Geology & river towns · Minnesota

Taylors Falls and the Dalles of the St. Croix day trip

Taylors Falls and the Dalles of the St. Croix

A day in the Dalles of the St. Croix from the Twin Cities: the glacial potholes in Minnesota's Interstate State Park, the 1850s Folsom House on Angel Hill in Taylors Falls, cliff-top trails in Wisconsin's own Interstate Park, the National Park Service visitor center in St. Croix Falls, and a prairie walk at Franconia on the way home, with the two state park passes and fall parking to plan around.

Time: 9–10 hour day
Driving: About 2–2½ hours of driving in total
Best time: Late May to October; best mid-September to mid-October
Updated: October 15, 2026 at 6:14 PM Pacific

$4 USD

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Looking down the rocky gorge of the St. Croix River from a cliff top, a white paddlewheel boat moored at a dock below, a highway bridge crossing the river and hills of orange and yellow autumn trees beyond — mjdemay · CC BY-SA 3.0. October 2013 photograph; resized and displayed with crop.

Suggested times, not bookings

Your day at a glance

8:00 amLeave Minneapolis
9:00 amInterstate State Park, Minnesota
10:45 amAngel Hill, Taylors Falls
12:30 pmInterstate Park, Wisconsin
2:45 pmSt. Croix Falls and the Riverway visitor center
3:45 pmFranconia Sculpture Park
5:00 pmDrive back to Minneapolis

Highlights

Worth the trip

The Bottomless Pit and dozens more glacial potholes drilled into basalt
The 1850s Folsom House and Greek Revival streets of Angel Hill
The Old Man of the Dalles and Summit Rock on the Wisconsin side

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 late May to October the St. Croix Valley is usually good walking weather. June is mild and green, with highs in the 70s°F and some rain. July and August are warm and humid, often in the 80s, with afternoon thunderstorms, and the dark basalt heats up in the sun. September is often the best month, sunny and in the 70s, and October turns crisp, with highs mostly in the 50s and 60s, frosty mornings, short days and the chance of an early snow late in the month. The river gorge and the boat deck feel cooler and windier than town. 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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