WILD RIVER

STATE PARK
FACILITIES AND
FEATURES
Information station/gift shop
94 semi-modern campsites
(34 electrical)
Guest house (6 capacity)
6 camping cabins
Modern shower buildings
Trailer dump station
9 primitive group campsites
(18 people per site)
20-site Horse campground
(15 electrical)
Amphitheater
Wood, ice and souvenir sales
Cross-country ski and snowshoe
rental/concessions
All-season trail center
(reservations accepted 4/15 to
11/15)
Year-round visitor center
Picnic area with shelter building
(reservations accepted 5/1 to 10/1)
4 canoe campsites
8 backpack sites
Sunrise River picnic area
River accesses (2)
Hiking/ski trails (35 miles)
Horse trails (20 miles)
River fishing
Canoe rental/shuttle concession
VISITOR FAVORITES
McElroy Visitor Center
Nevers Dam scenic overlook
Canoeing
Wildflowers deer birds
Logging era outdoor exhibit
Naturalist programs
Guest house/Camping cabins
Geocaching opportunities
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Nevers Dam
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ALMELUND
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TAYLORS FALLS
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River Road
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Goose
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Buck
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Sunrise Trail
Trillium
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Amador
Prairie
Loops
Nevers
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Tra
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Pine
Ridge
Meadow
Vista
Dry Creek
Hollow
Aspen
Knob
Amiks
Pond
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Mitigwaki
W
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Pioneer Trail
P
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Deer
Creek
Buck
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Wild
Flower
G
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Sunrise Loop
Sunrise Trail
Loop
Spring
Creek
Deer
Creek
Wild
Flower
Breezy
Valley
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SUNRISE
Park Entrance
P
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roperty
Private
Property
Private
Property
D
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Please Observe These Park Rules:
Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet.
Bikes are not allowed on unpaved trails.
Horseback riders: do not leave designated horse trails or treadways.
Hikers: please allow horses to pass.
A Minnesota Horse Trail Pass is required here.
Additional Winter Rules:
Snowshoeing, hiking, or walking pets is not allowed on groomed ski trails.
A Minnesota Ski Pass is required here.
A complete set of Minnesota State Park Rules
is available at the park office.
Bald
Eagle
TRAILS
Horseback/Hiking/Ski
Hiking/Skiing
Accessible Paved Trail/Multiple Use:
Hiking, Skiing, Biking
Trail Segments with Minimal Summer Maintenance
Level of skiing difficulty:
easy more difficult difficult
One-way Hill
0.5 Trail segment lengths are shown in miles and
indicate distance between major trail intersections
Trail Intersections
FACILITIES
Information/Office
Trail Center
Visitor Center
Parking
Amphitheater
Picnic Area
Guest House
Camper Cabin
Shelter
Boat Ramp
Canoe Rental
Campground
Primitive Group Camp
Backpack Camping
Canoe Camping
Backpack/Canoe Camping
Trailer Sanitation Station
Equestrian Area
Interpretive Exhibit
Roads
PRIVATE PROPERTY
Public Use Prohibited
(except on designated trails)
4/2014 by State of Minnesota,
Department of Natural Resources
Because lands exist within the
boundaries of this park that are not
under the jurisdiction of the D.N.R.,
check with the park manager if you
plan to use facilities such as trails
and roads other than those shown.
NORTH
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Bald
Eagle
MINNESOTA
Old Nevers
Dam site
Trail Map
WISCONSIN
CHENGWATANA
STATE FOREST
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Note: Steep, winding trail.
Note: Trail may be wet.
Note: Trail may be wet.
Goose
Creek
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Sunrise Loop
Loop
Note: Trail may be wet.
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Sunrise Landing
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WILD RIVER STATE PARK is located 14
miles east of I-35 (Exit 147) off State
Highway 95 and County Road 12. State
highway map index: K-14.
GENERAL INFORMATION: Wild River is
one of the larger state parks in Minne-
sota. It was established to protect the
natural and cultural resources and to
provide recreational opportunities along
the St. Croix River. The parks name
Wild River is derived from the fact
that the St. Croix River was one of the
eight rivers originally protected by the
U.S. Congress through the Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. Wild River was
authorized by the legislature in 1973 and
was officially opened in October 1978.
Nearly 5000 of the parks 6,803 total
acres were donated by Northern States
Power Company.
GEOLOGY: Wild Rivers landscape was
formed by three major forces. Lava from
volcanoes active 1.1 billion years ago
formed the areas buried basalt bedrock.
Today this basalt forms the high cliffs of
the Dalles of the St. Croix and the rivers
basin. Over one million years ago
glaciers up to a depth of one mile covered
the region. 10000 years ago the melting
of the last glacier formed glacial lakes
Duluth and Grantsburg. These lakes
supplied the water power to create the
present St. Croix Valley. The park lies
within the Mille Lacs Uplands ECS
Subsection. This region is in the transition
zone of pine forest, hardwood forest, and
oak savanna.
HISTORY: The St. Croix Valley was first
occupied by nomadic people 6000 years
ago. For hundreds of years the valley was
home for the Dakota and the Ojibwe.
Samuels Fur Post and Connors Goose
Creek Post were active in 1847. After
Minnesota became a territory in 1849 a
military road was constructed through
the park. It was part of a route from St.
Paul to Lake Superior and a portion is
still evident today. The towns of Sunrise
and Amador were founded in the 1850s.
The great white pine logging era resulted
in the building of Nevers Dam in 1890
which operated until 1912.
VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE: The broad
sweep of the upper St. Croix River
Valley is home for a variety of birds
animals and plant life. The parks
second-growth forest and open mead-
ows provide habitat for large numbers of
white-tailed deer. Marshes offer both
food and protection for ducks herons
and bitterns. The valley is a good
hunting ground for raptors like marsh
hawks bald eagles and barred owls.
Wildflowers are abundant throughout
the spring and summer months.
Prescribed burns are conducted to better
manage prairie and oak savanna areas.
CANOEING: Canoeists will enjoy the
primitive beauty of the St. Croix River
Valley. Sightings of bald eagles, great
blue herons and white-tailed deer are
common. Red-shouldered hawks and
ospreys may also be seen. River users
should exercise caution. High water
levels during the spring and after heavy
rainfall result in swift currents. Anglers
will find a variety of fish to test their
skills including smallmouth bass,
northern walleye, and catfish.

TRAILS: Thirty-five miles of trails are
available for hikers and cross-country
skiers, including a 2.5 mile handicap-
accessible Universal Trail. There are two
self-guided trails: Amiks Pond and
Windfall. Twenty miles are designated
for horseback riding. Most trails are
fairly level with few steep grades. Some
trails may receive minimum mainte-
nance due to wet conditions. The trails
go through diverse habitats that bring
you within close range of wildlife
INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM: A year-round
naturalist program offers seasonal
events such as maple syruping demon-
strations birdwatching landscaping for
wildlife outdoor hikes prairie restora-
tion activities snowshoeing animal
tracking and candlelight skiing. The
McElroy Visitor Center overlooking the
St. Croix Valley features a unique
weather station ecological and wildlife
displays, historical and cultural exhibits,
slide programs, and a wildflower
garden.
SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE PARK...
The park belongs to all Minnesotans.
Treat it with respect.
Hunting in the park and possessing
any weapons are prohibited except
for legally cased weapons.
Pets must be kept on a leash not longer
than six feet. Clean up pet waste.
Wheeled vehicles may not use park
trails, including ATVs dirt bikes and
horse drawn wagons.
Enjoy the animals but do not
approach or feed them.
Leave rocks and plants where they are.
They make up much of the park's
beauty. Do not collect them.
Hikers, snowshoers, dogs and horses
are not allowed on groomed ski trails.
Park and camp only in designated
areas.
All campers must register at the park
office.
Picnickers, backpackers and canoeists
should pack out all trash.
The park is closed from 10:00 P.M.
until 8:00 A.M. except for registered
overnight guests.
Loud noises or other disturbances are
prohibited after 10:00 P.M.
Park entry permits are required for
every motor vehicle and can be
purchased at park headquarters or the
Information Center in St. Paul (see
FOR MORE INFORMATION to
left).

This information is available in
alternative format upon request.
The Department of Natural Resources is an Equal
Opportunity Employer
4/2014 by State of Minnesota,
Department of Natural Resources
WILD RIVER
STATE PARK
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Wild River State Park
39797 Park Trail
Center City, MN 55012
(651) 583-2125

Department of Natural Resources
Information Center
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4040
(651) 296-6157 (Metro Area)
1-888-646-6367 (MN Toll Free)
TDD (Telecommunications
Device for Deaf)
(651) 296-5484 (Metro Area)
1-800-657-3929 (MN Toll Free)
mndnr.gov/parks
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WILD RIVER
STATE PARK
Duluth

Minneapolis/
St. Paul
B
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A
WILD RIVER
STATE PARK
CAMPGROUND
Parking
Camper Cabins
Restrooms/Shower
Trailer Sanitation
Station
Amphitheater
Toilets
Drinking Water
Electric Sites
Underlined site numbers
are RESERVABLE
e
Minnesota
DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES