Minnesota State Parks Revisited: St. Croix State Park

 

St. Croix State Park

Date Hiked: October 3rd, 2025

Trail Hiked: St. Johns Road and Crooked Creek Trail

Distance Hiked: 11.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 361 ft.

Duration: 3:18:09

That's a goddamn bear. 

It's hard to make anything else relevant about this hike. I had a near-miss with a giant black bear named Joshua, and that's probably the most paranoid I've ever been, and considering I once took a stroll on the Superior Hiking Trail after partaking in a seldom-used vice, that's saying something. 

In continuing my quest to hike the longest trail in every Minnesota State Park, this was one where AllTrails likely didn't help things. The Hiking Club trail was there, and several others were mapped out, but this one technically came up as the longest, so that's the one I did. Unfortunately, after a bit on the prairie trail, it let out on a gravel road and stayed there for several miles. The entire time I was heading out to the Crooked Creek Trail, I got a very real glance at how huge and remote this state park is. The fall colors were lovely, but walking along a road dotted with giant piles of droppings (spoiler alert) wasn't exactly what I had in mind when seeking this challenge. 

When the trail finally left the road and onto what I'm guessing is a snowmobile trail, it didn't get much better but at least it was an actual trail, albeit overgrown and relatively unremarkable. Right as I was about to hit the final loop though, I had an overwhelming instinct to bail and get the hell out of there. Whether this is connected to what transpired later or not, who knows, but I can't tell the story of this hike without that. The only place I'd seen people, other than one car passing by, was at the campground. It felt desolate as hell.

Several miles down the gravel road on the return trip, I saw the top of what I thought was a horse at first gently gliding across the road a few hundred feet in front of me. I thought it was a horse because of the massive size, but a few more steps revealed the biggest black bear I'd ever seen. I had nothing with which to defend myself, not even my trekking poles, as with the predicted elevation gain, I didn't think I'd be needing them. I started to walk backwards the other way, but the map showed there was no other way to get back to the visitor's center, so after giving it a few minutes, I proceeded.

Every bird, every rustle, every squirrel made me more terrified, and it must've shown. I say that because a few minutes later, a pickup truck with park rangers in it drove by me on the road. Cursing myself for not stopping them and asking for help, I glided across the gravel hoping Smokey wouldn't be giving me a lecture on forest fires this day. Fortunately for me, my distress must've been obvious, because the rangers came back and asked if I needed a ride because of Joshua the Bear. 

They saved the day, and I'm grateful.

Minnesota State Parks Revisited: Interstate State Park

 

Interstate State Park

Date Hiked: June 19th, 2025, September 8th, 2025,  September 24th, 2025

Trail Hiked: Walter F. Mondale River Trail, Railroad Trail Loop, Swedish Immigrant Trail, Sandstone Bluffs Trail, St. Croix River Lookout, Glacial Pothole and Ice Age Trail, Summit Rock Trail, Lake of the Dalles, Eagle Peak, Skyline, and Ice Age Loop

Distance Hiked: 13.8 miles, 5.9 miles, 9.0 miles

Elevation Gain: 1089 feet, 778 feet, 968 feet

Duration: 4h 19m, 2h 19m, 3h 24m

I've visited Interstate Park three different times since the Hiking Club speedrun. It's one of the best within reasonable driving distance of the metro, and with enough interest and intent, it's easy enough to go across a short bridge and explore what the Wisconsin side has to offer as well. Interstate, you say? So it's not just a clever name. 

While I've done the Hiking Club trail from the office area to the pothole trail numerous times, it's the easiest way to get to the others, especially when wanting to accumulate miles, elevation gain, and a good warmup for trying not to slip on very smooth rocks. These three adventures could not have come at more diametrically-opposed times in my personal life, though to be fair the latter two in September might as well be the same hike in terms of trail diversity and intent, but that's not really the point. 

When one is an introvert and looking to avoid massive crowds and trail tourists, the best time to get somewhere like Interstate State Park in late June is barely after sunrise. The parking spots are still available and the trails aren't clogged with people randomly stopping and taking 38 selfies while paying no attention to those trying to get around them in a very narrow area. Everyone has the right to be on the trail, but at least show a little etiquette, that shouldn't be too much to ask. Let people pass, pay attention to the surroundings, and maybe one selfie is enough? 

In June, I was in severe distress, and I thought knocking out some verified complete trails might help ease the anxiety. After the first half of the Hiking Club out-and-back, I headed through Taylor's Falls to the Swedish Immigrant trail, which is allegedly part of the park according to AllTrails. I'm honestly not sure if it is or why a small portion of what is clearly a longer bike trail is included in the listings, but hey, it's another verified complete badge to pursue, so add another 8 miles on a day that was hot enough that I wasn't even self-conscious about hiking in only a sports bra on top. Heading back through the Railroad Trail was easy, if clogged, but the Sandstone Bluffs trail after 11 miles on a very hot day is a good way to push the limits. 

September's hikes though, those were more celebrating the lifting of the Sickness, enjoying how happy I've been, and knocking out some of the Wisconsin side. While Minnesota's climbs along tough ridges, Wisconsin's spread out over wider and more diverse landscapes, not to mention some impressive climbs. The only thing more plentiful and annoying than the tourists are the bugs, though. June or September, expect to be brushing spider webs off, slapping mosquitos, and checking for ticks constantly regardless of how much repellent has been deployed. Wisconsin's side also seems to be more open to Geocaching potential, whereas Minnesota's parks are seemingly allergic to the possibility.