COMMUNITY GUIDE 2023
ST . CROIX VALLEY
STILLWATER | BAYPORT | OAK PARK HEIGHTS | LAKE ELMO
Public parks providing recreation
There is no shortage of parks and scenic trails ; residents and visitors to the St . Croix Valley have thousands of acres of open space to get outside and enjoy nature .
Big Marine Park Reserve was chosen for its natural resources . When finished , the park will be 1,800 acres , featuring a playground , swimming beach , fishing pier , motorized boat launch and much more .
Both Big Marine and Lake Elmo park reserves have 80 percent of their area set aside for preservation and protection .
Lake Elmo Park Reserve is 2,165 acres . The park ’ s amenities include an archery range , boat and canoe access , campgrounds , a fishing pier , a swimming beach and a Nordic center . It has trails for hiking , mountain biking , horseback riding and cross-country skiing . In the winter months , the Lake Elmo Park Reserve features lighted ski trails – a rare amenity for skiers .
Afton State Park 6959 Peller Ave . S ., Hastings
Big Marine Park Reserve
17495 Manning Trail N . Marine on St . Croix
Historic Courthouse 101 W . Pine St ., Stillwater
Lake Elmo Park Reserve 1515 Keats Ave . N ., Lake Elmo
Pine Point Regional Park 11900 Norell Ave . N ., Stillwater
Square Lake Park 15450 Square Lake Trail N ., Stillwater
St . Croix Bluffs Regional Park 10191 St . Croix Trail S . Hastings
William O ’ Brien State Park 16821 O ’ Brien Trail N . Marine on St . Croix
The beautiful Historic Courthouse in Stillwater is a county park that preserves history and serves as host to concerts and other events throughout the year . Pine Point Regional Park in Stillwater is a peaceful nature area with pine forests , lakes and marshes . It contains five miles of multi-use trails ..
Square Lake Park , north of Stillwater , has a swimming beach along some of the clearest water in the state of Minnesota .
The St . Croix Bluffs Regional Park is a 579-acre park on the St . Croix River . The rolling upland prairies , wooded ravines and bluffs are a hallmark of this park , which has 3,800 feet of shoreline .
State parks in the area include the 1,620-acre Afton State Park and the 2,200-acre William O ’ Brien State Park . Both offer camping , hiking , a visitor center and more .
ST . CROIX VALLEY COMMUNITY GUIDE | 2023 | 17