1. St. Croix State Park

    1. St. Croix State Park

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    Hinckley, MN

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    St. Croix State Park

    4.5 (8 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    Main entrance off Hwy 48.
    John S.

    This is a large park that sprawls in different directions with many different side roads and amenities. The overall map is a jumble of lines and trails and the road signs are not always complete. The word is I'll have to return and be organized myself and pick out a few of the unique sites I want to explore. There are many paved trails from the few I saw and those unpaved appeared easy. There are trails made for bikes, horses and hikers.

    Kettle River Overlook
    Margie A.

    I splurged and got a MN park pass this year so wanted to explore a new state park last weeked! St Croix is only an hour and a half from Minneapolis so felt out of the cities but not too far. Campsites: They are so-so. The sites are pretty close to each other and some don't even have coverage from your neighbors. Pros include plenty of drinking water stations & flushable toilets. Cons include less privacy and noise. They allow dogs in this state park so unfortunately the night was punctuated by barking. It feels more like you're group camping even though you didn't book a group site. Trails: There are 2 things worth doing. Go to the top of the firetower. It's the one unique thing about this park. It's exciting aka terrifying going up and was pretty windy at the top. Note that you won't be rewarded with an amazing view though after climbing like 14 flights of stairs. Instead it's just a bunch of tree tops & burning calf muscles. It might of been better if we timed it at sunset. The second thing worth seeing is Kettle River Outlook. It has a good view of the river. The walk along the river is nice but short and pretty high traffic on the weekend. Overall, it is convenient being fairly close to the cities and has nice restroom facilities but I probably will check out a different park next time that feels more like I'm in nature. If you have a dog that likes joining your camping adventures though, I'm sure you'd appreciate that option here.

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    Banning State Park - Some rocky trails.

    Banning State Park

    4.6(17 reviews)
    55.5 mi

    Banning State Park was one of our favorite outdoor stops during our Hinckley getaway. The park is…read moreknown for its scenic hiking trails, sandstone cliffs, and the views of the Kettle River, making it a great place to spend a few hours exploring. Our goal was to find the waterfall, but like many first-time visitors, we ended up taking a wrong turn and wandered a little longer than expected. Honestly, it turned into part of the adventure. As we explored, we spotted deer quietly moving, squirrels darting between the trees, and plenty of birds and caterpillars along the way. We discovered quiet trails, beautiful overlooks, and peaceful stretches of the river that we might have missed if we'd gone straight to our destination. The sound of the water, the surrounding rock formations, and the forest scenery made it one of those places where you naturally want to stop and take it all in. If you're visiting Banning State Park for the first time, don't stress if you get a little turned around. Give yourself extra time, wear comfortable shoes, and enjoy the journey.

    This is a beautiful state park that offers so many opportunities to commune with nature. Lush…read moretrails, flowers native to shorelines and wet soils, and a waterfall are among some of the many joys here. It is located off I-35 near Sandstone, and 90 miles away from the Twin Cities (about an hour and a half away). It is worth making a day trip to visit. The park stretches along 10 miles of the Kettle River, and has 1.5 miles of churning class IV rapids for those daring kayakers.

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    Banning State Park - River walk

    River walk

    Banning State Park
    Banning State Park - River walk

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    River walk

    St. Croix State Park - parks - Updated September 2026

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