Saint Croix

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 c king , and canoeing, w ith sma ll power boa t ing on the fl owages. Most camping is at canoe-access p rim itive sites. Recreational ve hicle campi ng areas ca n be found w ithi n the stat e parks or private ca mpgroun ds loca ted near the R iverway. Th e Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway covers a narrow river and shoreline corridor for 84 k ilometers (52 miles) from S t. Croix Falls dam to Pr escott , W isconsi n, where the river join s the Missi ssippi. The lower St. Croix is wider, deeper, and slo wer than the upper, its flow controlled by the hydroelectric dam at its upstream end . Downstream of the dam are t he high cliffs of the Dalles, which formed as m eltwat ers from retreating g laciers c ut a deep, vert ical-walled gorge th roug h bedroc k. For about 3.2 kilo meters (2 mil es) here th e St. Croix, in places 21 -30 meters (70-100 feet) deep , flows its fastest. Th e Dalles mostly lie within two Interstate State Par ks. Both offer short hiki ng I ra ils to geolog ic feat ures , and developed cam pgro unds , swim mi ng beach es, picnic areas, and bo at launch ram ps. O n the Minnesota side yo u ca n rent a canoe o r lake a boat tour to see the sc eni c Da lles from the best vantage point. right on the water. As it leaves the Dalles, the river becomes wider and shallower and passes between high banks for the next 32 kilometers (20 miles). Although develo pment is visible from the water for 24 kilomete rs (15 miles) on this stretch, it is popular wit h canoe ists. The shallower water, lack of rapids, and absence of large powerboat waves make it suit;ible tor beginning canoei sts. The St Croix Mills. owned by Isaac Stapl 'S, is shown here about 880. The Staples residence sits on the hill Stea mers plied th e river for many co mm ercial purposes. Here the steamer Cleon puts in at Taylor Falls beside a barge full of rock for bui lding piers for the "Cedar Bend" rail road bridge. The Cleon was built in 187g by Captain Oscar Kn app. flush an upland game bird. such as the ruffed grouse. sharp-t ailed grouse or he woodcock. The upper part of the mits are availa bl e f or the stat e parks. cautioned that there are special " Slow Speed'" and " Slow-No Wake" zones on the lower 84 kilometers (52 miles) of the St. Croix River. There are also zones where water-skiing is prohibited after noon on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend . More details on these regulations are available at marinas, state parks, or from water patrol people. These regulations are posted on bulletin boards at access points along the lower Riverway. A ter beaver supplies declined and European markets went soft. the next big industry on the St. Croix was logging . Rivers he re were once cho ked wi th logs. Spillways that ca noeists now portage around once regulated the water for log drives. Da ms we re constructed to build a head of water to floa t the logs over falls and thro ugh narrows to downriver mi lls. A logjam in the narrow Dalles area m 1883 lasted 5 7 days. Loggers broke it up with dyna mite. Log drivers are shown above on the Bronson and Folsom Co log landing at Stillwater in 1904. Seemingly endless forests created a boom eco nomy for a time bu t the last log drive went down the St. Cro ix 1n 1g14_ For many people the Rive rway is synonymous with canoe camping and fis hing. Indeed it is a ca noeists, a variety of trips is possible, fro m leisurely afternoon excursions to week-long quiet, natural haven pro- exped it io ns . Bass. muskellunge. walleye pike. and sturgeon ca n all be caught in the S . Croix . The Namekagon 1s noted for its brown trout Fishing is po pular along th e Riverway m part because of the many d1fferen species lur mg in he waters There 1s viding a relaxin g ch ange of pace But the R1verway offers a variety of water and ou tdoor rec- reation opportunities along its length For compet1 ion. o course from other anglers and from vario us fishing birds and from the otter. Whi le quietly fishing. you may also see other small aquatic mammals. the mink. beaver. and muskrat More elusive are he red and gray oxes blac< bear and coyo e You may be s a ed ' you A bout 35 kilometers (22 miles) below the dam the A pp le R iver flows into the St. Croix , creating a large sa ndbar. Near here the river becomes deeper and .lower-moving. Large powerboating becomes th major use. Forty-th ree kilometers (2 7 miles) down stream the valley w idens still mor e and, tor the last 40 ki lomete rs (2 5 miles) of R iverway, the rive r is known as Lake St. Croi x. Here you enter the state-adm inistered area. From near St ill water, M innesota, the Riverway's largest city. sou th to Afton , Minnesota , shoreline development is more visible and the area is classified recreationa l. Near Hudson, Wisconsin, south of Stillwater, the river reaches its maximum width , 2,255 meters (7 ,400 feet) and sail boating predominates. Further south the river passes two developing state parks, one on either side . Recreation on the Lower St. Croix includes canoeing, fishing , powerboat ing , water skiing , and sailboating . Tour boat rides are offered at Interstate State Park near Taylor Falls, Minnesota, and al Stillwater. The three developed state parks offer developed campgrounds, h iking tra ils, picnic area s, and swimming beaches . Find limited prim itive campsites at shoreline points and on island s. Specia l water-use regulations apply on the lower Riverway. Riverway is canoe water , but the lower part is pleasure boat waler. You may see powerboats large and small , sailboats. and eve n houseboats. Some of the powerboats will be towing water skiiers. Houseboats reflect the easy-living pace of the river. Th is pace is wonderfully slow where the rive r widens out as Lake St. Croix. Facilities, Safety Tips, and Regu lations Boaters and Canoers: All craft must be equipped with a Coast Guard-approved lifesaving device for each person aboard . These shou ld always be worn by nonswimmers and by everyone during high-water conditions or when running rapids . Do not overload your craft. If you capsize in fast water, stay upstream from your canoe and don 't get caugh t between a swamped canoe and a rock or log ! Boaters should watch their wake when near canoes; remember your prop when near swimmers. Swimmers: Don't swim alone, al night, or in unfamiliar places. Don't dive from bridges, high banks, or into water of unknown depth . Small children should be watched closely near the water. There are no lifeguards or supervised beaches along th e Riverway. Inner Tube Floaters: Wear a lifesa ving device, travel only wit h others, and alway s navigate rapids feet first. Hikers : There are several h igh-cliff areas on the Riverway. You should use extreme caution and watch your footing when nea r the edges of these cliffs. Parents should watch their children closely while in the areas of high cliffs. Fishin g: A fishing license is required for fishing on the Riverway. On th e Namekagon and the first 40 kilometers (25 m iles) of the St. Croix , a Wisconsin license is req u ired. Where the St. Croix River is the boundary between the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, a license from either state is valid. State f ishing regulations are in effect on the Riverway. State conservation offi- cers and park rangers have authority to enforce the regu lations . Fir es and Fire wood: Firewood is scarce near campsite s and the cutting of tre es or brush is proh ibited . Fire s sh ould be built only in fire ri ngs prov ided at campsites, or kept as small as possible. Fires should never be left unattended and should be completely extingui shed before you leave the area. Camp ing and Campsites: There are numerous primitive campsites on the Riverway. You should camp at these r ather than creat e new ones . Remember to ca rry out whatever you carry in and do not bury trash . Camping in the federally administered area is limited to three days at any one site and a maximum of 14 days per season . Accommodations and S upplies: Accomm odations and supplies are ava ilabl e in nearby com munities . Commercial ca noe outfitters are loca ted along the Riverway. Facilities: The R iverway visitor center and head quarters are loc ated in St. Cro ix Falls, Wiscon sin . Riverway information stations are o pen in season, on t he uppe r St. Croix near Gran tsburg , Wisconsi n, and on th e Namekagon River in Trego, Wiscons in. There are severa l picnic areas on the Riverway. The two largest are in Earl Park on the N amekagon near Trego, and at Camp Croix near Osceola, Wi sconsin, in the Lower St. Croi x. Fees: There are no fees for use of federallyowned land or facilities. The state parks ch arge entrance and camp fe es. Dai ly an d an nual per- Private Property: Although the National Scenic Rivers have been authorized by Congress and mu c h of the land is in federa l or state ownership, there is and always will be property remaining in pri vate own e rship. Please respect the rights o f these landowners and do not disturb them or their prope rty in any way . Cultural and Natural Features: It is illegal to distu rb any nafurat featu res, such as rock formations, or cul tural and archeological features, such as India n burial mounds or remnants of historic structures. f he gathering of any fruits, nuts, or plants fo r c mmercial purposes is prohibited . Administration: Three hundred sixty-five kilometers (227 miles) of the St. Croix and Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverways are administered by the National Park Service. For information, write: Superintendent, P. 0 . Box 708, St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin 54024. Sp ecial Water Use Regulations: Boaters are o'r CPQ 1964- 421 -576 463 Repnnt 1984 St. Croix National Scenic Rive rway and Lower St. Cro ix National Scenic Riverway. 0 Boat and ca noe launch (t Public te lephone A. P ri rni. t ve c.ar1ps :e a Canoe launch m Wat 1 ar.d res:r()()l'Tls a,a .a e at d eloped campgrounds pi cnic areas information s ation s. and stale and k>cal parks r-..-0 water o r restrooms at p nm1 ,ve campsites. Pic nic area m Rapids o 1Kilometer m 13 Developed campground Ranger station 20 10 1Mile F .-er d s:anc.es are sho'olt'l1 e-.- ery 5 rr es measured om t e con' f'lCe o e St. Croix and ,..~ SS.SS p Rivers 1 nllle equals 1 61 k. Jometers 20 10 NATIO NAL FOREST To Duluth and Superio r County '"T:' Oa rylan}.. ) Schoen Pane / wa:~ CD Cozy Corner SA·. TO•.E , -<'I' c.- ~"" '?>\)~......, ATl()'-A" t. DL •E RE•UGE Long La/ii.• Rod c:.d•, lo .. WISCONSIN MINNESOTA W ILLOW RIVER STAlE PARK To St. Cloud 94 Th e Riverway is made up of the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers and the ripari an setting through which they flow. Overall administration lies with th e National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior. The Lower St. Croix below Stillwater, Minnesota, is adm inistered by the Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources, as are five state parks, three state forests, and two wildlife refuges within the Federal zone. Douglas, Burnett, and Washburn Counties administer fo rest lands along the upper St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers. Near Namekagon Lake. the river flows through the Chequamegon Natio nal Forest, and near the mouth of the Ye llow River, the St. Croix fl ows by a portion of the reservation owned by th e St. Cr oix Band of the Chippewas.