St . Croix Valley COMMUNITY GUIDE 2024
St . Croix Valley COMMUNITY GUIDE 2024
Public parks-a-plenty to enjoy
There are plenty of parks and scenic trails giving residents and visitors to the St . Croix Valley 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 , with an archery range , boat 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 , the park features lighted ski trails – a rare amenity for skiers .
The beautiful Historic Courthouse in Stillwater is a county park that preserves history and
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
serves as host to concerts and other events throughout the year . The courthouse recently underwent $ 5 million of renovations to replace the roof , repair brickwork , and restore the cupola , among other things .
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 with some of the clearest water in the state of Minnesota . Due to its outstanding water quality , the Metropolitan Council has designated this park as a “ special recreation feature .”
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 1,600-acre Afton State Park and the 1,880-acre William O ’ Brien State Park . Both offer camping , hiking , a visitor center and more .
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