Facility Overview

Interstate State Park in St. Croix Falls offers convenient, scenic outdoor parking across multiple designated open-air surface lots positioned along the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Located at 1275 WI-35, this historic park—Wisconsin\'s oldest state park, established in 1900—provides ample paved and gravel vehicle stalls distributed strategically across major park sectors. Key parking hubs include the Ice Age Visitor Center, the Lake O\' the Dalles beach and picnic grounds, and several trailheads flanking the dramatic basalt cliffs of the Dalles of the St. Croix River gorge. Because all facilities are open-air surface lots, there are zero vertical clearance restrictions, making them exceptionally welcoming to standard passenger cars, large SUVs, lifted pickup trucks, campervans, recreational vehicles (RVs), and vehicles hauling boat or kayak trailers.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

The parking areas inside Interstate State Park place visitors steps away from premier natural landmarks, geological wonders, and local cultural venues:

• Dalles of the St. Croix & Pothole Trail: Within a 2- to 5-minute walk from the river trailhead lots, visitors can explore world-renowned glacial potholes, dramatic 100-foot basalt rock faces, and breathtaking gorge vistas.
• Ice Age Interpretive Center: Accessible immediately from its dedicated entrance lot, featuring educational exhibits on regional glaciation, wildlife, and the western terminus of the 1,200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
• Lake O\' the Dalles: A short stroll from the beach parking area leads directly to swimming beaches, fishing piers, non-motorized boat launches, and shaded picnic pavilions.
• Downtown St. Croix Falls & Taylors Falls: The park entrance sits less than 1 mile (a 2-minute drive or 15-minute walk) from downtown St. Croix Falls restaurants, cafes, and the St. Croix Festival Theatre, as well as the bridge crossing to Taylors Falls, Minnesota.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicle entry is straightforward via Wisconsin State Highway 35 (WI-35), situated just south of the junction with US Highway 8 (US-8). Well-signed interior park roads loop through the upper bluffs down toward the river level, clearly directing motorists toward day-use lots, boat ramps, and campground loops. While public transit options in this rural river valley are minimal, US-8 provides seamless east-west access toward the Twin Cities metropolitan area (approximately 50 minutes away), and WI-35 offers a direct scenic route north and south along the Wisconsin border. Exiting is orderly even on busy summer weekends, with clear sightlines onto WI-35.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Spacious, open-air surface stalls suitable for passenger vehicles, motorhomes, and travel trailers.
• Dedicated long bays for boat and kayak trailers near the river boat launch.
• Designated accessible (ADA) parking spaces adjacent to the Ice Age Visitor Center, paved scenic overlooks, and accessible restrooms.
• Seasonal park headquarters with informational kiosks and automated electronic permit vending stations.
• On-site modern restrooms, potable water stations, picnic tables, and waste receptacles near main parking clusters.
• Well-maintained, paved trail connectors linking all primary lots directly to scenic hiking circuits.

Ideal For

• Hikers, rock climbers, and outdoor enthusiasts exploring the Ice Age Trail and St. Croix river bluffs.
• Boaters, paddlers, and anglers launching watercraft onto Lake O\' the Dalles or the St. Croix River.
• Families and day-trippers visiting for swimming, lakeside picnicking, and nature education.
• RV road trippers and regional tourists traveling along the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Every vehicle entering Interstate State Park must display a valid Wisconsin State Park System vehicle admission sticker or daily day-use pass. While passes can be purchased on-site at the park contact station or self-registration kiosks, buying an electronic pass in advance through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website can save time during busy holiday weekends. Summer Saturdays and peak fall foliage weekends in October see heavy volume; arriving before 10:00 AM or after 2:30 PM is strongly recommended to guarantee convenient parking near the popular Pothole Trail and swimming beach areas.