The St. Croix River forms much of the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the Wisconsin side is lined with river towns, state parks and wooded valleys that make an easy escape from the Twin Cities. If you are looking for places to visit in Wisconsin near Minnesota, this stretch of the St. Croix Valley is where to start.
Hudson and Willow River State Park
Hudson is the valley’s prettiest river town — a historic downtown of shops and restaurants set on the St. Croix, less than an hour from Minneapolis–St. Paul. Five miles north lies Willow River State Park, one of the most visited parks in Wisconsin: 2,891 acres of forest and prairie wrapped around Willow Falls, which drops through a 200-foot-deep gorge. Trails, a nature center, Little Falls Lake and a large campground make it a full-day destination on its own.
Prescott and the Great Confluence
South of Hudson, Prescott sits exactly where the St. Croix River meets the Mississippi. Freedom Park, right on the waterfront, houses the free Great River Road Visitor and Learning Center with exhibits on the rivers, native-plant gardens and some of the best eagle-watching viewpoints in the area. It is a natural first stop for understanding the landscape you are about to explore.
Interstate State Park and the Dalles
Further north at St. Croix Falls, Interstate State Park protects the dramatic Dalles of the St. Croix — basalt cliffs carved by glacial meltwater. Walk the Pothole Trail to see the famous glacial potholes, deep cylindrical holes drilled into the rock by ancient whirlpools. As Wisconsin’s oldest state park, with a twin park across the river at Taylors Falls, Minnesota, it is the valley’s essential geology stop.
On the Water in the St. Croix Valley
The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway offers calm, clean water that is ideal for kayaking and canoeing, with outfitters renting boats in season along the valley. In autumn the bluffs on both sides light up with fall color — typically peaking from late September into mid-October — and the river road between the parks is one of the Midwest’s prettiest drives. For more autumn trip ideas in the region, see the best places to visit in Illinois in the fall. Across the river, Stillwater, Minnesota mirrors Hudson with its own historic main street and lift bridge.
Further Afield: La Crosse and the Chippewa Valley
With more time, follow the Great River Road south to La Crosse, where Grandad Bluff overlooks the Mississippi, or head east into the Chippewa Valley around Eau Claire for miles of biking and hiking trails. Travelling with children? These family-friendly Chicago ideas pair well with a longer Midwest road trip.
FAQ
What is the closest Wisconsin getaway from Minneapolis–St. Paul?
Hudson, Wisconsin — a historic river town on the St. Croix, under an hour from the Twin Cities.
Which state park should I choose — Willow River or Interstate?
Pick Willow River for waterfalls and swimming holes, Interstate for glacial potholes and the dramatic Dalles. With a full weekend, do both.
When is the best time to see fall color in the St. Croix Valley?
Fall color typically peaks from late September into mid-October, though the exact timing shifts with the weather each year.
Can you kayak on the St. Croix River?
Yes. The National Scenic Riverway is known for calm, paddle-friendly water, and local outfitters rent kayaks and canoes in season.
Between the river towns, the waterfalls and the glacial geology, the Wisconsin side of the St. Croix packs a remarkable amount of variety into a short drive from Minnesota.
