Can You Canoe The St Croux River?

The St. Croix and Namekagon rivers offer a variety of family-friendly paddling options, including easy and challenging stretch options. The Chiputneticook Lakes region, which includes some of the largest lakes in Maine and New Brunswick, constitutes the headwaters of the international St. Croix River. Multi-day top canoeing routes on the St. Croix River span approximately 25 trip locations, including canoeing, kayaking, tubing, and shuttling private equipment.

Designated as a Canadian Heritage River, the St. Croix flows along the eastern Maine border with New Brunswick, offering great wilderness scenery and moderate whitewater. Canoe or kayak rentals are available for rent, and the river is one of the cleanest and most beautiful in the country. The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (National Park Service) has twenty-five day canoe trips for first-timers and families with younger kids.

Canoe and kayak camping is a great way to explore and experience the St. Croix River. Erics Canoe and Kayak Rentals offers a local paddle option, allowing you to meander around the river at your leisure. Paddling by canoe or kayak is the most immersive way to enjoy the St. Croix River.

The entire length of both rivers is referred to as William O Brien State Park Landing, which takes an average paddler 5-7 hours. You can either bring your own canoe or kayak or rent. If you launch at one spot and paddle down to another with your own boats, you’ll need to work out the canoe or kayak down the river to Osceola Landing.

In summary, the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers offer a variety of family-friendly paddling options, making them perfect for those looking to explore the beautiful wilderness and wildlife of the area.

How long does it take to canoe the St. Croix River?

Route details. Launch from Interstate State Park Landing (RM 51.5) near Taylors Falls, MN. Paddle 14.8 miles to William O’ Brien State Park Landing (RM 36.7). This trip will take the average paddler 5-7 hours, with some time to explore the backwaters.

Route description. The lower St. Croix, designated as a Wild and Scenic River, is beautiful with its quiet tree-shaded backwaters. It flows through a heavily wooded, steep-sided valley with occasional sandstone and limestone bluffs. Winding side channels and shaded backwaters offer opportunities for quiet exploration and fishing. There are more than 11 free watercraft campsites along this route. These campsites are available for overnight camping on a first-come, first-served basis. Most are reachable only by water.

More information. Download a map and learn more about the St. Croix River State Water Trail.

How cold is the St Croix River?

St. Croix River’s current water temperature is 73°F Todays forecast is, Clear With a high around 91°F and the low around 57°F.

Is St. Croix water safe?

Background: In September and October 2023, the EPA, at the request of the USVI government, conducted a joint sampling of WAPA’s drinking water system on St. Croix, USVI, in response to reports of discolored water. The laboratory analysis revealed elevated levels of lead and copper in samples from 36 locations.

The EPA continues to provide support and guidance to the Territory of USVI as they work to improve drinking water quality, following sampling in the fall of 2023 which indicated elevated levels of lead and copper in some samples from the water distribution system.

The EPA requested that the USVI Water and Power Authority (WAPA) develop and implement a public education campaign to inform customers on how to best protect themselves from lead exposure before lifting the “no drinking or consumption” advisory. With EPA’s support, WAPA developed and is now implementing their campaign, which includes recommendations that WAPA customers should clean their faucet aerators, flush water at their tap prior to consuming water from WAPA’s distribution system, filter their water to provide additional protection, and install lead-free household plumbing. With the implementation of this campaign, EPA supports the USVI’s decision to lift the “do not consume” advisory.

This follows EPA’s Sequential Sampling Study that showed levels of lead at household taps are far lower than those found at the distribution meters that were sampled in September and October of 2023 by WAPA, accompanied by EPA, the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) and the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI).

What is the best section of the St. Croix River to canoe?

Segment SC5 below Nelson’s Landing is especially popular for paddlers who enjoy paddling through riffles, low-hazard rapids and wild back-country. This segment features the Kettle River Slough, the rugged right channel where the river forks around several large islands. Although the slough can be unnavigable in low river levels; in medium to high water conditions the right fork offers gorgeous scenery and fun, challenging whitewater for novice paddlers. There are 19 canoe campsites in this segment, and river access to St Croix State Park (MN).

Whitewater on the St Croix. The most significant rapids occur in segments SC1, SC2 and SC5. SC1 has numerous pitches of rocky class I and II rapids between Gordon Dam and Louise Park Landing. SC2 features Big Fish Trap Rapids, a strong class II that is some of the most difficult whitewater on the St Croix; the rapids begin about a mile above the CCC Bridge Landing and extend for more than half a mile. Big Fish Trap Rapids will rate class III in high water conditions. SC5 has a long succession of class I and class II rapids over a four-mile stretch beginning near Nelson’s Landing. The rapids in the Kettle River Slough are class I to II in medium flows but can produce challenging, class II+ wavetrains during high flows. Watch for the channel-wide ledge on river-right at the forks confluence.The rest of the upper St Croix is mostly flatwater with occasional, shallow riffles and low-hazard rapids.

Canoe/Kayak Camping. Canoe and kayak camping is a great way to explore and experience the St Croix River. The St Croix National Scenic Riverway (National Park Service) has twenty-two individual and twenty-one group campsites for canoe camping on the Upper St Croix River, between Gordon Dam Landing and Highway 70 Landing. Individual sites accommodate up to three tents and/or eight people, while the group sites hold up to six tents and/or sixteen people. There are no fees for accessing, camping, or parking in any of the National Scenic Riverway areas. There is a three night limit of stay. All sites are on a first-come, first-served basis. No glass beverage containers are allowed on the riverway!

Is the St. Croix River clean?

St. Croix River. The St. Croix River offers good water quality, excellent fisheries, and a thriving mussel population. There are some concerns, including phosphorus levels and resulting algae in two sections of the river, with more threats to water quality on the horizon. As one of the first rivers in the United States to be designated as wild and scenic, with special protections, the St. Croix River needs protective measures more than ever.

Minnesota River. Overall, the Minnesota River is unhealthy. Sediment clouds the water, phosphorus causes algae, nitrogen poses risks to humans and fish, and bacteria make the water unsafe for swimming. Too much water flowing into the river plays a big part in all these problems.

Red River of the North. There are a number of concerns about the health of the Red River of the North. In general, fish and aquatic insect communities are doing reasonably well, but decline as you go downstream. In various sections of the Red River of the North there is too much sediment which makes it harder for many fish to find food, detect predators and reproduce. Some sections are also impaired for swimming due to high bacteria levels. Phosphorous levels within the river impact downstream waters and nitrogen levels are increasing.

Has an alligator been found in the St. Croix River?

Some visitors to Thayer’s Landing near Danbury, WI must have gotten a shock yesterday when they discovered a caiman, a member of the alligator family, in the water. The site is about 15 miles east of Hinckley, where Highway 77 crosses the river.

Tropical lizard found on the upper river, where it was likely abandoned by its owner.

Somevisitors to Thayer’s Landingnear Danbury, WI must have gotten a shock yesterdaywhen they discovered a caiman, a member of the alligator family, in the water. The site is about 15 miles east of Hinckley, where Highway 77 crosses the river.

The animal was dead, most likely releasedby an irresponsible pet owner, or possibly escaped. The visitors who found it brought the animal to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources office in Webster.

Is it safe to eat fish from the St. Croix River?

Croix River fish that scientists tested for new toxins had high levels. Fish samples from the lower river contain high enough amounts to limit consumption.

Fish samples from the lower river contain high enough amounts to limit consumption.

Last week, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announced it had found elevated amounts of industrial chemicals called PFAS in the flesh of fish from the St. Croix River. The substances are toxic, hurting child development, They originate from sources like 3M’s closed landfills in Oakdale.

Agency scientists have now shared more details about just how much PFAS they found. The average amount in the fish sampled from the river was 32 nanogram per gram, said Miranda Nichols of the Water Assessment Section.

Can you float down the St. Croix River?

Enjoy the hot and hazy days of summer tubing on the St. Croix or Namekagon Rivers. Imagine floating the day away along the gentle current and riffles of this scenic riverway! Witness the beauty and tranquility along this northwoods river as dragonflies swirl about on the breeze above you and native fish swim below. Travel at the pace of the river current for a wonderful day on the waters of these pristine rivers.

What to Bring. Wear a bathing suit or quick drying shorts and shirt. Old sneakers, aqua socks, or river sandals will protect your feet from rocks. A towel and dry change of clothes packed in a plastic bag come in handy at the journey’s end and you can put your wet suit in the bag! Protect yourself from the sun with a wide-brimmed hat sunglasses and sunscreen. Many tubers leave the river with a severe case of sunburn. Bring along food and water, too. And don’t forget your sense of adventure as you travel at the pace of nature for the day.

Things to Know. Help keep the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers a beautiful place to visit by following these rules:·

How clean is St. Croix River?

Croix River offers good water quality, according to an assessment by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). In the upper reaches of the river, the water quality fully supports standards designed to protect aquatic life and recreation.

How deep is the deepest part of the St. Croix River?

70 feet The St. Croix’s depth here averages 70 feet, but holes are as deep as 100 feet. Today the Dalles area is preserved in the Interstate Parks of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Below the (Minnesota) William O’Brien State Park the St. Croix River flows through a heavily wooded, steep-sided valley with occasional sandstone and limestone bluffs. Dozens of islands, winding side channels and shaded backwaters offer opportunities for quiet exploration. The Soo Line Railroad bridge (RM 31) is an imposing steel arch bridge more than 150 feet above the river. Towering stone piers a mile downstream are all that remain of another old railroad bridge.

South of the railroad bridge is the St. Croix Boomsite Park, several long narrow islands where millions of logs were sorted and floated downriver to mills during the state’s logging heyday in the last half of the 19th century.

On the precipitous sandstone cliffs bordering the west bank of the river three miles north of Stillwater the Dakota Indians carved and painted vermillion figures and images, long since erased by time and man. Indian burial mounds were once numerous in the lower St. Croix valley, but over the years most have been lost to agriculture and construction.

How clean is St Croix River?

Croix River offers good water quality, according to an assessment by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). In the upper reaches of the river, the water quality fully supports standards designed to protect aquatic life and recreation.

Is St. Croix River safe to swim in?

Overall the water quality of the St. Croix is very good. The river is known as one of the most pristine in the Midwest, surrounded by a large percentage of natural areas like forests and wetlands, which helps to support good water quality.