WPG
A canoeing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting guide to Wisconsin's most popular paddle rivers.

St Croix River

The St Croix River is one of the most popular paddling rivers in the Midwest. Due not only to the river's scenic beauty, but also to it's close proximity to the Twin Cities. The river begins at the southwestern end of Upper St Croix Lake in Douglas County and flows for 164 miles before discharging into the Mississippi River. The entire upper region of the St Croix is protected by the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. This act formed the St Croix National Scenic Riverway, which greatly limited any development along the river. The final 125 miles of the river serves as the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Visitors will find a wild beautiful river with lush, forested banks that include stands of white pine and mixed second growth forest of birch, maple, oak, aspen and basswood. Few signs of civilization encroach upon the scenic beauty of the St Croix and paddlers will find plenty of solitude. You can enjoy a quiet afternoon trip or a multi-day excursion due to the large number of riverside campsites.

A wide variety of wildlife inhabits the forests and marsh surrounding the river. Eagle and osprey are sometimes spotted perched atop tall pines scanning the river for their next meal. Other birdlife includes warblers (in spring), waterthrush, finches, woodland duck, and swans (near Gordon Park). Common mammals include beaver, otter, black bear, and whitetail deer and, when camping at one of the riverside campsites, you may hear the lonely howl of a wolf during the night.

The St Croix starts out narrow and rocky for the first 20 miles until the Namekagon River confluence. After which the river gradually becomes wider and deeper as more and rivers and streams add their volume.

Whitewater enthusiasts will find the most significant rapids in segments SC1, SC2, and SC5. In SC1, you will find numerous pitches of rocky class 1 and 2 rapids between Gordon Dam and Louise Park Landing. SC2 features Big Fish Trap Rapids, the most difficult whitewater on the St Croix. The rapids begin about a mile above the CCC Bridge Landing and rumble for more than a half mile. Big Fish Trap will rate class 3 in high water conditions. SC5 has a long succession of class 1 and 2 rapids over a four-mile stretch beginning near Nelson's Landing. The rest of the upper St Croix is mostly flat-water with occasional riffles and low-hazard rapids.

Season

The stretch between Gordon Park and the CCC Bridge in segments SC1 and SC2 is best run during the spring and early summer. During summer and fall, the rapids and riffles can become too shallow to navigate and you may have to get out and push.

Conditions are usually adequate for enjoyable paddling from the CCC Bridge in SC2, all the way down to the Highway 70 Landing in SC5. Call the Namekagon Visitor Center at 715.635.8346 to check on river levels.

River Level Information, Above CCC Bridge

river gage location: County Highway T Bridge
suggested minimum level: 1.4 feet
on the web: St Croix National Scenic Riverway website
phone contact: NPS Namekagon Visitor Center; 715.635.8346

River Level Information, Riverside to Norway Point

river gage location: Riverside Landing (near Danbury)
suggested minimum level: 1.4 feet
on the web: USGS Gage near Danbury (at Riverside Landing)
phone contact: NPS Namekagon Visitor Center; 715.635.8346

River Level Information, Norway Point to Highway 70

river gage location: Norway Point Landing
suggested minimum level: 4.4 feet
on the web: US Army Corp of Engineers, River Gage
phone contact: NPS Namekagon Visitor Center; 715.635.8346