Interstate State Park #43

We were all really excited to visit Interstate State Park, at least I was, as it is the oldest state park in the system, and also one of the most popular. The linear park runs along the dark basalt cliffs known as the Dalles of the St. Croix, which rise 200 feet above the river. There are Wisconsin and Minnesota components of Interstate State Park, with the Wisconsin region of the park measuring 1,330 acres, and the Minnesota region measuring 298 acres. Interstate State Park is within the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve.


The park and the St. Croix Falls area have been a tourist attraction since the 1800s when visitors arrive by steamboat and rail. French traders arrived in the area in the 1700s and about a hundred years later, the Dalles was the site of a huge log jam of 150 million board feet. It is said it took 200 men more than 6 weeks to clear the jam. Riverboat tours are also offered on the Minnesota side of the park, providing geologic and historical information about the area.


There are more than 9 miles of hiking trails at the park, with 12.5 miles of winter recreation trails available for cross country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking. The park also has a swimming beach and an 82 site campground with two areas for group camps that can accommodate up to 60 people each. We took the Pothole Trail, which included spectacular views of the gorge, as well as potholes, which are formed from swirling water from the melting glaciers thousands of years ago.


This park has an awesome nature center, with displays, a gift shop, a theater showing an informative movie on the ice age trail, and a nice deck with views of the park. By far, one of the nicest nature centers we have encountered in the system. We visited this park on a Friday afternoon in October and surprisingly to us, it was busy.


Also, when we stopped at the ranger station for information, the person checking in after us was providing the names of people at their campsite, typical for state park check-ins. However, what wasn't typical was the fact that this camper provided the name of Paul Molitor (and hesitated when he said it! As if it was perhaps secret-like). Pete and I thought long and hard about whether we should take a drive through the campground to see if we could spot "the" Paul Molitor, (he did end his career in Minnesota), but decided that would be too much, even for us. All in all, a nice park, some of the best views of the state, and some place we would definitely return. Next stop, Willow River State Park!