River towns & state park · Minnesota

Stillwater and the St. Croix River Valley day trip

Stillwater and the St. Croix River Valley

A St. Croix River day from the Twin Cities: a riverside walk in William O'Brien State Park, a deli lunch and a sawmill-ruin stroll in tiny Marine on St. Croix, then Stillwater's Main Street, a walk across the 1931 Lift Bridge to Wisconsin and the view from Pioneer Park, with the permits, parking and 2026–27 bridge work to plan around.

Time: 8–9 hour day
Driving: About 2–2½ hours of driving in total
Best time: May to October; best mid-September to mid-October
Updated: October 15, 2026 at 6:14 PM Pacific

$4 USD

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The steel truss Stillwater Lift Bridge with its center span raised between two towers over the calm St. Croix River, wooded bluffs and town buildings behind under a clear blue sky — jkmarko · CC BY 2.0. July 2013 photograph; resized and displayed with crop.

Suggested times, not bookings

Your day at a glance

8:30 amLeave Minneapolis
9:30 amWilliam O'Brien State Park
11:30 amMarine on St. Croix
1:15 pmStillwater Main Street
2:45 pmStillwater Lift Bridge
4:00 pmPioneer Park and the stairs
5:00 pmDrive back to Minneapolis

Highlights

Worth the trip

A riverside loop under white pines in William O'Brien State Park
Minnesota's first commercial sawmill site and an 1870s general store
Walking the Stillwater Lift Bridge from Minnesota into Wisconsin

What’s in the guide

Detailed stop guidance, rules, practical pitfalls, a route map, Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps links and weather alternatives. Read it online any time, or keep it offline in the Greg’s Guides app for iPhone and iPad. See an example guide →

Plan for the conditions

Expected seasonal weather

From May to October the St. Croix Valley is usually pleasant for walking. Late May and June bring mild, green days in the 60s and 70s°F with some rain. July and August are warm and humid, often in the 80s, with afternoon thunderstorms. September is often the best weather of the year, sunny and in the 70s, and October turns crisp, with highs mostly in the 50s and 60s, frosty mornings and short days; an early snow is possible late in the month. The river bottoms and the Lift Bridge feel cooler and windier than town, so bring a layer. These are seasonal expectations, not a forecast for your travel date; check the NWS forecast.

Admission and parking are separate. Check current conditions before departure.

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