St. Croix Summer Paddle: Osceola to Marine Village
Who wants to experience a great, half-day adventure on the St. Croix River?
Flowing 125 miles between Minnesota and Wisconsin borders, this is a river for everyone to explore! We share our tips, maps and resources that will get you exploring next weekend. Here you go.
A tributary of the mighty Mississippi, we canoed some of it’s quieter waters late June, canoeing 10 miles from Osceola Landing to Marine Village Landing, both located on the Minnesota side. The route flows along hardwood forests and short, cliffy banks with pockets of sandy beaches. Along this section there are 11 campsites that you can access on a first come, first served basis. We saw numerous springs, creeks and cascades flowing into the river along the route. The river boasts a healthy population of waterfowl. Songbirds, blue herons and eagles were active, searching for fish along the banks. There are some homes and cabins along the route, particularly along the Minnesota side, but most are set back into the woods. Closer to the end, you will follow alongside William O’Brien State Park which is extremely beautiful. There might be some good cliff jumping here (caution doing this).
We paddled on a weekday so we saw just two canoes and a few paddle boats. Most of the river traffic is further south near Stillwater, Minnesota, however this stretch could be busy during peak season.
Because it was a hot and we brought our dog, we stopped every two miles, usually at a sandy beach to take a dip and grab a snack. Pockets of this section are very shallow and sandy, allowing you to get out into the middle of the river for a dip or a play game of frizbee. The deeper pockets are cool and refreshing when the temps soar. Halfway through our trip, we stopped for lunch at a campsite and cooked brats over the fire. The bugs were moderate in the woods so we choose a southerly facing site with a good breeze. No bug issues while paddling down the river.
Both canoe landings had good parking options and the lot at Osceola is large as there are groups ending and starting from there. The Marine Village landing is located behind a small island on the MN side. Beach access follows a short trail uphill to off street parking (you will need to carry canoes and gear up this hill). Both landings are well marked with brown National Park signage.
While this section doesn’t have boat rental or shuttle services, there are sections of the St. Croix that offer both amenities. This route is great for everyone, kids, friends and families will enjoy this beautiful stretch of a national, scenic riverway. When you’re done, enjoy ice cream at the Marine Village trailhead and hang out in the shade.
GOOD TO KNOW
Check out the google map of our route of our route which includes points of interest.
The National Park Service has great maps of all sections of the river.
River navigation is not overly hard, but you should have a printed map and a map downloaded to your phone. The easiest way to navigate is to keep an eye out for campsites which are clearly marked with small, brown signs along the river bank.
There are no rapids in this section.
The river is full of channels, some passible, some impassible, so keep an eye out for those.
There are outfitters who offer boat rental and shuttle service along some parts of the river. We drove two cars and left one at Marine on St. Croix due to the fact that there isn’t a shuttle service along this section.
Osceola Landing is under some construction, but the boat landing and parking is available. There are port-a-potties nearby. No fees for parking at this landing. Marine Village Landing requires a short hike up a gentle, gravel trail to off street parking. Stop at the ice cream shop there at the trailhead when you get off the water! Marine On St. Croix has a small general store and a couple of restaurants/coffee shops.
Please plan for the conditions you may encounter. Sometimes it’s hot, buggy, windy or cool. Bring plenty of water (we recommend 1 gallon per person) and food or snacks. Bring along a small first aid kit, extra towels and gear for starting and putting out a fire. Be an awesome human and pack out all of your garbage or garbage you come across.
Disclaimer: Some of the information mentioned may or may not be accurate or up to date. It’s your responsibility to check local resources for river updates, conditions and closures. Difficulty will depend on the season, weather, your experience, skills and fitness level.
