERY loud and close.
That was the only downside, but it's a big one. We probably won't return for that reason.

Hike the pot hole trail at Interstate State Park (Minnesota side) and marvel at the unusual rock formations. Views of the river are nothing short of spectacular. Rock paths are slippery so keep a close eye on children especially near the river's edge. If you don't want to buy a park pass, park across the street in downtown Taylor's Falls and walk the underpass to the park.

We hiked the River Trail from Interstate State Park to the Glacial Potholes area near Taylor's Falls. The hike along the river was good for intermediate hikers with multiple ascents and descents and very rocky terrain. The views from the overlooks were beautiful and the trail was well maintained considering the nature of the terrain. Be sure and make time to view the glacial potholes; very interesting and great to see. River boat tours leave from the pothole area and looked like a fun alternative for those who don't want to hike.

There was no key on the map to determine the length of the trail but I headed out to see the glacial potholes. The area was not as big as I'd imagined. I spent time sketching the potholes, appreciating the river and trees, watching the paddle wheel boat tour go by and listening to their commentary and watching a climber repel. Lovely time at the park.

Have married a few people here and it is a special place for many reasons. Bring a lunch, go see the potholes, have a fire, camp, swim, bird watch, etc. Just go, very informative.

Had a very good day trip from Minneapolis. (we stayed on the MN side of the park, but I will be trying out the other [WI] side sometime soon). Easy to get too, not intensive but can include some climbing for those who want

Want to hike, Interstate is a great place, want to be alone on a trail, go someplace else! This park has become so popular that the trails are almost overcrowded. The trails have been reworked since I was a child and the trail to Sandstone Bluffs has a lot of stairs and you go to a completely different overlook than you used to but it is still a beautiful view of the St Croix river valley. As far as camping here, the road through the valley has become a busy highway so not very conducive
to a good nights sleep. I will always love this place as it is full of memories for me!

The campsites for the park are right next to the highway, so you hear traffic all night long! HORRIBLE!!

This park goes hand in hand with it cross state counterpark (St. Croix Interstate Park) but has more trails and viewpoints. There are many potholes which makes you wonder how nature made them. It appeared to us you could get more and better pictures from this park. I liked it.

Interesting trails and super views. This is a great 1 hour stop to stretch out. Take the walking tour. Learn about potholes, and invasive species.

After doing the Wisconsin side earlier in the year, I returned when coming through the area to do the Minnesota side. The potholes are more impressive on the Minnesota side. However, I think the Wisconsin side is prettier with better trails. On the Minnesota wide, you are constantly battling the highway noise. There are trails on the Minnesota side that abut the highway and cross underneath it, and there are some pretty views. While I realize which park you visit may have largely to do with which state park sticker you have on your car, each side is worth a visit. I just prefer the Wisco side if I could choose.

If you want to see the world's deepest potholes and also the greatest concentration of potholes in a relatively small area, then the Glacial Potholes area in this park, is the place to come. How these potholes came to be is a combination of water and the earth's uprising, followed by streams and silt forming eddys, as the moving water avoided the harder rock. Over time, potholes occurred as a result of this action. It is amazing. The deepest pothole in the world, at 60 ft., is located here.

Blonde " park ranger" tries her hardest to make sure you never return. Watch out she likes to show her athouratie! As said on South Park. AVOID! She will try to get you for picking up a few sticks to start a fire!

I loved walking on the trails of interstate part with the great views of the river and seeing Old fashion river paddle boat

we hiked and the scenery over the river is breath taking. amazing! the cliffs! the campground on the other hand are not for me! we could see semi trucks through the trees only 100 feet behind out tent on the highway above. so loud we didnt sleep for more then an 3 hrs. we only stayed one night. campsides on the outer loop of the grounds are nice. ours was shaded in the moring.

My husband and I absolutely love this State Park. We visited this park last fall and again this summer. The drive to this park is very scenic during fall, an absolute must for anyone who wants to see fall colors.
Last year, we had hiked the park and completed the whole trail and it was beautiful. Rocks were little slippery as it was raining that day. Suggest the hike to anyone with moderate level of fitness.
This year, we did not hike but did the boat ride on Taylor Falls Princess. The boat ride was about 80 minutes long and gives a beautiful view of the rocks and the river. The ride does get boring on its way back but the boat ride is very comfortable.
We saw the glacial potholes and a very peculiar phenomenon only seen at this park.
I would suggest people to visit this park atleast once during fall..

This is a lovely and small park. Couple nice hikes and the glacial pot holes are worth seeing. Know that if you want a quiet remote park this isn't a fit, its busy and a river boat will go by down the St Croix a few times a day. But it's convenient for a quick weekend get away from the Twin Cities metro. Also a nice activity room for kids. It was filled with many families while we were there.

Such a beautiful park, hiking was awesome! Definitely would go back. Next time I definitely want to do some kayaking.

Interstate park has stunning views and is a photographers dream. We also were able to watch climbers, visit glacial potholes, and walk along the paths made for hikers....and just take in the beauty of it all....

Great family trip to take! We hiked the trails, visited local shops in Taylors Falls and enjoyed a great afternoon. Fun visit when the weather is nice!

We visited in October, and missed peak colors by about a week, but still had a really fun hike. The three of us (me, my wife, and our seven-month-old) hiked the Sandstone Bluffs Trail from the south end of the park to the north end, and then returned to our car via the same route (~ 1.25 miles each way).

The trail was very manageable for two non-hikers (one of whom was carrying our baby on his back!) wearing sturdy shoes. There are several great overlooks on the St. Croix River, and the surrounding woods are very pretty. Just off the park's southern parking lot is a large picnic area right on the water, a perfect place to enjoy a sandwich and treat from the nearby Rocky River Bakery in Taylors Falls.

Tip for fall color seekers: Don't necessarily count on the MN DNR fall color map. The DNR website said that the park was at peak color for the few days before our trip, as well as the day we went, when it seemed pretty clear that most of the leaves had fallen from the trees at least 5-7 days before we arrived, and the park would have been far more accurately described as "past peak".

Drove an hour to see glacial potholes. This was our first time to this state park. Easy to get to if you follow the directions from their website. Construction near the Visitor Center entrance, but a very friendly and helpful state park ranger was there to guide us. Bought our annual park pass ($25) or you can pay $5 for a day pass, and found a picnic table under the trees. Had a lovely picnic lunch and watched the rock climbers coming back to the parking lot with all their gear. Had about an hour until the Interpretive lead tour of the potholes, so explored a couple to the relatively easy trails. Beautiful views of the St. Croix River gorge. Watched a Bald Eagle soaring over head, enjoyed the beautiful and ancient rocks and tree formations.

The 2:00 tour began with a heavy downpour so the rangers kept us in the visitor center and told us about glacial potholes, the geology of the area and some history of the park. Rain let up, so out we went. WOW, potholes are so much more interesting when they are not on the road I'm driving on. Easy trail, but make sure to wear safe shoes (slippery rocks).

All in all a great afternoon. Much more to do and see in this park as well as the area. Canoe and Kayak rentals, paddleboat tours, more trails, camping, downtown Taylor's Falls is right across from the park and the Wisconsin version of the MN park is right across the river- bigger park, not nearly as many glacial potholes.

Love this park! It is a favorite with my family, Right on the St. Croix river, there are plenty of things to do. Great hiking trails, kayak and canoe rental, boat tours, and picnic areas. They also have a glacier pothole area that you can walk around which is pretty neat. The park also shares park land with Interstate Park in Wisconsin too. Oh, and the campgrounds here are awesome as well. Nice shower rooms, bathrooms, and camping sites.

The potholes are so neat. They're unique and so pretty with the green algae and dark grey rocks. Bathrooms were nice. And the trails were neat too. Also neat that there's a lot of places to rock climb for all skill levels.

Recently we took our dog south of Minneapolis to a park we had not visited in a while. When we arrived we were told by a staff member that our dog could not go on the beach, could not be in the water and could not walk on the grass. Thank goodness we found Interstate Park to go to instead. The information specifically states: Dogs Welcome. Of course we picked up after our dog - everyone would, right? We loved the park along the St. Croix river and enjoyed the time with our little dog. We haven't had a chance to canoe in a few years, but this is a great place to rent a canoe and take it down a very peaceful, lovely little river. The bus then brings you back to get your car.

I love coming here. It is one of my favorite places close to home. Never disappointing! Such a diverse choice for trails, camping and some amazing history. I love the trail that goes by the old mine and old house.

A partner park with the park of the same name in Wisconsin this park is almost as nice. It would be greate if the two parks could get together on some sort of agreement that the entrance fee to one would get you into the other.

Don't bother with the Minnesota side of Interstate State Park unless you enjoy very rocky walks, sounds of interstate traffic and limited views. We took the river trail to the railroad trail. Saw the river twice on the river trail. The railroad trail is for those who enjoy torturing their knees with steep staircases.

what a great venue to stroll and enjoy the river and all the rocks. the pot holes are so interesting Sweet location

This a great park and campground. Spots need to be reserved and are pretty open, unlike William O’Brien which has more private spots. Pretty buggy but a nice family escape.

This park is a gem near the Twin Cities and WI. The area has great topography and hiking in the park with vistas of the St Croix. Do this in tandem with William OB'rien State park for a great trek to Taylor's Falls.

Tens of thousands of years ago melting glaciers carved the beautiful St. Croix River Valley and along the way some of the most unique "potholes" were formed that defy anything you've seen. There are more than 400 examples of them that you can easily walk and climb around. One so deep it is called the "bottomless pit" and you can't see the bottom of it. Many with water filling them up, other completely dry. Lots of kids climbing all over enjoying the site. Well worth the trip to see this unique feature. The trails are well marked and fairly easy to get up and down the steps.

We have been to many state parks including this one over the years, on this particular day we were still deciding what to do but I needed to use the restroom. We pulled into the parking lot (had many available spots) and I used the facilities and my daughter got the dog out to stretch her legs. When I came out we all jumped back in the car (a total of 5 minutes- max) and the ranger approached the car. With a smug attitude he asks if he missed the permit attached to my car, I said no that we were not staying. He asked if we used the park today, I said no. He asked what we were doing and I said I used the restroom and while I did that my daughter got the dog out for fresh air. Again in an exaggerated smug voice he said "so you use our restroom and walk your little doggie but you don't buy a permit?" I said I was here for just shy of 5 minutes that doesn't constitute needing a permit and that I hadn't gotten far enough to SEE that I needed a permit. He acting like he was a hero for just writing me a warning which is still $5 and needs to be sent in. As we drove away we saw tickets on many cars indicating the signage is not sufficient . In addition when we drove in, the person emptying garbage couldn't be bothered to move to the side of the road- he walked straight down the middle yet there was plenty of room to walk and still allow cars through, it just felt like the employees had big chips on their shoulders . The ranger could have easily given a verbal warning, it was so silly to waste everyone's time over a restroom stop.

This MN state park is one of my favorites. It is situated along the St. Croix River in a beautiful valley just south of Taylor’s Falls. We hiked three of the trails and enjoyed each one of them. There are a lot of stairs on a couple of the trails so if stairs are tough for you maybe the hiking trails closer to the river which are a little flatter would be better!

This area of the park is separate from the campground and large picnic area but is definitely an area not to be missed. You continue from the entrance to the park into the town of Taylor's Falls and it is on the right before you cross the bridge into Wisconsin. The potholes and huge rocks are such a fun area to climb around and explore. There aren't any fences up and you are literally on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the St. Croix River, so be careful and set some rules up in advance, especially if you have small, adventurous children with you! Parking can be an issue, especially on weekends, we had to wait for someone to leave before we could enter the parking lot and it does require a state park sticker or a fee. We saw a car with a ticket so it is best to pay the fee as the rangers are checking!

Between the MN and Wisconsin side this park is truly on of the greatest state parks I have been to in the upper midwest. The geology of this area is a sight to behold. I usually try to visit this park 2 to 3 times a year. This summer when I first visited we hiked the river trail. We started out by looking at all of the potholes and the great views of the river from the cliffs. The trail went along the road for a short period before going back into the woods. Lots of stairs and rock formations make this not the easiest hike but the scenery makes it well worth it. The trail leads to the camping area which seemed really nice and thru a tunnel under the road. Here the path changes to a massive amount of stairs up into the cliff area. This was a new part of the park for me so I was quite impressed with the shelves and layers of sandstone in this area of the park. I included 2 pictures of this area so you can kind of see how neat it is up in this area. We followed the trail back and crossed the bridge to explore the Wisconsin side. There seems to be a lot more hiking and woods areas on this side of the river. In one spot there is a rock formation that looks like the image of a mans face. It's actually pretty cool. I can think of few parks in this area that combine so much natural beauty with amazing cliffs to climb and endless trails to explore.

While most people are renting or bringing their own canoes or kayaks. My daughter and I ventured to bring our SUP's. Boy was that a blast. The meat park about this is that you can either bring two cars and park one at Osceloa for a 2 hour paddle or William O'Brien for another two to three hours. You can also pay $20 a head to the rental place to get a ride back on their bus. The scenery is awesome and make sure to bring a water proof bag and a cooler to pack a lunch or take a swim at one of the islands or Sandy spots along the river. Right now the water levels are high, so always check with the DNR or Rental company websites. Other treks we have done are Marine on St. Croix to the High Bridge and then ending at the public boat landing at the Boom Site just North of Stillwater. Today we will do the Osceola to Marine On St. Croix trek.

We stopped for a short time and really enjoyed our time. Only negative was the signage - it was hard to know if we were "on" or "off" the trail. Fun to see the different rock formations and walk around.

Interstate Park was extremely easy to get to. The Glacier Potholes were within feet of the park entrance. Great place for kids to climb rocks. I'm too nervous about kids getting too close to the edge, so I was on pins and needles a couple of times when my kids climbed rocks and disappeared having fun. Short walks to some great scenery. Good facilities except the women's bathroom was too busy and there was a line to get in.

We had a great time touring both the MN and WI sides of the park. We started from the WI side at the Pothole trail, crossed the bridge to the MN side, got on the Taylors Falls Scenic Cruise (80 min for $27, very beautiful), toured more potholes on the MN side, and then back to the WI side. Took us about half of a day. It was beautiful! I highly recommend wearing a thick jacket on the cruise though.

I went there with my friend for rock climbing in October. The weather was perfect and it was beautiful to see Mississippi river with colored trees. Plus,it's a great place for outdoor activities.

Enjoyable hiking with moderate trails available as well as some paved trails. The views are plentiful and wonderful and there are a smattering of signs with historical detail of the area. We walked from the main office area on the river trail to the potholes and then around the paved area and back. Don't miss the opportunity to go down into one of the potholes - creepy, but fascinating.

I visited Interstate State Park in Taylors Falls on a fine day in August. Note: There is also another Interstate State Park adjacent to the one in Minnesota on the other side of the St. Croix river. I was amazed at how wonderful this state park (Minnesota) is. There are many interesting geologic features such as the glacial potholes, huge rock formations, and river rapids. The place abounds with scenic views at every point. Hiking/walking is exciting everywhere. Display boards are very informative, and the trails are well marked. The Sandstone Bluffs Trail will give a workout due to the hills, but stairs help in making steady progress. In sum, Interstate State Park is a beautiful park with interesting geologic features.

We visited both the WI and MO sides of the Saint Croix river to look at the potholes. On the WI side we walked the Pothole trail. The path was rough in places, but not difficult. The potholes were deep, but not as spectacular as those on the Minnesota side. However, children appeared to love them. The WI side gave you views of Taylor Falls. The walking was easier on the Minnesota side and there were more people there. There were many other longer trails we could have walked if we had time. The visitor centre on the WI side had displays explaining the origin of the potholes that were very clear. We found we could use our national Parks pass here as this was a federal site - an advantage.

Absolutely gorgeous area!!! They have things I have never seen before. Huge potholes, and dangerously high cliffs (watch the babies). Many people use the cliffs for rock climbing, propelling...

Good luck getting a camp site at this beautiful park. The beauty of the area offered through activities such as canoeing, kayaking, fishing, boating, and hiking.

Beautiful vistas, great hiking trails, and a must-visit for rock climbing or geology enthusiasts. A terrific place for a fall color walk. Also terrific for canoeing or kayaking.

Interstate State Park has unique geological features in its glacial potholes, formed by moving water and debris. These holes, formed in the rock surrounding the river, range from a few inches to 20 feet wide. The deepest measured is 63 feet deep.

The glacial pothole area is accessible for most, with walkways that can be used by older folks or people with limited mobility.

This park had great views of the river. The potholes and rocks are spectacular. There are lot of short little trails and spots to climb. My boys are 5 and 11 and they loved it. There is a section of the park right off of downtown Taylors Falls were the potholes and trails are and there is another section of the park a bit further down the river were the campground and picnic area is located and a boat landing where you can get a canoe rental. It's not a big park but its a nice stop for a couple of hours.

About an hours' drive from the Twin Cities area. Good for rock climbing, a couple of short hiking trails, and exploring glacial potholes.

We happened to pull over when we saw the park sign, and had no idea what we were in for. This is a beautiful park with an information center that provides extensive information on the geography and evolution of the topography. There are several trails to see the naturally formed potholes and all lead to breathtaking views of the St. Croix River. We loved it and it was well worth the $5 park fee.

Nice clean area, only used for parking this time. But looks like a nice place for hiking, swimming, camping.

We spent a few hours here. First, I strongly encourage you to wear good insect repellent; even with some mosquito balm dabbed on me, I got 10 mosquito bites. Visitor center staff was very friendly. It cost $7 for a day pass; having a national parks pass did not prevent our need to pay the $7 fee. We came to the park to see the glacial potholes and where the St. Croix River takes a bend. The glacial potholes were interesting; though, to be frank, we saw more vast and prettier ones at Shelburne Falls, MA. In the glacial potholes area, we went to Angle Rock, where the river makes a 90° turn; but, we were disappointed we couldn’t see the turn as there was no viewing area for it. We ran into a couple of maintenance people and asked them where we could see the bend of the river; they were not aware of any specific viewing area.
What we did enjoy was that there were two relatively easy hiking trails that we took. The first was the River Trail and the 2nd was the Railroad Trail, totaling about 2.5 miles between the two. The trails were mostly shaded, which is nice for the summer. There were sections were we climbed and descended stairs and rocks, and sometimes the trail was a little muddy; but the trails should be easily doable for most adults and children. From the campground end, it was hard to find the beginning of the railroad Trail; at the end of the railroad Trail, toward town, it was not clear from the trail that you had to walk briefly through town to pick up the park trail again; you may want to get details about that from the visitor center before embarking on the River/ Railroad Trail loop hike. All in all, we recommend Interstate Park for some good views of the river and the short, doable hikes.

The areas we saw were wonderful. The trails nice and the pot holes are natures wonders. Unfortunately we didn't get to hike alot as it was sprinkling the entire time and we had 3 little ones with us. We were looking out for falls (kids) instead of enjoying the park. I will return and do the park justice.

This is our 3rd trip there. Each stay is better than the last. Family oriented on the weekends, quiet couples retreat during the week and off season. Clean modern and primitive restrooms. The Park Rangers friendly and helpful. Close to Taylors Falls MN and not to far away from the Twin Cities. Swimming facilities on the Wisconsin side but you need a Wisconsin park pass to enter the Wisconsin side.

You will not be disappointed, River Boat rides, canoeing, trails, glacial trail that is very unique, quaint town of Taylors Falls. Rent Canoe at Interstate Park and canoe down to Osceola Wisconsin with pick up. So much to see you almost have to make it a weekend travel adventure with so much dining and a diverse option of things to do. Very interesting for Family Adventures, parks, trails and knowledge of History unfold as you show them all there is to see in Interstate Park. Travel is detoured on Hwy 8 so in Center City follow Cty Rd 9 to Cty rd 37 and it will take you right to Taylors Falls. Have Fun!

Visited this park on Fathers Day and really enjoyed our visit. The potholes are very interesting and the views are beautiful. The pothole area and river trail are both very nice and worth the stop. The only detriment to receiving a higher grade is the highway next to the river trail. Nothing can be done about this but seeing and hearing cars go by does detract from an otherwise awesome area.

Amazing trails. We were all in our mid50's. Easy trekking. Interesting. A good 3 hours if you do the entire trails and enjoy nature. Can't wait to return to Minnesota to do this again.

It was a beautiful trip down the St Croix, the water was higher than normal but we still found spots to pull over and picnic.

We explored glacial potholes and natural exposed lava flow rock formations . the view was unforgettable. cost is $7.00 per day.

This is a beautiful park with so many recreational options. We spent a few hours hiking the River and Railroad Trails. The trails are rustic so wear good shoes to navigate rocks and tree roots. The River Trail offers some beautiful river views and many little side trails to look out. We took the Railroad Trail back which is has an impressive stair climb (we're talking 100+) to get to the top of the hill but has an almost tropical feel to it in some areas before getting to the plateau for an easy walk that ends in downtown Taylors Falls where you can then stroll some shops, stop for ice cream or a beer before crossing under the highway back to the parking lot to retrieve the car. The end of the River Trail has a campground, water fountain to rehydrate or fill water bottles, canoe rentals, and a very nice picnic area along the river. If taking small children on the trails be aware that they are rugged and areas are not fenced where people walk out on the rocks to see the river in some areas. For a $7 parking fee at the park entrance, this will be the most affordable day of outdoors activities you will find.

We visited this wonderful park and hiked on the rocks and trails. Our daughter slipped and skinned her leg. Oh well- what's a trip to the falls without a little pain? Overall- beautiful scenery and nice visit.

Very scenic , informative , gem of a park . The views of the rock formations are spectacular , river views , glacial rock , and glacial potholes ! Must see !

On a busy holiday weekend we arrived at 9:30am and easily found a place to park (had to go through construction in town but easy). We paid for the state park pass and used the bathrooms before heading out on the trail. We filled up our water bottles at the drinking fountain before and after our hike.

We lived the Ricky climbing opportunities for our kids and the views were fantastic! We hiked the River Trail in the Minnesota side of the park.

It was a great day trip for our family! Finished the day with a great burger at the Drive-in Restaurant and ice cream at Schommer's Malt Shop (yum to both)!

Maybe the best hiking spot in Minnesota.... views are great and especially fall colors...cool little town with lots to do... best part of st croix river .. great kayaking spot ... cool sculpture park close by

My husband, 6 year old daughter and I did some serious walking during our trip to Interstate. We hiked from the MN side of the park to the WI side (approx. 0.5 mile hike) and hiked the Pothole Trail which is totally worth the hike to get a fantastic view of Angle Rock and the St. Croix River).

We hiked back to the MN side to view the pothole areas in the park (totally worth the stop to view the potholes and view of the river).

We hiked the River Trail (1.25 miles) down to the campground. This hike is very rocky and families with young children should take care while on trail (I saw a few kids that bit it on the trail including my kid). We decided to take the Railroad Trail (1.5 miles) back from the campgrounds since it is not as rocky. You will encounter a large amount of steps at the beginning of the trail. Once you get past the staircase it is an EASY walk all the way back to the parking lot.

There are picnic tables available in the parking lot area there is also water fountains in this area but not on the trails.

The geological interest here is in the naturally formed potholes which pepper this interstate park. The path is directly behind the parking lot, where you can see the potholes and read about how they were formed. They are interesting, up to a point. Then you kind of want to move on.

Great place in the middle of nowhere, make the trip and visit the town of Taylor Falls, make sure to hit the Frosty Top Drive In

There are so many things to do at Interstate State Park.
Mountain climbing, canoeing, trails, picnic, camping, potholes created by glaciers over 10k years, etc. There is something for everyone.
Its a great place to visit and not too far from the twin cities.
although you pay 5 dollars for the entry, you may not get a place to park easily

Called with family for a short visit (couple of hours) and loved the rock formations, in particular the glacial potholes. Stunning views of the river in the gorge can be seen best if you're happy to do a little scrambling, fairly easy for most people. We saw the paddle steamers and a couple of kayaks and canoes on the lower stretch. Families of all ages were there.

This park was one of the smallest parks that we have ever camped in, but it was great! Everything was very easily accessible, which is nice because we have a motor home with no tow vehicle. We hiked the entire River Trail down to the glacial potholes and then took the Railroad Trail back. It was a tougher hike than we were expecting with quite a few steps. We aren’t great hikers, but we still did just fine. The potholes weren’t as cool as I was hoping, but it was still fun to see. The overlooks on the River Trail has some great views of the river. Our site wasn’t too private, but it many of the electric sites were pretty close. We rented canoes right there in the park and did a local trip upriver and back for about an hour and a half. Nice and easy! Overall a great time!

This park is absolutely gorgeous in the fall. It's even better if you get out and enjoy it from the view of a canoe. The rocky cliffs and river make the trees stand out nicely, and there is plenty of wildlife, especially birds, to engage the nature enthusiast.

This park is absolutely amazing! Had a great time walking the trails and climbing on the rock formations. The views on the cliffs are awesome. We visited the park twice on our vacation, because our teenage boys loved climbing the rock formations.

Beautiful park, we enjoyed it very much! Many short hikes available, nice views of the river. Lots of places to picnic too.

We visited in the Fall and enjoyed the trees turning red. The park is really very spectacular. On both sides of the river there are canyon views. The water erosion pots are amazing. The park is well planned and very compact, with a handicap accessible walkway. There are sign posts to describe what you are seeing. The nearby town has restaurants and the boat tour of the falls is available.

Interstate State Park in Taylors Falls, MN is a great geological history lesson for all ages. Basalt rock resulting from ancient volcanoes compromised by melts from the Glacial Age resulted in amazing rock formations and potholes along the St. Croix river dividing Minnesota and Wisconsin. Easy walks and more challenging walks. Also, river boat rides for more views.

Rent a canoe or kayak, or bring your own, from the Wild Mountain/Taylors Falls Recreation at Interstate Park. Trips to Osceola Landing take approximately 2-3 hours, or do the full day trip to William O'Brien State Park and spend 5-7 hours paddling. Free shuttle service returns you to your vehicle.

See eagles and other wildlife, hang out and swim and enjoy lunch on one of the many sandbars, or fish the river. Beautiful scenery and a great way to spend a day.

Reserve your canoe online and save $5! Note that to enter Interstate Park you must purchase a day use pass ($5) or the yearly Parks Pass ($25 - a great bargain, good at all state parks).

The trails were fairly easy except for the bluffs trail. The glacier potholes were very neat. The mosquitoes were pretty bad so I would recommend carrying along some big spray but overall a great day.

This place is absolutely gorgeous! I went there for my Science Lab class and decided to upgrade to an annual permit because I want to go back and bring my husband and then again with my husband and all of our children. We have seen both oceans and although they were beautiful, they were nothing compared to this park! Yes, it was that amazing. This is a bucket list must see. Don't miss the "Pot Holes" which are huge circles that go down up to 80 feet deep. They were created way back when the whole are was covered by an ocean. The circling of the water carved into the rocks beneath the waters and created what are called "pot holes".

The glacial potholes are worth the stop. This is a lovely park, you will not want to miss! Self State Park Pass required. You do an honor envelope type system to pay. $5 is what we paid. You can walk in real easy. Very accessible!

This is the perfect campground except for the constant noise, even at night, from the highway. That is the only reason that we are not giving it 5 stars.

I live in St. Paul, MN and every year we make the trip (1 hour) North to Taylor Falls. If you have kids and you want an inexpensive activity to do this is it. If you have kids from 5-18 years old they will enjoy the time climbing on the rocks and checking out the river.

Pack a picnic, frisbee, soccer/football, and good walking/hiking footwear. Located along the St. Croix river on the border of Wisconsin, this park is a must do/se during the peak fall leaf colors! There are plenty of hiking trails and lots of scenic overlooks to see all of the splendor!

Out geocaching in the State Parks and this was one one my list for the day. This park was fascinating. The area I was in featured the glacial potholes. Wonderful creations of mother nature. The park was very accessible and on this particular day it was a bit rainy and hardly a soul in sight. This is an area I will return to time and time again, the rick formations are simply magnificent!

Title of the review about sums it up. If you are going deet up or go home looking like a spotty teen. Did a stretch from Taylors falls and I would have to say as wildernesses go it was a) a pretty dull river - reminded me of stretches of the Wear upriver from beautiful Sunderland and b) never far from a highway adding road noise to the authentic back country experience. Then the incompetent folks at taylor's falls canoe and kayak rental failed to turn up for the scheduled pick up leaving me in a car park for an hour an a quarter with a crazy toothless woman and a shirtless dude whose torso/gut looked disconcertingly like snoopy. Give it a miss

The potholes in the Glacial Gardens are a very unique geological feature and a must-see while in the area. They aren't largely advertised and could easily be missed if you didn't know there were there unfortunately. There are walking paths leading in through area, which are fairly easy for the average person. Very scenic- don't forget your camera. To go there, pull in off the highway by the boat tours right across from the main street in Taylors Falls. Enter the parking lot on the right. The trails are at the end of the lot.

Great place to take a hike and have an adventure. Fun for all ages and great exercise. The views and trails are amazing. Love that you can bring a cooler and picnic lunch. Great way to spend a day!

Went on a day trip with my roommates to Interstate State Park. Was an easy hike to a beautiful view of the river. Well worth the 2 hour drive from our house.

The trails here are amazing. They also give way for you to explore on your own off trail as long as you are careful of slippery rocks. 100% recommend visiting though the PARKING IS NOT FREE. Saw many people get tickets as the lot does not say pay to park.... it's $5/day for the state park.

Took a walking tour down to the St. Croix River. Such a beautiful trail made accessible for handicapped folks. The flora and fauna is simply incredible! Great for and evening stroll.

I visited on the Minnesota side of the St. Croix River. The glacial potholes were very interesting and well done. I also hiked the River Trail and the Raliroad Trail. While the scenery was beautiful, the proximity to the highway diminished the expereicne because of the constant traffic noise. Next time, I'll try the Wisconsin side.

Incredibly beautiful place with rock cliffs and gorge of the St. Croix River. Wonderful hiking trails, giving great views of the river and featuring incredible geological features. The huge glacial potholes are awesome. Vehicle passes are $25 for an year or $5 for a day pass.

Beautiful scenery, great hikes, and amazing geological formations from the remains of the last ice age...Got engaged at this park...It's always a special visit

I love this park because it's different from the usual Minnesota prairie and pinecone scenes (which I love also). The huge potholes drilled into the basalt rocks truly give a sense of the power of the glacier meltwater. It's almost a solemn place. River scenery is beautiful. Services in Taylor's Falls are excellent.

Loved visiting this state park the other weekend! The state park staff were friendly (especially after we bought our annual state park pass :)) and everything was in great condition. The glacial potholes are definitely a neat thing to check out-- especially some of the ones with small pools in them. You can also climb out and get a fantastic view of the river. The River Trail was nice and well kept and had a great view of the river throughout but no real pay-off on either end of the hike, which isn't a terrible thing but just something to keep in mind! I can't wait to go back with a picnic!

I've been on the boat tour and also been camping here as well as rock climbing many times. I absolutely love this area, a great time with friends and family! Highly recommend as a great weekend getaway if you love the outdoors! There are many places to go hiking and exploring and fit anyone's ability.

The campground was nice, despite heavy rain. Showers were good. The potholes hike was great. The Ice Age Trail movie at the Nature Center was excellent, and the hosts were very nice and helpful. We had a great time hiking and enjoying the beauty of the Dalles.

We spent 2 nights here at Interstate State Park June 8th through the 10th. We had campsite 13 which was along the river, unfortunately next to 2 boisterous couples staying at #14. The first night I had to send my husband over to ask them to quiet down, at 1 in the morning! Rude... I wish park staff would have done something to enforce the 10 pm quiet time.

There was a rec room located next to the restrooms/showers that had tables and games. We came here after dark and enjoyed a few games before bedtime.

We hiked the river trail to the vistor's center. It was more difficult than we anticipated, although we made it with our 3 kids (age 4, 10, and 12)! The trail was mostly dirt/gravel, with steps made out of the rock. Sturdy shoes is advised as the footing is not always the best. Hiking or driving over the vistor's center is well worth it though, the geologic potholes are really cool to see! Although it was also rather nervewracking...as a nervous mother I kept my 4 year old in tow the entire time. It would certainly be easy for a child to fall into the holes if they were just playing around. Lots of really cool views of the St. Croix river.

We also hiked the Sandstone Bluffs trail...WOW! Every single step of this hike was full of amazing things to see. There was an old mostly dried up waterfall, sandstone bluffs towering over you, and then you were climbing up them, to a lush forest with a stream running through it. We also made this hike with our 3 children. There is a LOT of stairs on this hike.

Both trails are intense...not a stroll through the woods.
River Trail: 7/10
- Challenging hike
- Scenic vistas
- Cool landscape incorporated into the trail
* No educational signs/markers along the way
* Could be too difficult of a trail for someone in poor health/elderly
Sandstone Bluffs Trail: 9/10
- Challenging hike
- Lots of really cool things to see!
- Felt like Indiana Jones!
* The amount of stairs limits who can hike this trail
* Few educational signs/markers

Our family enjoyed camping here, but mainly for the awesome time we had on our hikes. The mosquitoes were pretty bad, but mostly the worse while hiking the river trail. We will visit this park again in the future.

An ok park for camping. Sites close together and busy every night we were there (even on a Sunday and Monday night). If you can live without the electric sites, go for sites around the outside of the ring of campsites. The group camping sites also looked great. The hiking was great - a good workout and the scenery is beautiful. We took the canoes down the St Croix on a calm day in July. No one was tipping and the water level was high enough to prevent bottoming out. Probably the best part of the weekend. The St Croix is crystal clear and so refreshing to swim in. Next time we will plan on camping on the Wisconsin side. Their park is larger, it looks like there are more hiking trails and more choices for wooded campsites.

Glacial Potholes formed 10,000 years ago by melting Glacial water mixing and swirling with sand to drill into the rock - fascinating! Beautiful views of the St. Croix River

Hi
I went last week mother - son hike and took this amazing selfie in the bake oven pot hole . Unfortunately my $$$$ prescription glasses fell back into the shallow pothole into murky water .
After Many attempts to try to find it with the stick I got a park staff Mary Joe Reutrr to help me .
she got a telescoping net and work with me for quite a while but we were not successful. She told Me to call back on Monday to see if they could siphon the water to get my glasses for me
Although the staff was extremely busy they coordinated their efforts to get my sunglasses .
They called me midweek with the great news !!!
I AM SO IMPRESSED..
And very thankful .

Moral of the story : keep your sunglasses in the car lol

Interstate Park is just a hop, skip and a jump away from most of the twin cities metro areas and yet you feel like you couldn't be further from the hustle and bustle of the city. Interstate park has a little bit for everyone and is a great hike for a family or for those that are looking for something a little more challenging.

Interstate State park is split between Minnesota and Wisconsin. This review is for the Minnesota side. This is an interesting park to make a day trip to. The glacial potholes are very interesting. The river boat is fun too but is not actually part of the park. Plan on spending about an hour looking at the potholes. Take the 80 minute boat ride and you're about out of things to do. There is a 1.2 river trail leading to the campground. This is a very rocky trail. Do not plan on doing it if you have any major health issues.

Campground:
the campground is small, only about 40 spots. It is clean and the facilities are new. There is river access here but it is illegal to go into the river due to bad currents. Leave no doubt, this is an urban park. There is no wildlife and not many trees. The campsites and fairly open and not private at all. You can go to sleep by the sound of the trucks and cars on the road that goes along the campground. The showers did not have any hot water so it made for very quick showers. If you are looking for a camp site that will put you into the woods and allow you to get away, this is not it. (Go to the Wisconsin side. Their sites are MUCH better!). If an urban atmosphere is what you want then this campground is good and recommended.

Taylors Falls:
This is a small and very tourist type town. There's no major chain stores, only a bucnh of specialty shops. The ice cream shop (I believe named 'Schooner's) has very good triple-chocolate ice cream. Highly recommended. If you want shopping, again you need to go St Croix Falls on the Wisconsin side. They have many of the national chain stores.

Overall:
This park, in general, is good. Do not pan on having alot to do but what's there is good. Parking is VERY tight so get there early if you want a spot. This is good for families but watch the children as there are MANY sharp and slippery rocks. i recommend that you make a day trip here.

Beautiful canoe area. Windy weather made ithard to paddle. Newcomers should try again.Saw one person wreck his boat. Definitely get atopographical map! The water is controlled @Taylors Falls. This water not to be traveled withlarge boats!Fall colors beginning. Beautiful flora & fauna.

A very scenic state park. Located on the St Croix outside the town on Taylors Falls. The park is located by the bluffs of the river which make for great scenery and hilly hiking. There are some well marked trails but be prepared to do some up and down hills. The campground gets very crowded in the summer being close to the Twin Cities and on the river. Lots to do in the surrounding area as well.

Get yourself an annual state park sticker and take advantage of the beauty in the parks located on the St. Croix

The park is very well cared for. Our hike was pleasant but I wish they would have given me a map or provided some information about the park upon arrival. I didn't know where the trail head started, how long it was, were it would end or points to look for. I think this was unusual since most parks provide a lot of helpful information. Part way down the trail we asked some fellow hikers how far it was and what we'd be seeing. They were helpful. A nice way to spend a couple hours.

This park is the reason my wife moved from the Twin Cities to the Chisago Lakes area. Several challenging trails. The River Trail follows the St. Croix River, up and down through the cliffs, with several spots to sit and take in the view of the riverboat or canoers/kayakers floating by. Fantastic in the fall, when the hills turn into a vista of what look like rainbow-colored cauliflower heads. Great spot for family photos, graduation portrait photo-shoots and weddings. The "Pothole Park" is a fascinating, easy hike with a geology lesson to boot. Warning for those with small children: keep them in hand as you near the cliffs, there are no fences or railings and sadly almost every year someone slips and is injured or killed. Safety first! A safer hike is the Curtain Falls trail, which is completely beautiful and one of my wife's favorite places in the world. A Must See.

I attempt to hike at this park at least once a week. A great challenging hike starts at the Taylors Falls Community Center where you head down town and under the highway 8 bridge. Here you see the rapids through the gorge and if you're lucky, there will be kayakers on the river here. Head through the main gate to the River trail. This trail follows the river and is rough and rocky but offers nice views of the river. Cross under highway 8 at the park headquarters at the south entrance of the park and hike the sandstone bluff trail. This is very scenic and has lots of steps but the trail is smooth. It takes you along sandstone cliffs and through a couple of pretty ravines. Hike up the steps and finish your hike on the railroad trail which is on the old railroad bed and back to the visitor center. Approximately a 4 mile loop.

Traveling to Taylor's Falls intending to rent a canoe for the afternoon, I was surprised by construction on Hwy 8, but we were able to reach the park and I had a great time!
The scenery is unlike anything else in this half of the state, and not to be missed.
Canoe trips depart downstream a bit, and you may rent by the hour (two hour minimum) or take a trip downstream to Marine on St Croix or Osceola.
This is a nice day trip from St Paul or Minneapolis, and ought to include the Wisconsin side, as that is equally lovely.

The State Park is actually two states working together with parks for camping, boating, fishing and swimming on both sides of the St Croix River.

Plenty of activities, good staff, and beautiful areas. Outside the parks, there are many private activities, retsaurants and places to travel too. Love the area.

I went with my mom and sister to explore the area, walk to trails and enjoy the fall colors. It was beautiful. It gets crowded mid day so I would definitely go sooner than later in the day.

Interstate Park and Taylors Falls was an amazing experience. I'm new to the Minnesota area having moved here from Texas and I was blown away by the beauty. Great hiking, there are many different areas and trails and even flat paved surfaces so that hikers of all skill levels may enjoy. The potholes and the geological aspects of the park are fascinating and really cool too. There are many coffee shops, stores, and restaurants within walking distance. Great place to spend the day. There are so many activities and things to do, I already cannot wait to go back. Highly recommended.

We will definitely be back to kayak on the river and explore some of the trails! We just had time to do the Glacial Potholes. What beautiful scenery! Highly recommend this!!!

One of the best state parks in Minnesota. The river scenery is fantastic and there is a lot to do in the area. If you like state parks this is a must see.

walked to this park from the Wisconsin side in July 2011 and the park was closed what a bummer ( i have been here before they have a lot of neat stuff) but this time it was closed

the camping is better on the wisconsin side

Had a great visit to Interstate State Park. This was our first time camping there. The facilities were clean and the staff friendly. The walking/hiking trails along the campground/river were really cool. Cant wait to go back.

If you are into rock climbing, this place has excellent selection of spots. Or if you just want to see wonderful vistas of the St. Croix River, this is a great state park. But the best part is the unique "potholes" that are leftover from glacial days.

This place is a great place to visit if you're interested in geology. Lots of different features, plus it sits along the scenic St. Croix River. Worth checking out the Glacial Potholes. A great park to visit, particularly in the Fall, though you will have to battle a bit of traffic on the weekends.

Great trails for hiking. Be careful near edges of rock, especially with children! Loved the fall colors!

This is a smaller, fully shaded, intimate campground whose inside sites are arranged closer together from each other with no brush or trees in between you and the next camper for the majority of the sites. It has 37 sites, of which 22 are electric. Our neighboring campers were a mixture of large bus-type RVs, smaller trailers, popups, and tent campers. The non-electric sites are along the river and have brush blocking the river view and a steep rocky bank (except for site 21) not a beachy area. Swimming from the campground shore is not legal due to strong river current and undertow. Canoers and kayakers who can rent next to the campground can be seen paddling up and down the river. The huge paddleboat has tours past the campground several times per day. The showers/restrooms were closed 90 minutes per morning for cleaning by the elderly campground host couple, although the women's shower stalls were absolutely filthy (see photos). Otherwise the park staff maintain it nicely. Most campers were considerate with the exception of a few noisy. Everyone else tolerated those few very well. Park staff routinely monitored noise and parking compliance from a patrolling vehicle. The noise level from trucks and ongoing traffic on nearby Hwy 8, can be loud until after midnight when all is quiet through the night.

Taylors Falls is within walking distance on the railroad bed trails from the campground. Another trail from the campground leads to the potholes park. St. Croix Falls is just across the river from Taylors Falls and has great places to eat, an awesome quilt shop, and a really good health food store, among others (hospital with ER too).
Lots of early settler Swedish history in this area is shared.

The views were great, and we enjoyed learning about the geological features of the park. Nice places to walk, though one of the trails is right next to the main road. Definitely recommend.

we liked the walking around and climbing to see the potholes and area in the one section of the park. Then went to the other section of the park and walked the trails there. just a nice place to walk.

Last weekend stayed at this lovely camp ground. We were in site 18. It was on the river but secluded from our camping neighbors on both sides by trees. We had a little path that went down to the lake but it was a little steep and not for the feign of heart. Every day there was a paddle boat that would come by. Fun to watch it at night. The first night had an Elvis impersonator on it! We brought our own canoe/kayak. We canoe up the river first. Gorgeous. The went down the river to a big sand bar in the middle of the river. Stopped there for a little snack and met a lot of people who had the sane idea. At one time the sandbar had 34 people on it! After our canoe ride, we decided to take the river uuke. It was only about 1 mile to the Pot holes area. Took about 39 minutes going sl I w. It was very treacherous with lots of ups/downs on the rocks. My knees and his were sore when we got back. Great trip overall!

Trails weren't maintained for winter, but for casual hiking that was not a problem for us. There are several loops of less than a mile on the Wisconsin side, so for a short distance it was no problem to go slow and be careful of the ice on steps and the like.

The park is absolutely stunning on a sunny winter day, with gorgeous viewpoints and much natural beauty as you climb among the snow-covered boulders. Absolutely worth the trip.

Beautiful scenery at Interstate State Park where the St Croix River narrows through a spectacular gorge known as the Dalles of the St Croix. Many nice hiking trails including the River Trail can be found or walk the paths amongst the rocks near the gorge. There is a paddle wheel boat that makes excursions down the river every couple hours or even better you can rent kayaks or canoes from Taylor’s Falls Canoe and Kayak and paddle down to Osceola or John O’Brien State Park where a bus will bring you pack to where you started.

The paved trails are nice with lots of viewing of the river and geological formations. Very interesting park. The longer trails down to the campground and then up the railroad bed are nice too. Very fun. The Sandstone trail is a good challenge for anyone. It says 200 stairs in the brochure from the park, but there was 371 going from the campground and up and around! Good fun and elevation changes.

We rewarded with ice cream in town afterwards, it was spendy but good atmosphere and great treats.

There is a river boat tour here, but it wasn't open when we went (too early in season). Make sure you use groupon for that as it will save you 50% or about $22.

My family had a great time exploring and hiking. There are a lot of glacier formations and holes. It really is worth the time to visit this park. They have activities so check out the DNR website for details. Rock climbing, hiking tours and kids programming.

We camped here and had a great time it was clean and quiet we will definitely be back :) it has a nice beach for swimming too, it's very scenic.

Interstate State Park is located on the banks of the St. Croix River and is right next to the town of Taylors Falls, Minnesota. Taylors Falls is about 60 miles northeast of downtown Minneapolis and is about 55 miles from St. Paul. To get there just go north on I-35W from Minneapolis or go north on I-35E from St. Paul for about 35 miles and then take a right on Highway 8. Stay on Highway 8 until you get to the Park entrance (it is very easy to find).

I went to this State Park on a Saturday afternoon with my wife in mid-August and really enjoyed hiking and taking in the beautiful views of the river. The Park is a smaller, skinnier State Park and there are only a few hiking trails. We hiked the River Trail to the center of Taylors Falls and then hiked the Railroad Trail back (it is a loop). These trails are OK but at times they run very close to Highway 8 and all the traffic on that road. At the end of the River Trail are several beautiful bluff views as well as a small trail that leads to interesting geological potholes. There is a third trail called the Sandstone Bluffs Trail but we did not have time for that.

Overall I really enjoyed hiking Interstate State Park and also enjoyed the great river views from the River Trail. In addition, I had so much fun watching people canoeing on the St. Croix River that I went back the next day and rented a canoe.

This park is good for a brief, picturesque hike (4 miles or less) along the St. Croix, for climbing the bluffs, viewing glacial 'potholes', or kayaking/canoeing. It can be pretty busy in nice weather. The trails for hiking aren't too difficult but are too rough for a stroller in most places, so if you're going with young children plan accordingly.

I have been to Interstate a few times in the past, but they were mostly for work. This was my first time there with my family. The site was clean and the bathrooms were also clean! Many cool trails and beautiful views of the St. Croix. We even saw a beaver swimming in the river!! Come out and enjoy this beautiful place!

This is a great state park with unique and interesting geology. The potholes were fun to explore and the DNR programs were great! Some nice hiking and great views of the the St. Croix River. We'll be back.

I have camped at many state parks but this one was the least private campsite I've ever been at. No trees between the small campsites, only a thin layer of trees behind you if you stay in the center. The park itself is gorgeous, I wish we would have just visited for the day and not camped. Everyone goes to bed at 10 pm, and if you're up past then, the ranger will come by and harass you no matter how quiet you are.

Very nice park to walk around and easy to get to. I will go back and try the river boat tour. The trails are fun to walk.

I can't believe I've lived in MN 30 years and just now visited Taylors Falls for the first time! The potholes and river gorge were beautiful. Well worth the hour drive from the Metro. The hiking trails are somewhat narrow. We visited on a weekday, so getting through wasn't a problem. We'll definitely be back in the Fall to try the other trails!

Interstate Park is a great day trip from the city! It offers good car camping options for families, places for campers on the water, and some hiking trails. If you are looking for an intense, long hike, this is not the spot. At most you could do about 3 miles. But it is a beautiful park with staggering cliffs and scenic rock formations!

We stopped at this state park for an afternoon visit. This park has many picnic areas, nice restrooms, beautiful trails (some of them with MANY steps), lots of mosquitos (wear bug spray!). There is a tunnel under the highway connecting the trail and another section of park a short drive away where the glacial holes are along with gorgeous views of the river. Don't miss checking this out! In the evening this is a young person hang out, so go earlier in the day, as they kind of take over later and the language may become inappropriate for young children.

This is a beautiful area! We were using a roofed picnic shelter with a huge fire place! It started raining and a lot of people we're running away while we were nice and cozy! My sister went and bought a roll of fire wood at the office/gift shop for 6$.(kinda pricey) It was wonderful to have it though! There was a fairly clean bathroom only 50 feet away! Very convenient! The grill was maybe 100 feet away and that was pretty much the only thing I wasn't happy with because it was very old and very rusty! We just put tin foil on the top and that worked just fine. The St Croix river was only about 200 feet away! Loved that! Also they seemed to have plenty of picnic tables(decent condition). I almost forgot to mention that we also had a water fountain and spout pretty close the picnic shelter. We had a great time! (Note:costs 5$ to get a park permit or 25$ for a year permit).

We have camped here once and also visited friends here .
This is a very nice park with nice walking to Taylor’s falls .
Very good for hikers . Kayaking. There is a lot to see and do nearby in Taylor’s falls and Saint Croix . Mini golf , restaurants , ice cream shops . Antique shops . Live music on Friday’s on the scenic overlook in Saint Croix .
Sites are very nice .
The only down fall would be traffic noise on the bridge from big semi trucks when they break to slow down . But really I was okay with that .
The end of July is wannagan days in Saint Croix falls , great fireworks

Great place to hike, camp and experience nature at its best. The scenery is breathtaking and it is a great place for a family visit for as little as one hour up to all day. Nearby is the town of Taylor Falls with many shops and food as well.

We visited on Saturday, June 27, 2015. The park has two sections, connected near the river, but two distinct parking area. The parking area near the canoe rental and boat launch was entirely full at 10:30 am. We then proceeded more toward downtown Taylor's Falls and parked at the Glacial Potholes section.

The rock formations are awesome and we saw rock climbers in many area. The views of the river from Angle Rock are great! They have interpretive signs explaining the topography.

A friendly park worker talked to us and told us of other places in the area as well as other Minnesota state parks to see. This is a great place!

Beautiful place to go on a hike. Have been going here for 30 years now and it never disappoints. Great nature views, will always hold a special place in my heart

If planning a day trip to Interstate park make sure to pack a good pair of shoes to hike the scenic trails with beautiful scenic views!! but you gotta hike to see the beautiful sculpted rocks around the area!! pack a lunch and enjoy the views for the day

Well maintained state park with a nice walking trail (not too easy), lots of areas to fish and sit out and enjoy the surroundings - some rock climbing.

Recommend seeing!

The park, home to the potholes - a geologic phenomenon produced by a flood of water from a melting glacier that carved these potholes - shafts that go straight down for 50 + feet. The kids in the park seemed to be having a great time climbing on the rocks. $5 to get in but that gets you a pass for any other Minnesota state park for the day. Worth a visit if you are in the area.

Well marked trails -- many with views over the St. Croix River. This is a favorite hiking spot for us and beautiful in the fall. Some of the steeper trails have rock 'steps' that have almost a foot rise and would be difficult for anyone with knee issues, but they can be avoided by taking the more level trails. My favorite is the trail leading to the river from the Ice Age interpretative center. Steep in spots with lots of switchbacks and georgeous views. Camping is spacious with a good variety--some spots feel secluded surrounded by trees and other spots around the open field are less private. We like the South end when we go with kids because there is a central field area for whiffle ball/frisbee etc. Some restrooms / pit toilets were closed in mid-September -- but we finally found one open by the lake.

Once again, we have returned from rental canoes and going down the St. Croix. Beautiful scenery, and VERY family friendly. The rental system is well run, and very easy for even the beginner to figure out and participate. You are welcome to bring coolers, chairs, dogs, whatever is needed to make your canoe trip comfortable. I highly recommend bringing those stadium style chairs (what you'd sit on at a football game with the supporting back) if you have extra passengers in your canoe (or for yourself!) Coolers are also a must to keep snacks and hydration handy.
The state park is wonderful in the spring to see the waterfalls active from the melted snow, and the fall has amazing colors and great "rock climbing" for toddlers up to experts with full rock-climbing gear. Overall, a great escape from the twin cities and yet so close!

I went for a short day trip since we didn't have enough time to make a bigger trip up north. It wasn't the most challenging or jaw-dropping place I have hiked in Minnesota, but for a quick outing, it was fun, beautiful and worth the visit. I can't wait to go back and explore even more. I really loved it and it is one of my favorite more local Minnesota spots.

This park has some amazing views and its nested right by St. Croix River. I have camped, taken a canoe down the river and also a kayak several times. Some of the views are spectacular of the river.

We went for a hike along the River Trail, Railroad Trail and Sandstone Trail. The fall colors were gorgeous. The views along the trails aren't that great because of the tree coverage. The place was busy, so the overlooks were packed with people. The worst thing of all is that the highway runs right along the River and Railroad Trails, so the noise was terrible. At one point we just had to laugh because we were having to shout to be heard over the traffic noise. Pretty location, but it was difficult to enjoy. We should have rented canoes, but the information in the brochure and on a sign we read gave the incorrect location for the rental. We may go back and try again in the winter.

We checked our the glacial potholes after a long day around Taylors Falls. It was worth the stop. We had a lot of fun climbing the rocks, especially my daughter. She is only four so we had to watch her closely because sometimes the holes can come out of nowhere. The scenery is beautiful. We will definitely be back to check out more the park.

the park is a great place to take the family. they have many nice trails to hike. there are also geocaches in the park for those that like to take part in that activity.

Excellent quiet camp ground, all wooded, fantastic hiking trails, river front. Will definately be back. Only draw back was site 14 had no room. To park truck off grass once disconnected from 35' travel trailer. Canoe and kyack rental walking distance.

I love it here. Go on a week day early and you will be alone or with a few other souls. The river is gorgeous and it is a wonderful place for meditation and mindfulness.

We visit Interstate State Park at least 4-5 times a year. We've been there in every season and greatly enjoy it no matter what time of year. The fall is lovely obviously with the colors changing over the St. Criox Valley, but even when we just went last weekend, we were so taken with the beauty of the place! You can enter and park in the downtown Taylor's Falls area, which is adjacent to the big bridge. From there, you can climb on the rocks in the glacial falls area. There are plenty of places to explore and lots of places for a photo. There are often people learning to rock climb in the park. If you enter about a half a mile up the highway, that is where the campgrounds and canoe rental area is. It is a great place to kayak and canoe in the summer with transportation provided with your rental back up to your car. Usually the river flows gently and if the wind is with you, it is a relatively easy trip down the river. That said, we've had the opposite and the 3-4 hours against the wind got old really quickly. Overall, anytime you go, it is a great time for all.

Visited this place during the 4th of July weekend and hiked the River trail to see the glacier potholes and took the railroad trail back. The River trail is beautiful. Some of the views of St. Croix river are just breathtaking. It is a pretty narrow dirt pathway with rocks. A good pair of shoes is definitely recommended for this trail. The potholes were interesting.
I took away the last star in my rating cos the railroad trail didn't impress me. It runs right next to the freeway for the most part and the noise from the vehicles gets annoying. This trail can be attempted by most people as it is level, but there were quite a lot of stairs towards the end as we were getting back to the picnic area. All in all, it is a great way to spend an afternoon.

I really enjoyed seeing the natural potholes of various sizes, many of which were filled with water. The highlight was a large one which can be hiked down into.

This park covers 2 states. MN offers potholes, boat tours, and rock climbing. WI offers a lake, lots of hiking and bluff views. Both have camping and cane rentals.

The Interstate Park is the St. Croix River and the adjacent land along the Minnesota and Wisconsin borders. It is absolutely beautiful and the closest you will get to pristine wilderness for at least a couple hundred miles. There are canoe rentals on both sides at St. Croix Falls and Taylor's Falls. You can paddle to Oceola (about 3-4 hrs) or to William O'brian State Park (5-7 hrs). The river is clean and although there are a lot of people who enjoy the area, the camp sites are usually well cared for and you can stop for a picnic or to explore. The best part is that you are really less than an hour away from the cities and can have an excellent meal after a full day of paddling.

This is an awesome park. Many of the trails are boardwalks, some are paved, others are rocks and dirt. Not too difficult to see a lot of the potholes and views of the river even with a bum knee. Be sure to go down inside the pothole where you can look up to the sky. Really cool. Sorry, I don't remember the name of it.It was fun to watch the rock climbers on the Wisconsin side and the beginners learning to climb on the Minnesota side, as well as the boats in the river. $5 to park for the day was a great deal. Highly recommend.

My husband and I took a day trip to see Taylors Falls and Interstate State Park. It was beautiful. The views of the river and the cliffs are great. Nice, easy hiking. We had no idea about the geological features, including lava flows and glacial deposits. Very interesting and easy to navigate around the features. We went during the week so there were hardly any other people there which was nice. We'd go back again.

If you love loads of people and small children plus dogs in narrow non private electric campsites, this is the place for you! We were disappointed in our camping experience here. It was louder than our home in urban Minneapolis. The vista and location near the beautiful St Croix River can't be beat, but you'll never be alone with nature. It won't be quiet either. The non electric sites were much bigger and in prettier locations, but then there's the constant highway noise nearby. Constant complete with sirens! We'll never camp here again.

The toilet facilities were flush type, but in average condition compared to other state parks. The trails were pretty, but crowded.

We had a great walk this morning in the park seeing the “Potholes”. We also walked i the underground into town and had a great stop at With August shop to buy some fun and beautiful local artisan gifts. When we returned to our car in the parking lot we chatted with a park employee, Tony. He asked where were going for lunch and our intention was an Indian restaurant close by. He said that was good but he also recommended The Watershed in Osceola. WOW...we had such an amazing lunch there...great food, great patio, overlooking a little falls. Thank you Tony for a nice little chat and steering us in a different direction for lunch. It made our day!

This is a great Minnesota state park to visit; the "potholes" near the river are interesting and fun. For camping, however, it leaves a little to be desired. The sites are close to each other and the entire campsite area is very close to State Highway 95. The traffic sounds and proximity to other campers detract from the out-in-the-woods experience that can be had at other Minnesota state parks. Having said that, the park is well maintained and the facilities were good. Tip: Get a site closest to the river for a beautiful view from your campsite. Tip #2: The hike from the campsite to the potholes is long and rugged; wear good boots and bring a walking stick.

For a very diverse but easy trail to see mountains, the river, falls and glacial potholes take this half hour leisurely hike to see some of Minnesota's beautiful scenery.

The part of the park we were at was extremely busy(there are two entrances to this park). It could have been because it was Labor Day weekend. The parking lot was full at times we were there and people were still looking for parking spots. We went on a day that there was a tour of the glacier pot holes. We have found these interpretive tours wonderful and this was no different. These talks are about an hour long. You can check on line to see what they may have going the day you are going to the park. We also did a picnic lunch on the grass adjacent to the parking lot. After our lunch, we did one of the trails and part of it is right next to the road. The trail was busier than we were use to at other Minnesota State Parks. There were people who were boulder and rock climbing. The trail had some climbing but not too strenuous. They did have an interpretive center but it was small. There is camping but we were not there for that so we did not see that area. If there is not enough camping sites in the park, check Interstate State Park Wisconsin on the other side of the bridge to see if they have any opening. They also have more camp sites on their side.