Consider family hike at Interstate state parks

Dalles of the St. Croix, from Wisconsin Interstate State Park

At Wisconsin or Minnesota’s Interstate State Park, you can experience the results of the three most significant geological events to affect these pair of states: billion-year-old lava flows, the sands of a 500-million-year-old tropical sea, and a massive glacial flood from 10,000 years ago.

The twin parks mark a unique arrangement – it runs in two states along both sides of the ancient gorge known as the Dalles of the St. Croix. The two sides are run independently of one another by each state’s Department of Natural Resources. In addition, they border two entities operated by the National Park Service – the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, the latter of which actually enters the Wisconsin park.

That so many parks and trails populate this area is no surprise. Few locales in the Upper Midwest match the Dalles of the St. Croix’s scenic beauty: a pristine blue river running through a gorge sided by black lava; fascinating multi-story sandstone formations; an utterly clear lake; extinct ancient riverbeds covered in ferns and wildflowers; glacial potholes that run dozens of feet deep.

The two state parks rank among the most visited in either state. The parks’ nearly 330,000 annual visitors exceeds that of several national parks.

Not surprisingly, the Wisconsin side is that state’s oldest park and Minnesota’s second oldest. During the 1890s, Harry D. Baker of St. Croix Falls, Wis., and George H. Hazard of Taylors Falls, Minn., spearheaded groups to preserve the area as parks. Minnesota established its park in 1895, and Wisconsin followed in 1900.

The parks really are 1.1 billion years in the making, though. The gorge wouldn’t exist if not for a major geological event dating that far back, when massive lava flows covered this region of the world. The hardened lava, or basalt, forms the bedrock that the St. Croix River and the surrounding valley and bluffs sit upon.

The rocks above it – and those that make up the park’s Old Man of the Dalles – were laid some 515 million years ago when this region sat under a warm shallow sea near the equator. As sediments piled up and were covered, they hardened over the eons into rock; the landscape finally rose above the sea about 345 million years ago.

Then about 10,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age, a glacial torrent swept through the area when ancient Lake Duluth drained south. This flood broke off the basalt in chunks, created the intriguing cliff formations, and gouged out the deep gorge that is now the river valley.

During the flood, giant eddies from the flow drilled holes into the landscape; these are the potholes near the river shore. The largest glacial potholes in the world sit in the Minnesota park.

Today, Interstate State parks find themselves at the center of a major outdoors recreational area. Thanks to the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and several other nearby state parks and natural areas on both sides of the river, a number of impressive trails run through and near St. Croix Falls and Taylors Falls.

Dry and warm spring days, summer, and autumn for fall color season mark the best times to day hike the parks. They do remain open in winter, however, and when snow covered the river bluffs and rock formations offer a beauty reminiscent of the Rocky Mountains.

How to Reach the Parks
From Minneapolis-St. Paul, take I-35 north to U.S. Hwy. 8 in Forest Lake, Minn. Go east. Upon reaching Taylors Falls, the highway heads straight through the Minnesota park, with multiple access roads. Crossing the bridge into Wisconsin, take State Hwy. 35 south for a half-mile and turn right onto Park Road, which enters the Wisconsin park.

From Wisconsin, take State Hwy. 35 to St. Croix Falls, taking Park Road to the trails. To reach the Minnesota park, take Hwy. 35 to Hwy. 8; go west on the latter road, crossing the bridge into Minnesota and into the park. Hwy. 35 intersects I-94 in Hudson, Wis., for those traveling from southern Wisconsin or Illinois.

Hours and Admission
Wisconsin Interstate Park is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. A vehicle admissions sticker is required. Because Wisconsin Interstate State Park is part of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve, any of the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series also will get you in.

Minnesota Interstate State Park is open year-round from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. A state park pass is required.

Parking
Several lots are available at both parks. In the trail descriptions that follow, the best parking lot for each trailhead is provided.

Facilities
Both parks offer several activities that perfectly complement a day hike. Among them are camping, swimming, picnicking, rock climbing, and fishing.

In addition, each park boasts a visitor center. At the Wisconsin park, the Ice Age Interpretive Center through displays and murals focuses on the Dalles’ geological history with a 20-minute movie available upon request; the center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Minnesota park’s visitor center focuses on the area’s history and resources; hours vary by season. Both centers include gift shops.

Dogs
Dogs are allowed at both parks but must be personally attended to at all time and kept on a leash (six feet maximum in Minnesota and eight feet maximum in Wisconsin). Dog waste always must be picked up. In the Wisconsin park, a dog walk area is southwest of the River Picnic Shelters where Dalles Creek flows into the St. Croix River.

Trails
Minnesota
g River Trail
g Shadow Rock Lookout Trail
Wisconsin
g Ladder Tank Trail
g Pothole Trail
g Rock Creek Trail
g Summit Rock Trail

Read more about day hiking Interstate State Park in my Hittin' the Trail guidebook.

Trails wind thru Ice Age geological features

Lily Pond Pothole,
Minnesota Interstate State Park

The northern section of Minnesota Interstate State Park – also known as the Pothole Area – offers day hikers a number of trails to explore the area’s geology and to enjoy its scenic beauty.

To reach the northern section, take U.S. Hwy. 8 into downtown Taylors Falls. At the Bench Street intersection, turn southeast toward the river into the park. The road enters the parking lot.

Four major trails head from the parking lot into the park.

At the lot’s north end, the 1.5-mile Railroad Trail passes a historic building and bathrooms, goes under Hwy. 8 into downtown Taylors Falls, then curves to the southwest. It passes a historic train depot, and paralleling the highway ends at the Sandstone Trail for a 3-mile round trip.

The trail can be extended by taking the 1-mile Sandstone Bluff Trail. The loop is spectacular in autumn with a mix of colors from the orange maples, red sumac and brilliant yellow oaks. The Sandstone Bluffs and Railroad trails combined make for a four-mile round trip.

A second trail from the Pothole Area parking lot is the 1.25-mile River Trail. At the park’s southern end, pass the drinking fountain and the interpretive kiosk, heading to the right/southwest. In short order, the trail hugs the St. Croix River shoreline, with three overlooks. Where Folsom Island sits in the river, it swerves away from the shoreline around a campground; be careful not to take the connector trail (which is the left trail at the Y junction) to the campsites. You’ll walk 2.5 miles round trip.

A third trail is a set of paths collectively known as the Shadow and Angle Rocks Lookout Trails. This pair of interconnecting short trails also begin at the parking lot’s southern end; at the drinking fountain go left toward the river.

The path to Shadow Rock Lookout follows the route to the Lower Boat Tour Landing. A side trail leads to a glacial pothole called the Cauldron. The potholes were formed about 10,000 years ago when swirling glacial meltwater sweeping down the river drilled holes into the ancient basalt bedrock.

Back on the main trail, you’ll pass through The Squeeze, an exceedingly tight, L-shaped break between two ultra large chunks of basalt (Warning: Young children may be frightened in the dark, narrows quarters.). From there, climb to the Shadow Rock Lookout, which offers a great vista of the St. Croix River and gorge rock formations on the Wisconsin side.

Taking the path that veers away from the Lower Boat Tour Landing leads to the Angle Rock Lookout. You’ll first pass a few potholes on your right. At the Lily Pond Pothole, turn right where you’ll pass more of the geological oddities, including the famous Bottomless Pit and Bake Oven. The trail then briefly joins the Shadow Rock path; go left then at the next junction take a right. When the trail reaches the intersection after that, head right and clamber to the top of Angle Rock.

Technically, these paths are part of the Lost Pothole Trail. For a shorter version of that trail, pick up its trailhead on the parking lot’s west side. At the first junction, go right so that you take the trail counterclockwise. You’ll pass a few baby potholes.

Upon reaching the River Trail junction, go left to the interpretive kiosk then to the drinking fountain. At the parking lot, veer right to the visitor center. To extend the trail, follow the loop around the visitor center, and for even more walking, add the loop stacked to the north of it.

To make a full day of it, at the drinking fountain instead go right and incorporate the previously described Shadow and Angle rocks lookouts trails into your walk.

Map

Read more about day hiking Interstate State Park in my Hittin' the Trail guidebook.

Great day hiking trails perfect for exploring Dalles of the St. Croix in east Minnesota

Minnesota Interstate State Park trail map

The southernmost section of Minnesota Interstate State Park offers a number of great day hiking trails to explore the Dalles of the St. Croix.

To reach the area, from U.S. Hwy. 8 turn east onto Milltown Road. A parking lot is at the end of the entry road. Along the parking lot’s northwest side are three trailheads.

The Sandstone Bluff Trail heads northwest under Hwy. 8 to a nice vista of the valley and river gorge below A 1-mile lollipop trail, it’s spectacular in autumn with a mix of colors from the orange maples, red sumac and brilliant yellow oaks.

The trail can be extended by taking the 1.5-mile Railroad Trail, which parallels Hwy. 8 into downtown Taylors Falls, where it passes a historic train depot, and ends at the park’s northernmost section, also known as the Pothole Area. Combining the Sandstone and Railroad trails would be a four-mile hike from the Milltown Road parking lots.

A second trailhead from those parking lots is the River Trail. It runs 1.25 miles along the St. Croix River. The route first passes a campground (a connector trail links the campsites to the trail) and then hugs the shoreline where Folsom Island sits in the river. Three overlooks are on the trail, which ends at the park’s northern side.

A third trailhead is the Picnic Area Loop. Handicapped accessible, it makes a square that takes users past the boat ramp and briefly alongside the river.

Read more about day hiking Interstate State Park in my guidebook Hittin' the Trail.

Fun, eclectic trails await in Taylors Falls MN

Lily Pond Pothole, Minnesota Interstate State Park

The village of Taylors Falls, Minn., which boasts its state’s oldest public school, also offers some day hiking trails with as much range in personality as one might find among kids in a classroom. Trails in near the village are:
g Bryant Woods Park Reserve Trail – A lollipop trial runs about 0.8 miles through a mixed hardwoods forest at the local school district’s property off of Furuby Road northwest of town. Features include basalt rock outcroppings and wildlife sightings.
g Fraconia Sculpture Park walkways – While not a wilderness hike, the art center south of town on U.S. Hwy. 8 still offers plenty of sites to see, in this case, sculptures. Seventy-two to be exact. Walkways in three stacked rectangles wind through the modern art sculptures that will delight young children and inspire older ones.
g Lions Trail – A few short trails run through and connect North and South Lions Parks north of town on County Road 16 (aka Chisago Street). Alternately, walk the park’s 1.25 miles of shoreline along the St. Croix River.
g River Trail – Located in the Milltown Road section of Minnesota Interstate State Park, the trail runs 1.25 miles (2.5 miles round trip) along the St. Croix River. The route first passes a campground and then hugs the shoreline where Folsom Island sits in the river. Three overlooks are on the trail, which ends at the park’s northern side.
g Shadow Rock Lookout Trail – On the northside of Minnesota Interstate State Park, a set of short, interconnecting trails leads past deep potholes formed by swirling glacial floodwaters and The Squeeze, an exceedingly tight, L-shaped break between two ultra-large chunks of basalt. From there, climb to the Shadow Rock Lookout, which offers a great vista of the St. Croix River and gorge rock formations on the Wisconsin side.

Read more about day hiking Interstate State Park in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Wisconsin and Minnesota Interstate State Parks guidebook.