St. Croix Watershed

Imagine an outdoor escape featuring bountiful lakes, dense conifer and mixed hardwood forests, free-flowing streams, unspoiled natural systems, and a diverse abundance of native flora and fauna.

Many visitors have created lifelong memories of hiking, kayaking, fishing, and soaking in the area’s timeless wilderness. Welcome to the St. Croix Watershed.

Study after study proves that access to nature supports human health and happiness. While just being in nature heals us, we know that when we get outside, our senses come alive, our stresses slip away, and we restore our souls. Whether sharing a trail, picnic table, or sandy beach, people flourish on public land.

Spanning the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin, the St. Croix River is one of the nation’s first federally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers. It is home to a variety of plants and animals. While the status of the St. Croix as a Wild and Scenic River comes with federal protections, it applies only to a thin ribbon of land directly adjacent to the river. More than 75 percent of the land around the river remains in private ownership and is threatened by development, fragmentation, and conversion to farmland, which is why Trust for Public Land is working to safeguard this critical landscape for future generations to enjoy.

As part of our Minnesota’s Rivers program, the landscape of the St. Croix River contains large swaths of unspoiled natural systems and needs protection. Among its rolling barrens and brushlands are a plethora of wildlife, including threatened populations of sharp-tailed grouse and endangered Karner blue butterflies. The pineries of this region thrive and sustain communities with seasonal economic boosts from visitors who come for an array of outdoor activities.