St Croix River
(SC4) Thayer's Landing to Norway Point Landing, Wisconsin Trail Guide

Trail Facts

Synopsis

Trail Review

This stretch of the St Croix River runs wide and slow through a beautiful valley with steep, heavily wooded slopes frequently rising beyond the river-left shoreline. Paddlers will encounter gorgeous river scenery with a large number of wooded islands and a few sandbars (lower flows) along with an abundance of wildlife.

This is another popular stretch for canoers, kayakers and tubers seeking a lazy, afternoon river-float, or as part of a fun multi-day excursion. This segment is entirely flatwater and will probably be more enjoyable on less windy days due to the wide width of the river. Most people paddle along one shore or the other. However you do it, this is a great trip to just go out and relax!

Throughout this segment, Wisconsin’s Governor Knowles State Forest borders the St Croix Scenic Riverway to the south and east, while Minnesota's St Croix State Park borders the Riverway to the north and west. All three areas combine to form huge tracts of protected, undeveloped forestlands, and all provide visitors with plenty of camping opportunities and hundreds of miles of trails for: hiking, bicycling and equestrian riding, and dozens of scenic overlooks. There are also a number of historical sites in the area including a portion of the Sioux Portage Trail.

Canoe/Kayak Camping

The National Park Service has four individual and two group campsites in this segment. Individual sites accommodate up to three tents and/or eight people, while the group sites hold up to six tents and/or sixteen people. There are no fees for accessing, camping, or parking in any of the National Scenic Riverway areas. There is a three night limit of stay. All sites are on a first-come, first-served basis. No glass beverage containers are allowed on the riverway!

Season

This segment is generally navigable throughout the warm-weather season.

River Level Information

On the Web: St Croix National Scenic Riverway website
Phone Contact: NPS Namekagon Visitor Center, 715.635.8346