The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is a 252-mile recreational corridor offering a “wild and scenic” experience along the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota.

We stopped here after spending 12 days with our friends exploring upper Minnesota and Wisconsin. We did not have time to rent a kayak for a paddle… which would have been the very best way to explore this park.

This visit was less about getting out on the water and more about getting acquainted with the river, its history, and the landscape surrounding it.

We began at the visitor center, where we learned that the Saint Croix and Namekagon Rivers together form one of the country’s first designated national wild and scenic riverways. The exhibits demonstrated how the rivers have shaped the region—serving as transportation routes, supporting the logging industry, and providing habitat for wildlife.

We spent time browsing the visitor center and exploring the nearby riverfront. The Saint Croix flowed past quietly, bordered by trees and steep wooded banks. It was easy to imagine how different the experience would be in a canoe or kayak, moving slowly along the water and passing through long stretches of undeveloped scenery… but we saved that for another trip.

Our visit was brief and simple, but it gave us a greater appreciation for the riverway and the role it has played in preserving this beautiful part of Minnesota and Wisconsin. We were simply stopping, learning, and taking time to look more closely at the landscape around us. Retirement is a special time in life that allows us to enjoy that luxury!!!