Is there an entrance fee at Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway?

NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee. Confirm on the official page before a trip.

When is the busiest time to visit?

In 2025 the busiest month was July with 220,884 recreation visits. The quietest was January with 591.

Where pets are allowed, they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet. Pets are not allowed on designated swimming beaches. NPS lists pets as permitted on 2 of its things to do here.

Is the riverway open year-round?

NPS says the rivers can be reached at any hour in every season, but not during dangerous water conditions. Access to landings and trails is seasonal.

All parks › Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway

Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway: fees, hours, camping and when to visit

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on National Park Service data. Published by Humblebee.

Entrance fee: None^[1]
Busiest month (2025): July^[2]
Recreation visits, 2025: 852,296^[3]
Campgrounds: 3^[4]

Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is a National Park System unit in Wisconsin and Minnesota^[5]. NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee^[1].

Entrance fees and passes

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway^[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

NPS says the rivers are open all day all year, except during periods of dangerous water conditions^[6]. Access to landings and trails is seasonal^[6]. In 2025 the busiest month was July with 220,884 recreation visits, and the quietest was January with 591^[2]. NPS notes that early spring melt can bring high, fast and cold water^[7]. Summers are warm and humid, and severe weather can happen from mid-spring through late summer^[7]. Fall colors begin in late September^[7]. Winter can set in early, and ice can start to form on the rivers in early December^[7].

Recreation visits counted by the National Park Service in each month of 2025. The busiest month, July, is highlighted^[2].

Show visits by month

Month, 2025	Recreation visits
January	591
February	6,216
March	6,536
April	19,386
May	112,324
June	167,142
July	220,884
August	167,615
September	89,553
October	56,697
November	4,205
December	1,147

Show visits by year

Year	Recreation visits
2021^[3]	732,100
2022^[3]	833,773
2023^[3]	806,257
2024^[3]	900,828
2025^[3]	852,296

Camping

NPS and Recreation.gov list 3 campgrounds here^[4]. Namekagon District has 67 sites^[4]. Middle Saint Croix has 57 sites^[4]. Lower Saint Croix District has 19 sites^[4]. NPS also lists canoe or kayak camping as an activity^[8].

Namekagon District, 67 sites^[4]
Middle St. Croix, 57 sites
Lower St. Croix District, 19 sites

Pets and dogs

Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet where they are allowed^[9]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches, with service animals excepted^[9]. Each park can close more areas to pets, so check the official park page^[9].

Before you go

NPS lists no entrance fee, but fees and hours change, so confirm on the official park page before you go^[1].
Check water conditions first, since the rivers can close during dangerous water^[6].
NPS lists 2 visitor centers, one on the Saint Croix and one on the Namekagon^[10].
Campgrounds here are listed by NPS and Recreation.gov, so check those listings for details^[4].

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway?: NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee^[1]. Confirm on the official page before a trip.
When is the busiest time to visit?: In 2025 the busiest month was July with 220,884 recreation visits^[2]. The quietest was January with 591^[2].
Are dogs allowed?: Where pets are allowed, they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet^[9]. Pets are not allowed on designated swimming beaches^[9]. NPS lists pets as permitted on 2 of its things to do here^[11].
Is the riverway open year-round?: NPS says the rivers can be reached at any hour in every season, but not during dangerous water conditions^[6]. Access to landings and trails is seasonal^[6].

Facts and sources

NPS lists Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway as a fee-free park: there is no entrance fee. National Park Service
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 732,100, 2022: 833,773, 2023: 806,257, 2024: 900,828, 2025: 852,296. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Campgrounds in Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (list on this page). National Park Service
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Scenic Riverway) in Wisconsin and Minnesota. National Park Service
Operating hours, St. Croix National Scenic Riverway: The St. Croix and Namekagon rivers are open all-day, year-round except for periods of dangerous water conditions. Access to landings and trails is seasonal. National Park Service
NPS weather and seasons overview for Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway. National Park Service
Activities NPS lists for Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway: Boating, Motorized Boating, Camping, Canoe or Kayak Camping, Fishing, Freshwater Fishing, Fly Fishing, Hands-On, Citizen Science, Hiking, Hunting and Gathering, Hunting, Paddling, Canoeing,... National Park Service
National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
Visitor centers listed by NPS: 2 (St. Croix River Visitor Center, Namekagon River Visitor Center). National Park Service
NPS lists 2 things to do at Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway: Paddling The Riverway, Explore the Ridge View Trail, Osceola Loop. Pets permitted on 2 of them (Paddling The Riverway, Explore the Ridge View Trail, Osceola Loop). National Park Service

Fees and hours are what NPS lists in its data at the snapshot date. They change: tell readers to confirm on the official park page before a trip. Visits are NPS recreation visits (counted entries, not unique people). Use them only for this park's own months and years, never to rank parks. Campground list and site counts come from NPS and Recreation.gov records. Count fields can differ slightly between the two. The pet rule is the national baseline (36 CFR 2.15). The park may close more areas to pets. Do not claim specific trails allow dogs unless a fact says so.