Saint Croix

https://www.nps.gov/sacn/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Croix_National_Scenic_Riverway The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is a federally protected system of riverways located in eastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. It protects 252 miles (406 km) of river, including the St. Croix River (on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border), and the Namekagon River (in Wisconsin), as well as adjacent land along the rivers. The largest scenic riverway east of the Mississippi River, it lies within parts of eight counties in Wisconsin: Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix, Sawyer, and Washburn; and three in Minnesota: Chisago, Pine, and Washington. Grab your paddle and your longing for adventure and head to the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers! Together they form the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, offering over 200 miles of clean water that glides and rushes through a forested landscape. Paddle, boat, fish, and camp among this wild and scenic beauty. Hiking and historic towns also beckon. The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway stretches for over 200 miles in northwest Wisconsin and east-central Minnesota. The Namekagon River flows entirely in Wisconsin while the St. Croix River serves as a border between the two states for much of its length. With many different access points there are numerous opportunities for day trips as well as multi-day paddling adventures. Visitor centers are located on the Namekagon River in Trego, Wisconsin, and on the St. Croix River in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Namekagon River Visitor Center This facility is CLOSED. Hours of operation are Thursdays through Mondays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Memorial Day through Labor Day. When open, visitors can view exhibits, pick up park publications, Junior Ranger booklets, and maps, and watch the park movie. Park rangers staff an information counter and offer trip planning assistance for the Namekagon and upper St. Croix rivers. The visitor center is located near the Namekagon River off Highway 63 in Trego, Wisconsin. From U.S. Highway 53, take the U.S. Highway 63 Trego exit. Drive approximately one-half mile to the visitor center which is on the right. Follow the signs for the Namekagon River Visitor Center. From U.S. Highway 63 coming west, drive approximately 4 miles past Earl, Wisconsin. The Namekagon River Visitor Center is on the left. Follow the signs for the Namekagon River Visitor Center. St. Croix River Visitor Center The St. Croix River Visitor Center is OPEN. Hours of operation are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily including all federal holidays. The St. Croix River Visitor Center is open seasonally, from mid-April through October. When open, visitors can view exhibits, pick up park publications, Junior Ranger booklets, and maps, and view the park film. Park rangers offer trip planning assistance for the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers. The park headquarters offices are also located in this building along the St. Croix River. From U.S. Highway 8, turn north on Wisconsin Highway 87 (Washington Street). Drive through downtown St. Croix Falls to Massachusetts Street. Turn west (left) to the corner of Massachusetts and Hamilton Streets. From Wisconsin Highway 87, drive south past Lion's Park. Turn west (right) on Massachusetts Street to the corner of Massachusetts and Hamilton Streets. Lower St. Croix District 19, primitive, Leave No Trace campsites are located on this reach from below Highway 8 down to the Boom Site Landing near Stillwater, Minnesota. An annual camping permit is required to camp. The District also consists of Minnesota and Wisconsin state park properties with campgrounds. Campsite Fees 0.00 No fees but an annual camping permit is required. Eagles Nest Campsite A picnic table and a fire ring in an open grass space surrounded by trees and shrubs. An annual camping permit is required in this District. Middle St. Croix 57, primitive, Leave No Trace campsites are located on the St. Croix River from Riverside Landing to Highway 8 at St. Croix Falls - Taylors Falls. All sites are free. No permit required. Camp only in designated sites marked with brown camping sign and metal fire ring. Sites are available first-come, first-served. Campsite Fees 0.00 No fees. Campsites are first come, first served. Riverside Campground A picnic table and a fire ring in an open grass space surrounded by trees and shrubs. Campsites include a picnic table, fire ring, and a pit toilet. Namekagon District 67, primitive, Leave No Trace camp sites are located on the Namekagon River from Namekagon Dam to the confluence of the St Croix River and on the St. Croix River from Gordon Dam to Riverside Landing. All sites are free. No permit required. Camp only in designated sites marked with brown camping sign and metal fire ring. Sites are available first-come, first-served. Campsite Fees 0.00 Camping is first come, first serve and free. Campsite N82.3 A picnic table and fire ring sit under the shade of pine trees next to a river. Campsite N82.3 near Pacqawong. Campsite N63 A shallow river winds through a narrow channel of green vegetation. Campsite N63 offers quiet views of the Namekagon River. The St Croix River from Osceola Bluff Autumn A blue river winds through a valley lined with trees in autumn color. One of many beautiful views of the St. Croix River Kayaking on the St. Croix River A woman paddles a kayak past cliffs on a forested river. Paddling is an excellent way to experience the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The St. Croix Dalles Kayakers pass impressive cliffs. The scenic Dalles of the St. Croix River provide dramatic backdrops for paddlers. Fast Water on the St. Croix River. A fast river flows over large rocks in a forested landscape. There are opportunities to paddle stretches of fast and slow water on the Riverway. Fishing the St. Croix River A man holds a large fish while sitting in a boat near a forested shore. The fishing is spectacular on the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers. Evening on the St. Croix River. A man stands next to a river watching a sunset. Watch scenic sunsets from shoreline campsites. Lead Contamination in Bald Eagle Nestlings Bald eagles can tell us a lot about contamination in aquatic systems because they are on top of the food web and fish are their primary prey—a food source they share with humans. From 2006 through 2015, the Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network collected blood and feather samples from bald eagle nestlings to monitor contaminants in three upper Midwest national park units. This resource brief describes the results for just one of those contaminants: lead. Two eaglets in a nest with the remains of a fish. A Legacy of Contamination Production of DDT and PCBs was banned in the United States in the 1970s, but they continue to be found in the blood and feathers of bald eagles. What does our monitoring of eagles in three Great Lakes Network parks tell us about these "legacy contaminants"? A bald eagle nestling stands on sand with sun at his back. People can be seen in the background. Vets On The River Public lands bring opportunities for healing and reflection, physical and mental challenges, and rest and recuperation to millions of veterans, active duty service members, and their families. Veterans from all branches of the military have participated in river trips. The Vets on the River program continues to evolve and include more types of experiences like these. Veterans prepare to launch boats on river. Crystal Clear: Occurrence and Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the St. Croix River The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 includes protection of the “outstandingly remarkable values” of the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers, which are included in the first eight designated wild and scenic rivers. The National Park Service (NPS) supports efforts to ensure these high-quality waters are not degraded by endocrine-disrupting or pharmaceutically active chemicals. motor boat riding down a rippling river Invasive Rusty Crayfish Rusty crayfish are invasive in Minnesota and Wisconsin. They are aggressiveness and resilience to more extreme conditions tend to be the key traits that give the rusty crayfish an advantage in its non-native range. Prevention is the best method of control. At the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway the use of crayfish as live bait is prohibited. Microplastics Are Everywhere! Plastics are used to make everything from children’s toys to car parts and athletic wear to exfoliants. Plastics are lightweight and inexpensive to produce, qualities that can also make plastics a throw-away item. That disposability could present a threat to aquatic life in Midwestern lakes and streams. First page of resource brief Metamorphosis in the Midwest Region: the pollinator pledge takes flight #FindYourWay down a Wild and Scenic Riverway like St. Croix and you’ll find the park’s pollinator corridor, what Chris Stein hopes will be just the beginning of a national movement for pollinators! A employee of Motorcities NHA speaking to children about pollinators Paleontology of St. Croix National Scenic Riverway St. Croix National Scenic Riverway contains some of the most notable Cambrian fossil localities in the National Park System. Geological explorations beginning in the 1840s have revealed a fauna of brachiopods, snails and snail-like mollusks, trilobites, graptolites, burrowing animals, and others. These organisms populated the region between approximately 500 and 490 million years ago, when it was a shallow tropical sea. small piece of brown rock peppered with small round red shells. Migrating Birds Bring Two Parks Together Migratory birds have brought together parks in Costa Rica and the upper Midwest. Spearheaded by Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, the collaborative efforts focus on researching and protecting migratory bird species. A Cerulean Warbler, found in both Costa Rica and the northern Midwest region of the United States. Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix Series: Crystal Clear: A Call to Action In 2016, the nation celebrates the centennial of the National Park Service (NPS) as the steward of special places that represent our natural and cultural heritage. Many national parks were founded on the beauty and value of water. Since the preservation of the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park in 1872, the National Park System has grown to include significant examples within majestic rivers, the Great Lakes, oceans and coasts, and other spectacular water resources. bright blue lake green islands in between Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 10, No. 1, Spring 2018 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology News</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> a piece of rock with small reddish shells embedded in it with black and white rule in foreground Cambrian Period—541 to 485.4 MYA The flat layers of rock exposed in Grand Canyon National Park encompass much of the Paleozoic, beginning in the Cambrian where they record an ancient shoreline. rock with fossil burrow tracks Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, Wisconsin and Minnesota Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Photo of river with boulders Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Things to Do in Minnesota Find things to do and trip ideas in Minnesota. Pink cliffs in the background with yellow and green bushes in the foreground. Series: Things to Do in the Midwest There is something for everyone in the Midwest. See what makes the Great Plains great. Dip your toes in the continent's inland seas. Learn about Native American heritage and history. Paddle miles of scenic rivers and waterways. Explore the homes of former presidents. From the Civil War to Civil Rights, discover the stories that shape our journey as a nation. Steep bluff with pink sky above and yellow leaves below. Songbird Monitoring on the St. Croix Riverway A summary of songbird monitoring data collected at St. Croix NSR from 2014 through 2018. A man holding binoculars stands in a river in front of a canoe. Protecting Historic Structures from Wildfire in the Midwest Wildland Fire Success Story about hazard fuels reduction work to protect historic structures at parks in the Great Lakes Fire Managenmt Zone. Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface Harmful Algal Blooms: Science to Support Solutions from Shore to Shore The 11th U.S. Symposium on Harmful Algae, held October 23-28, in Albany, New York, gathered scientists from a range of disciplines and natural resource managers to discuss Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey scientists presented on HAB science and management in national parks. six panelists stand in front of a projection screen My Park Story: Jayne Ann Valley’s National Trails Day Experience Meet Jayne Ann Valley, a volunteer who joined a National Trails Day event at Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway on June 3, 2023 with the Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) program. Working with their partners, Wild Rivers Conservancy, the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway co-managed the volunteer program called Riverway Volunteers. Things to Do in Wisconsin Find things to do in Wisconsin. A sailboat on calm water near the edge of sandstone sea caves with trees growing on top. The Current: Spring 2023 The Spring 2023 issue of the Great Lakes Newsletter contains articles on the changing ways we produce and look at data, staff changes, the field season schedule, an overview of a project to look at songbird data from all three Midwest networks, and a listing of new publications. A white page with a black border at the top and the words The Current: Fall 2023 The Fall 2023 issue of the Great Lakes newsletter contains articles on planning for the future of the Inventory and Monitoring Division, retirement and departure of staff members, a summary of the Western Great Lakes Research Conference, a field season summary from each of our monitoring programs, and a list of new reports and publications. The front page of a newsletter, with a photo of a dragonfly perched on hiking boot. Bat Monitoring in Great Lakes Network Parks, 2024 A summary of acoustic bat monitoring in Great Lakes Network parks from 2015 through 2019. A bat with large, round ears hangs from a rock. Bat Monitoring Along the St. Croix Riverway, 2016–2018 A summary of bat monitoring data collected at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin/Minnesota) from 2016 through 2018. A bat held by a black-gloved hand looks over its right shoulder at the camera. Submerged Bug Hotels Tell a Story about Clean Water Sampling and identifying aquatic macroinvertebrates on the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers helps us calculate an Index of Biotic Integrity, an indication of overall health in the river system. Three stacks of small, square boards (left) and aquatic insects in a tray (right). The Current: Spring 2024 Spring 2024 issue of the Great Lakes Network newsletter, "The Current," featuring science stories, a farewell, the 2024 field season schedule, and recent publications. Woman wearing a backpack and carrying a GPS unit and a compass wades through water and shrubs. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. How Pollinator Inventories Can Inform Park Management Decisions Pollinators play a crucial role in national park ecosystems and beyond. In the national parks, species inventories help managers know which pollinators are present, and in what abundance, to better understand the state of park ecosystems and make decisions about how to manage them. From 2024 to 2026, 17 parks across the country will be surveyed for bees and butterflies. Bee laden with pollen sits atop a purple flower. Dragonfly mercury studies uncover unexpected atmospheric delivery pathways Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on how dragonfly mercury studies uncover unexpected atmospheric delivery pathways: Janssen, S.E., C.J. Kotalik, J.J. Willacker, M.T. Tate, C. Flanagan Pritz, S.J. Nelson, D.P. Krabbenhoft, D. Walters, and C. Eagles-Smith. 2024. Geographic Drivers of Mercury Entry into Aquatic Foods Webs Revealed by Mercury Stable Isotopes in Dragonfly Larvae. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02436 close up of dragonfly larvae on white spoon Project Profile: Swept Away - Riparian Ecosystems in the Midwest Under Climate Change The National Park Service will develop climate change vulnerability assessments for Buffalo National River, Ozark National Scenic Riverway, Niobrara National Scenic River, and Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway. The climate change vulnerability assessments include historical and future water flow analysis, evaluation of local species sensitivity, and flood risk vulnerability mapping. An upriver view of a clear river, with pine trees dotting the shoreline. Project Profile: Planting, Thinning, & Reintroduction to Promote Health and Climate Resilience in Midwestern Forests The National Park Service (NPS) will strengthen forest resilience in Midwestern parks. Path running through an autumn forest Change Along the St. Croix Riverway: 1990–2020 A summary of landscape change along the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway based on satellite imagery collected from 1990 through 2020. A distant highway bridge passes between two unbroken forests, high over a wide river. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds multi-park prescribed fire and fuels management work in National Park Service’s Great Lakes Fire Management Zone In 2024, fire management staff from the National Park Service’s Great Lakes Fire Management Zone, based at Indiana Dunes National Park, completed prescribed fires and fuels management projects across six different parks in four states using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. Projects consisted of prescribed fires, mechanical fuels reduction, pile burning, ecological surveys, and natural resource monitoring. Flames consume a pile of dead limbs and logs near a brick structure. The Current: Fall 2024 The Fall 2024 issue of the Great Lakes Network newsletter, "The Current." Featuring: NPS science and indigenous knowledge, 2024 field season summary, new staff positions, and the latest publications and data packages. A person in a green coat and hat and wearing an orange life jacket walks through knee-high water. “Cracking the code” on mercury bioaccumulation Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on a model to predict mercury risk park waterbodies: Kotalik, C.J. et al. 2025. Ecosystem drivers of freshwater mercury bioaccumulation are context-dependent: insights from continental-scale modeling. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07280 A person stands in a field looking at a bug through a magnifying lens. NPS study provides crucial information on White-Nose Syndrome effect on bats. National Park Service, North Dakota State University, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scientists, recently published a study on the status of four bat species in nine Great Lakes region parks to understand the effects of White-Nose Syndrome. A small brown bat with a white fungus on its nose close up.

Free flowing and unpolluted, the Namekagon and St. Croix Rivers flow through some of the most scenic and least developed country in the Upper Midwest. Today 405 kilometers (252 miles) of these rivers are preserved as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, which includes the Namekagon, was established in 1968 as one of the original eight rivers under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway was added to the system in 1972. Together they form a Riverway that offers outdoor enthusiasts a chance to enjoy a wilderness-like experience and a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities within Lower St. Croix Upper St. Croix and Namekagon The upper St. Croix and Namekagon part of the Riverway offers varied canoe environments on 322 kilometers (200 miles) of rivers . Th e Namakagon River begins at Namekagon Lake dam. It lies entirely in Wisconsin, flowing 158 kilometers (98 miles) south and west to join the St. Croix River near Danbury. The Namekagon begins as a narro w trout stream closed in by forest and meanders through a wide valley for much of its length. The river occasionally widens into marshy or swamplike areas popular for wate rfowl watching . The lower Namekagon passes through an area of high sandy banks with many sharp bends. This stretch offers canoeists a wilderness-like experience because there is no development visible from the rive r. At four areas, dams form lake-like stretches called flowages. You can end canoe trips above these flowages , to avoid the slack water, or start below the dams, to avoid having to portage. Dakota and Ch ippewa Ind ians lived in thi s river and valley country for centuries befo re Eu ropeans came. The country was rich in gam e, fish, wild rice, and other plant foods. It was also rich in beaver. and the Chippewa all ied themselves with th e fi rst French Quiet pools. rapids. swamps, lakes ... the Riverway has many moods. Th e wi ld creatu res you may discover change as the Riverway's habitats change. Th e mix of mostly recent-g rowth forests along th e bankspines. brush, and hard woods-attracts dee r. The St.Croix Riverwaystart s at a dam nearGordon , Wisconsin . It flows south e rly fo r 164 kilometers (102 miles) to the dam al St. Croix Falls, W isconsin. It lies in Wisconsin tor its first 40 kilometer s (25 m iles) and then becomes t he border river between M innesota and W isconsin until it fl ows into the Mississippi River. The St. Croi x beg ins as a small spring. It is narrow and shallow until joined by its major tributary, the Namakagon , 32 kilometers (20 miles) downstream . It then becomes wider, deeper, and lower. For most of its length it flows through a wi de valle y with low banks, formed by the glac ial activi ty that shaped both rivers' watersheds. he St. Croix pass es two Minnesota State Parks that provide developed camping areas. (The Namekag on and upper St. Croix offer primitive sites.) The upper Riverway·s last 16 kilometers (10 miles) are the lnd ianhead Flowage created by the 18-meter- (60-foot) high St. Croix Falls hydroelectric dam . Most canoeists trappers and traders. Wi th French-supplied guns, the Chippewa eventually drove the Dakota Sioux onto the pl ains of southern Minnesota. Marshes are favorite waterfowl haunts. There you may see wood ducks, mallards, or th e great blue heron. Songbi rds Chippewa are shown leit and above with traditional canoe and wigwa m. All h isto ric pictures shown here come from the Minnesota Historical Society. Wi th so me luck you_ may see an osprey w inging and small mamm als overhead. It is pro bably patrolli ng th e river for fish, which it ca ptures in its stro ng ta lons. The abou nd thro ughout the ospr ey is so large you Riverway . easy reach of a major metropolitan area . On the upper St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers rapids challenge the canoeist , although none of the Riverway's waters are classified as whitewater. At the lower end, where the river widens out as Lake St. Croix, power and sail boating are popular. Campers, picnickers, swimmers, and birdwatchers enjoy its variety of scenes throughout. Anglers are attracted by the variety of fish lurking in the rivers , fr om trout and bass to muskellunge and sturgeon. The Riverway is managed through the cooperat ive efforts of the National Park Service, The Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Reso urces . and The Northern States Power Company. mig ht mistake it for the bald eagl e-un less you see the birds together. The eagle is much larger. take out upstream of th e tlowage to avoid the slac k water. Small pow erboa t activities such as water skiing and d ee per-water fish ing take pl ace on th is flowage. Many low and medium hazard rapids and a few high hazard ra pids ex ist on the St. Cro ix and Namakagon Rivers, but they are not consid ered whitewater ri vers. Recreat io n here includes f ish ing , hu nting, inner t ub ing , picni