Camping in Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway

The water is cold. You won't mind because you're having too much fun riding the rapids along the St. Croix or Namekagon Rivers. This 212-mile stretch of water forms part of the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin. If you love the outdoors, consider taking a week or two during the summer to float this scenic and wild area.

Thickly forested land on both sides of the St. Croix provides the perfect out-of-the-way spot for a vacation. Campsites along the route make it easy to pull your boat out of the water and take a break for the night. Many campsites are only accessible from the water.

After getting your rustic campsite in order, cook up some of the fish you caught as you paddled down the river. The upper St. Croix harbors plentiful smallmouth bass, walleye, sauger, and muskie. Try to catch a big one fishing for giant catfish or sturgeon. No matter what you catch, you'll eat well that night.

If you need a break from paddling, the National Park Service maintains seven trails of varying lengths and difficulty. Interstate State Park starts in Minnesota and ends in Wisconsin. This green space also includes a portion of the 1,000-mile Ice Age Trail. Any of these hiking paths offer stunning views of the river below.

Plenty of rustic towns dot the landscape in Minnesota and Wisconsin. These towns offer quaint main streets, historic sites that showcase the area's former lumber mills and steamboats. There's plenty of good eats once you get off the water.