If using a GPS
use this address:
19074 St.
Croix Trail North, Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047
Phone: 651-433-0500
This unique
park makes for a fun day trip that is only about one hour from the twin cities.
Go for a hike while enjoying the scenic prairies, forested hills,
wetlands, and floodplains of the St. Croix River. William O'Brien State
Park is 2,200 acres and full of wildlife. As you walk through the
restored oak savanna, you will see many birds, butterflies, as well as dragonflies.
You will also see beaver dams and diverse vegetation including an
abundance of wildflowers in the spring and summer.
The river
offers a beautiful backdrop for canoeing or a nice opportunity to test your
fishing skills. There is a swimming
beach on Lake Alice within the park. If
you enjoy camping, there are 114 campsites (71 with electricity hook up) and
four camper cabins. There are also two
group campsites.
History
Once most of
the white pine had been logged from the St. Croix Valley by the mid-1800s,
lumber baron William O’Brien purchased a large swath of land for his estate.
His daughter, Alice donated 180 acres along the riverfront to the state in 1945
in memory of her father. Additional
parcels of land were gradually added to the park, including Greenberg Island in
1958 and an additional 120 acres in 1973.
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