State Park · Minnesota
The Dalles of the St. Croix at Taylors Falls: deep basalt cliffs, the world's deepest known glacial potholes, riverboat tours, and reservable camping above the gorge.
Field briefing
Interstate State Park starts with access, not mileage.
Before you go
Croix in Taylors Falls, the Minnesota half of a two-state park famous for its glacial potholes and basalt gorge. Plan it around the short Pothole Trail, the riverside walk, and the dramatic cliffs, with riverboat tours and climbing for those who want more. You need a Minnesota vehicle permit, and the campground is reservable.
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Cool with high water in the St. Croix and greening cliffs above the gorge.
Pack Rain shell, layers, and grippy footwear for wet rock near the potholes.
Warm and busy, with riverboat tours, rock climbing, and paddling on the St. Croix.
Pack Water, sun protection, and sturdy shoes for uneven basalt.
The signature season, with brilliant color framing the basalt gorge and river.
Pack Warm layer, headlamp for shorter days, and traction for leaf-covered rock.
Cold and quiet, with the gorge dramatic under snow and reduced services.
Pack Insulation, traction, and a plan for limited winter facilities.
Glacial potholes and the Dalles
The park's signature geology: deep cylindrical potholes drilled into basalt by glacial meltwater, including the 60-foot Bottomless Pit, the deepest explored pothole in the world.
River Trail along the St. Croix
A walk along the wild and scenic St. Croix beneath the basalt cliffs of the Dalles.
Rock climbing and riverboat tours
The Dalles cliffs are a regional climbing spot, and seasonal paddleboat tours run the gorge from Taylors Falls.
Put permit timing ahead of ambition, then build the route around what is actually approved. For one day in Interstate State Park, make Glacial potholes and the Dalles the non-negotiable, add River Trail along the St. Croix only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Rock climbing and riverboat tours as the flexible finish.
Turn Interstate's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around access
Plan the transfer before the trail list.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Interstate State Park. Tune the route, pack weight, weather margin, and overnight setup after the access plan is real.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Interstate State Park packing list
0 of 22 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
22 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Interstate asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
The campground has about 37 sites, including electric loops and outer river-access sites, reservable through the Minnesota system. Reserve early for fall color. The town of Taylors Falls is right at the park, and nearby St. Croix Falls across the river in Wisconsin and the larger Stillwater area add lodging and dining.
Camping reservations
The campground is small, and fall-color weekends along the St. Croix are the busiest window. Lock the site before building the trip.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Minnesota state park campsites require a reservation before occupancy, including same-day stays, through the official Minnesota reservation system.
Where to book or verify
Official Minnesota DNR reservation portal for Interstate campsites.
Official Minnesota DNR page for the potholes, trails, and camping.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Make the transfer plan before the trail plan.
Weather windows, boat schedules, flight buffers, and backup days shape what is realistic.
Getting there
Arrival note
Interstate State Park is in Taylors Falls, about an hour northeast of the Twin Cities off Highway 8.
Transfer plan
A car is the practical way to reach the park and move between the pothole area, the campground, and the riverboat dock.
Local movement
The Minnesota and Wisconsin halves of the park are separate units on either side of the St. Croix, so confirm which side you mean, because each requires its own state permit.
Pair this with lodging: the best base is the one that protects the departure window, pickup point, or weather buffer.
They are deep cylindrical holes drilled into the basalt bedrock by sand and stones swirling in glacial meltwater more than 10,000 years ago. The park includes the Bottomless Pit, the deepest explored pothole in the world at about 60 feet.
Yes. A Minnesota state park vehicle permit is required, about $7 for a day permit or $35 annually. Camping fees are separate. The Wisconsin side of the park requires its own Wisconsin permit.
It was the first state park in the country to span two states, with units in both Minnesota and Wisconsin straddling the Dalles of the St. Croix River. Each side is run by its own state and needs its own permit.
Yes. Seasonal paddleboat tours run from Taylors Falls through the Dalles gorge, offering a water-level view of the basalt cliffs. The Dalles cliffs are also a popular regional rock-climbing spot.