well. high gas prices are upon us.. and it sucks.. but there are cool oppurtunities for day trips and small vacations all over.. we just have to be aware of them... for instance I happen to live in just such an area!.. about 35 miles NE of the Twin Cities right along the beautiful Saint Croix River are two small towns, on the Mn side is Taylors Falls and on the Wisconsin side is Saint Croix Falls.. guess they couldnt decide what to call the falls.. but they buried it under a hydroelectric dam long ago anyway.. so who cares? lol anyhoo... right at this juncture is the almost unknown "Dalles" and interstate park.. basically there is an awesome state park on BOTH sides of the river.. there is an extrusion of trap rock that forces the Saint Croix through a narrow range of canyons and its really cool! there are paddleboat rides available from the Minnesota side and its a lot of fun... its also a lot of fun to explore the cliffs on both sides of the croix.. its truly beautiful and unique!.. then there is Taylors Falls. this tiny town is really jumping on weekends.. there are only 3 bars but they are busy.. a LOT of bikers come up here.. in fact a GREAT road trip is start out in Stillwater.. or even Prescott and come up along the Saint Croix River.. this is almost a 2 day thing... there are lots of things to see and do along this historic waterway... with the towns of Prescott, bayport, hudson, stillwater, marine on the saint croix, osceola, and TF/SCF up in my neck of the woods.. In Marine there is a tiny restaruant that is RIGHT on the water.. and you can eat on a deck basically right on the river.. its great!.. on Sundays they have live music in one of the bars there.. a really fun place to visit... in Osceola there is the cascade falls which is right there in Osceola just to the left of the stopsigng when you first come across the bridge from Osceola.. there is a bar called PYs. they have a deck out back that overlooks the falls from WAY up!.. its really awesome!.. and they have great burgers and onion rings... (and probably other stuff!).... in Saint Croix falls.. but up the hill from the river is a great place to bring kids.. called Fawn-doe-rosa.. its a deer park.. with lots of other animals.. basically a really nice petting zoo.. kids love it.. and to tell the truth Ive done some really nice photography there as well. (my Honey is related to the owners! but Im not plugging the place cuz of that... I just think its cool)... there are also TWO trout hatcheries in the area.... one near Osceola.. and the other right IN Saint Croix Falls.... both can be visited... on the Wi side.. just south on hwy 35 you can rent canoes and kayaks for a wonderful float from interstate park down to Oscoela.. this is GREAT fun.... Ive done it before and its a BLAST.... of course you can always do you OWN float.. but sometimes its just fun to be totally taken care of.. they drop you off and pick you up.. YOU provide the fun... its all good!!! Saint Croix Falls also is a suprising little town... there is a tiny park there that overlooks the dam and its pretty cool.... there are some interesting shops in town.. its quite a bit bigger then Taylors Falls.. but its still a wonderful small town and just has that unbeatable small town feel!.. its a river town too... and that is great.... just up the road from Saint Croix Falls is the Chateau Saint Croix... a winery!.. they have FREE samples.. an art Gallery... and its just an interesting place to visit.. and taste some great wisconsin wine..... just to the east on HWY 8 is Balsam lake.. a really nice and BIG lake.... and a bit east of there is Turtle Lake.. yep.. a Casino... so let me tell you... its all good around here... and if you cant have fun here... then I question your ability to have fun anywhere.. cuz there is such a great variety of things to do... oh.. and yeah.. there is fishing.. all around here... from the river to the lakes.. from Musky to panfish, and in fact... you like cats? the Saint Croix ABOVE the dam in TF/SCF is FULL of HUGE channel cats!!!.. there is a big local tourney here every year.. its a BLAST.... come up for that.. bring the wife and kids.. fish the tourney.. give them some $$ and let them have fun all around here.. you of course will be out fishing ALL night.... but hey.. is THAT a bad thing?
Briank
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Reged: 09/02/02
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Loc: Lakeland, MN
Jez RE's, that's a ton on info in that post. I had to read it twice to make sure I didn't miss anything!
I've been on Wild Mountains boat/dinner cruise and it is awesome. I didn't know places like that (St Croix River Canyons) existed in MN/WI! If I recall the paddle boat goes over the deepest hole and the shallowest part of the St Croix all on one trip...don't forget the "devil's chair". I think that's what it was called.
Have you shot any photo's in the canyon?
I've been at the restaurant in Marine too. But don't forget the deli in the grocery store for a great sandwich.
Yeah.. Ive shot a lot of shots in that area.. and all around here.. in fact I have a big show at the Chateau Saint Croix this month.. even a meet the artist day on July 20... and yeah.. Ive been at the Deli too.... it just seems all these little river towns in this area have SOMETHING to recomend them.... but for the most part they have not much promoted themselves for tourism.. even that weekend Im doing the meet the artist thing there is a big to do in Saint Croix Falls/Taylors Falls called Wanigan Days.. always a great party.... last Night we watched Fireworks ON Balsam lake. then went to a real nice bar/restaraunt that is RIGHT on the lake.. you can dock and get out to have a great time.. its called Paradise Landing.. a beautiful spot.. every night they have a fire going outside.. over looking the lake... and inside on saturdays they almost always have a live band.. the food at the restaraunt is great too.....
Briank
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Reged: 09/02/02
Posts: 25030
Fish Bucks: $499.86
Loc: Lakeland, MN
yeah.. hard to imagine.. but yeah.. the artist is ME.... the hours are noon till 4 on Sunday the 20... and the place is open everyday except tuesday... Summer Winter Monday 11-6 12-5 Tuesday CLOSED CLOSED Wednesday 11-6 CLOSED Thursday 11-6 12-5 Friday 11-7 12-5 Saturday 11-7 11-6 Sunday 12-4 12-4 I just had one of my fishing buddies stop in a buy a nice piece today... one he has had his eye on for a while...
Briank
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Reged: 09/02/02
Posts: 25030
Fish Bucks: $499.86
Loc: Lakeland, MN
If you want to put your boat in above the dam at St. Croix Falls, there is a nice landing on the WI side...I think it is the Lions Park. No fee, but I think they suggest a donation. There is the same park on the MN side, but I think it is gravel and not as nice. There are a bunch of designated campsites right on the river.
As far as the Interstate State Parks, I've heard the WI side is nicer. I launch out of the MN side because I've got a state park sticker, but they call it Interstate for a reason...it's on the interstate!
Quote: don't forget the "devil's chair". I think that's what it was called.
Brian, unfortunately I don't think it is there anymore. I think some low-life's pushed it over a few years ago. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
RiverEyes...Is there still camping at Brookside in Osceola?
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Jon
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RiverEyes
Member
Reged: 05/18/01
Posts: 2703
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Loc: Osceola, Wisconsin
yeah. the Wisconsin Lions park launch is way nicer to launch at.. below the dam.. the launches in interstate park... Ive launched at the Wi one with no problem.. never tried the Mn Side.. and there is another launch at Franconia but that one IS tough if the river is down.. very shallow.. Ive driven out quite a ways into the river to launch there... the Osceola ones have a similar problem when the water is low.. though not quite as bad... Im not familiar with camping at Brookside.. so either they dont do it now or its just not a big deal... but they have beautiful sites in interstate on the Wi side... if you camp back there you should hike to eagles peak.. what a VIEW!.... yeah. the Devils Chair mystery.. bout all I can say is.. it wasnt me...! its hard to imagine someone toppling such a beautiful and fragile stone spire.. plus it was BIG... it was made out of trap rock and had to weigh many many tons!.. I remember standing at the base of it one day.. it must have been at least 35 feet tall... and at least 10 feet wide at the base... looked all the world like a stone throne.... oh.. and interstate isnt on an interstate!... though hwy 8 runs right past the Mn side.. the Wi side is well away from anything like that.. and its quite magical to drive through that park.. many of my photos have come from interstate park on the Wi side.... its truly a gem that most people know nothing of.... its full of moss covered trap rock.. stately trees.. beautiful ferns... incredibly scenic... the first shot is scenic cascade falls in Osceola.. the rest are from interstate park.. but they dont really do it justice... these works are all my "artography".. where I work my photos into something that looks painterly...
Mike W
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Reged: 04/01/02
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Loc: MN/Anoka/Ham lake
Great post Ken. We where just over to that area yesterday. Took the kids over to play on the sand bars. This is a great area for swimming. Lots of shallow sand bars for the kids to play on. I can get a little fishing in to while they play.
The river is getting low again right now. Not as bad as the last couple of years but it is geting there. We launched out of Franconia yesterday with no problem. It is a shallow landing but have never had a problem with just backing out to deeper water. The gravel there is well packed. I would much rather launch here than Osceola in low water. The sand there is a trap and have seen more than one 4WD getting pulled by a wrecker. In mid summer and fall this stretch of river is more suited for smaller boats, jon boats, pontoons and canoes. Lots of shallow water. Its a great fishery. You find more quantity the quality of fish. Its the only place where we have caught 14 different species of fish in a single trip. With the warmer temps now it looks like I will be spending more of my time over here than on the Mississippi.
Great post! I spent a couple nights at Interstate park way back in the 70's. It was really a nice park then. Seems to me it was fairly new then as well. My brother lives in Luck, just up the road. Guess next time I'm up there I'll have to swing over and check out the Falls area! Thanks RiverEyes! GREAT photos too!
For a Good Time
