City of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin

Gateway to the St. Croix Valley

Our Community Vision

River Spirit

Capture the Spirit

To capture the essence of the River Spirit sculpture in words is difficult. You will simply have to see it for yourself. Her unveiling is Friday, July 20,in conjunction with Wannigan Days, and you will find her at the foot of the scenic overlook in St. Croix Falls, WI. Read More

St. Croix Falls River Dam

Once a riverside logging town, St. Croix Falls has blossomed into a charming gateway to the St. Croix Valley.

Overlooking a unique stretch of the St. Croix River carved by the glaciers, St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, is the gateway to the upper St. Croix River. Enjoy the scenery from rustic country roads, designated trails, cross-country skis, a snowmobile, sleigh or dog-sled ride. Discover the cultural and historic aspects at art galleries, antique shops and professional theatre productions.

A River Flows Through It

At St. Croix Falls, the St. Croix River is divided by a hydro-electric dam. Downstream of the dam, the river flows through a unique gorge created by glaciers. The famous rock formations, or “Dalles,” makes this one of the most scenic and popular parts of the St. Croix River.

Interstate Park ensures access for all who wish to enjoy the river. Upstream of the dam-site, the river becomes a National Scenic River way under the protection of the National Park System.

Happy Trails

Hikers will find two major trailheads right in town. The first is the 1,000-mile Ice Age Trail, which highlights the effects of melting glaciers on a landscape. The second is the 98-mile Gandy Dancer Trail. Popular with hikers, cyclists, ATV enthusiasts, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers, this old railroad bed runs through the north woods all the way to Superior.

Learn more about the area’s natural resources at the National Scenic River way Headquarters and Visitor Center or at the Interstate Park’s Ice Age Interpretive Center.

Once a Simple Lumber Town

In 1837, settlers organized the St. Croix Lumber company and established a river town. Known then simply as St. Croix, the site soon had a dam, mills, blacksmith, shops, a hotel, houses and the first working sawmills on the St. Croix River in 1840.

How Our Home Has Grown

Downtown

Today, St. Croix Falls has grown into a city of 2,000 with a well-preserved historic business district, a blossoming industrial park and a fast growing highway business district. It is truly a city that offers modern conveniences while maintaining the charm of days gone by. You’ll find more to do than time allows, no matter what time of year you visit.

Fun for All Seasons

In winter, the Candlelight Ski, Walk & Snowshoe event at Interstate Park is a one-of-a-kind experience. Head inside to enjoy a pottery throwing demonstration at a local artist’s shop, a play by the Sr. Croix Festival Theatre or a concert at the historic Auditorium Theatre.

Warm weather not only brings Dairy Days, Wanningan Days, the Polk county Fair, the St. Croix Wild River Car Show and Swap Meet and area flea marts, but also civil War reenactments, and the St. Croix Valley Arts Council’s Arts and Crafts Fair.

Paddle wheeling the St. Croix River

See the St. Croix River the way the 19th-century pioneers first saw it—from the deck of a paddlewheel riverboat. Three-mile and seven-mile boat tours run every day in summer and weekends through the fall. Lunch and dinner cruises are offered. Boat excursions launch near the highway 8 bridge on the Minnesota side. Make reservations by calling (651) 257-3550 or (800) 447-4958.

Interstate State Parks

Wisconsin Interstate State Park

At the heart of the Taylors Falls/St. Croix Falls border community are Minnesota and Wisconsin Interstate Parks. Established more than a century ago, they are among the oldest state parks in the nation. Interstate Parks are known nationally for their rare flora, fauna and geology.

The parks are best known for the towering rocky gorge which forms the Dalles of the St. Croix River, and for the unique glacial potholes that are the deepest in the world. Self-guided interpretive trails – some wheelchair accessible – take you through the maze of potholes that includes the Bottomless Pit, the world’s deepest explored pothole.

The St. Croix is a national scenic river way managed by the National Park Service. On the Minnesota side, the National River way connects Interstate Park with Wild River State Park and St. Croix State Park. On the Wisconsin side, it connects with Gov. Knowles State Forest. These links form more than 50 miles of continuous wilderness on both sides of the St. Croix, offering some of the best wilderness canoeing in the Upper Midwest.

Wisconsin Interstate Park is the trailhead for both the Gandy Dancer trail and the Ice Age Trail that crosses the state from west to east. The Ice Age Interpretive Center is located in the park.

Amenities at Interstate include showers, picnic areas, boat landings, handicap accessible trails, interpretive center and nature store.

Popular activities at Interstate include camping, rock climbing, canoeing and kayaking, cross-country skiing, swimming, fishing and boating, snowshoeing, hiking and backpacking, exploring, eagle watching, boat excursions, wildlife watching, naturalist programs, golf, mini golf, volleyball, interpretive exhibits, history, and bicycling.