• Canoeists paddle by tree lined shores

    Saint Croix

    National Scenic Riverway WI,MN

There are park alerts in effect.
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  • High Water

    Sections of the lower St. Croix River are running higher than normal for this time of year. Be prepared and cautious if venturing out on the river, and watch for debris and other obstacles in the water.

  • Wells Closed

    Beginning in 2013, water will no longer be available at McDowell Bridge Landing, Riverside Landing, and the Marshland District Office on Highway 70. Please plan accordingly and bring an adequate supply of water.

Nature & Science

painted turtle with its yellow striped neck stretched out rests on a log admidst green water.
A sunny spot to bask
NPS

Nature is everywhere here on the St. Croix Riverway. Look over there, was that an eagle? Swoosh, what was that, a dragonfly? What is that black form at the river's edge, a bear? Research is conducted in all seasons here and the information collected becomes a tool to help manage the area. Be on the lookout as you explore this diverse habitat that is the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

Discover more about the environmental factors affecting the park and the animals that reside along the Riverway. We also provide an opportunity to hear some of the sounds of the Riverway. Learn more about blue-green algae which can affect the river in late summer.

Some of the research that occurs at the Riverway is done in cooperation with the Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network. Learn more...

While you are out on the river take time to look at the night sky. Does it look different from where you live? Learn more

Did You Know?

A mussel or clam on the sand. It is dark and bumpy.

Winged maple leaf mussels were thought to be extinct until some were rediscovered in the St. Croix River in 1987. Today scientists are helping to raise young mussels and re-introducing them into their former range including St. Croix National Scenic Riverway to help prevent future extinction.