Reviews of William O'Brien State Park. (Sports Complex) in Minneapolis (Minnesota).

William O'Brien State Park

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388 Comments

Sports Complex

State park

16821 O Brien Trail N, Marine on St Croix, MN 55047, United States

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Information of William O'Brien State Park, Sports Complex in Minneapolis (Minnesota)

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Reviews of William O'Brien State Park

Jay Shen

This is a solid state park for beautiful scenery around Lake Alice. People come here to camp, to canoe, to swim, to fish, and to hike. There is something for everyone to do. Besides, the view from the end of a trail around the lake is gorgeous. The Cascade Falls is also very closeby, so make sure you check it out at the same time when you are around the area.

April Kingvonmende

Beautiful park and campsites. Amenities top notch. Unfortunately the staff we delt with were cold and unwelcoming. Bathrooms were a mess. After being there for 5 days I only saw the floors mopped. The rest of the bathrooms were not cleaned. The other single toilets in the park were full and unusable. But with that said I would go back because of the amazing views and trials.

Eric Simmons

Close to the East Metro and plenty to see. The trail along the river is easy and a lot of color in the fall. Neat little creek flowing into the St. Croix river that is fun to hike up as well. No cell reception whatsoever (Verizon in Fall 2022) in the entire lower river front part of the park.

Steven Mosborg

Always enjoy visiting William O'Brien State Park along the St. Croix River on scenic MN-95 no matter the season. A great place to hike, camp, picnic, canoe/kayak, swim and fish with beautiful views. Nice park office, gift shop, visitor center, and camper cabins too. Something for everyone with easy access Lake Alice...and only an hour's drive from the Twin Cities. Check it out!

Irishgirl 7 of 9

Most of the trails are level 2, easy for most. Visit this park during the week or the off season to really enjoy all that it has to offer. Today was 33 and a light mist, perfect and peaceful!

Glorkar Floki

Fantastic park. Ended up taking a modified version of the Hiking Club route. The scenery was just perfect in early October. One of my favorite things was that all of the Trail intersections were clearly marked and had maps posted. It's nice wandering around some times, but it's also nice to know where exactly you are when you're a few miles away from your car.

Muhammad Shahzad

It’s a nice state park, good lake area for swimming for kids. Area for getting access to river. Area for trailer parking. Good trails for nice hike.

Kiara Pederson

Great place for the family! This park offers multiple spots for kayaking, fishing, canoeing, grilling and camping. There is a playground with several trail options that are easy to moderate in difficulty for walking/hiking. I can see this place being great for snowshoeing as well.

Nate Swanson

Fun Park to bring the family, campsites are a little close to each other in my opinion but other then that plenty of places to explore MN summers

Carrie Wilmot

Beautiful Autumn Dawn with clear skies. Took the Southern trail from the parking lot on county road 4. This is probably one of the least known areas of the Park, so it's quiet. I just want to add that I have recently begun using the free GPS enabled MN State Park maps in the Avenza app and they are great. Now I can pinpoint exactly where I am along a trail. There are often a few trails in the parks that are not shown on the maps. The GPS allows me to check whether I am at the junction of map marked trails.

Rosy Sánchez

This park offers multiple places to kayak, fish, canoe, grill, and camp, with several trail options that are easy to moderate in difficulty for walking or hiking. Went on a short hike and loved it.

Mike Pilgrim

I want to camp here! Great random choice on the state parks near me choice. It twas a great time

Carey Goedel

Had a WONDERFUL camping trip there recently; Camper Cabin was cozy and relaxing, beautiful hiking trails (especially the Prairie Overlook Trail), Park staff was soooo helpful and friendly, bathrooms and vault toilets were clean; was a fantastic camping trip!

Murad Ilyasov

Very nice park with plenty of camping for group and individual campers. Picnic area is nice and clean with well maintained volleyball field along with a decent beach and swimming space. Some of the group camping grounds are right on the way and would have been better if they were somewhat tucked in for better privacy…

Pavithra S

Nice little beach, good place to canoe/kayak/boat. Good picnic area. We couldn’t stay here for long, so we did the short loop near the river. There is a quite little spot near this trail from where you can step down closer to the river and watch the people pass by on their boats. Would definitely go back to explore more of the park!

Katie Doucet

It was a bright, sunny day and great for getting outside. William O'Brien State Park was a nice choice for the day. There were trees to provide some shade and great river views and Alice Lake. I looked and saw several different flowers blooming already. It would be fun to come back and use the beach or campground. There was one bathroom open, but the drinking fountains were off and the rental area was closed.

Aidan Belleau

Great wetlands, good change up from standard minnesota hikes. Would be nice to have free day use and free parking.

Bryce Andres

Fun hiking club trail, saw some deer run by. Beautiful sunset

Elizabeth McKay Sinacori

We had a wonderful times taking the dogs to this local state park over the weekend. The parking was easy and the maps were accurate, we had no trouble finding our way around. The hiking trails are very reasonable and well maintained and views of the St. Croix River were impeccable! There are also fire pits, places to camp, restrooms and everything else that you could possibly want to feel at home in the great outdoors! I highly recommend this state park for good day trip for you and your family!

Russell Commers

One of the better state park campgrounds we've been to. Facilities were clean and well maintained. Staff was incredibly helpful and friendly as well as very present. Campsites were good and riverview trail was a great walk. Beach is awesome and provides hours of entertainment for the kids. Cell service can be spotty, which wasn't a problem for us just something to note.

Molly M

State park near the Twin Cities that has a lot to offer! Nice hiking trails, on the St Croix River, Lake Alice near the river, benches and beaches, picnic tables and shelters. We hiked the 1.6 mile Riverside Trail, enjoying the fresh air and scenic beauty of the river and woods.

Kallie Blair

We spent the weekend here with my brother & his family as well as our Mother. Everyone had a wonderful time. Great kayaking, nice beach, the park rangers were wonderful and the hiking trails were beautiful! I would love to take our family again!

Tim Eichten

Cheap access to this state park with so much to do from hiking and fishing to comping and kayaking. The hiking trails are great and they are very family friendly. They also hold many cool events for kids and very interesting for adults that teach you about the animals and the land. Top notch cheap fun , pack a cooler and spend the day you will not get bored!

Knorr

Absolutely gorgeous with the Fall colors. campsite was clean and bathrooms were well maintained. The hiking trails were wide. Occasionally muddy. I don't know how great it would have been in the summer.

Jayden Jones

This entire park is just beautiful. Well kept and the people around are so very friendly! Me and a few friends went camping here and it was a lovely lovely week, couldn't have enjoyed ourselves more! The water here runs clear and doesn't brown over time like other camp sites, it also doesn't taste like hell which is wonderful. Definitely go here for a wholesome camping experience.

Bruce Riley

We camped here for three nights. Well maintained campground. We took advantage of the walking trails. They are well maintained and documented very well. This is a great place for a day trip or overnight. We'll definitely be back.

Cinde Morris

Absolutely gorgeous anytime of year. You can easily spend a few hours hiking all of the trails. The visitor center has bathrooms.

Banle Gaar

Came here after the intense (though rather quick) rain and windstorm. Only one part of a trail was flooded but who cares when you have boots. Great park to visit with the prairie fields, woods, bog and hilltop sections of this park. Love to see a variety of the environment at a park, especially right after rain happens. Everything blooms and becomes green again.

Ben Cedarberg

Ray park near the city with lots of amenities. Excellent hiking. We enjoy some of the hiking trails Less Traveled that are separate with stand-alone parking lots. Mini picnic areas with benches outhouses semi modern plumbing. A nice Beach on Lake Alice. Good fishing piers and boat launch. Dump station near the entrance. Two large wooded campgrounds with connected walking trails. The Riverside Campground has some sites nearly adjacent to the st. Croix River and connect to the trails running along the river. One downside for a family is that there is no outdoor playground. Visitor Center often has Ranger and naturalist lead courses on the weekend in the summer.

Albert Vierling

Located on a river environmentally protected since at least 1945. Probably makes St. Croix THE cleanest river in the United States. Trails are wide and well kept. Nearby Lake Alice has a fishing pier with so many pan fish they could be seen all around the entire T-shaped dock. Locals day trip here for canoe and kayak rentals. Community building has showers able to accommodate wheelchairs.

Kelsey Chavalas

Wide grass walking paths, nice 5.3 mile loop for running with not too many large hills. Early October is great for fall leaves along the hill, most by the river had already fallen.

Adam Borgstahl

Great park. Lots of trails, has the lake and the rivers both. Also has wooded trails and prairie trails. Little to no bugs when we went and included awesome educational signs for my kids to learn about the history of the area.

Sarah Carsello

Great hiking trails! We were only able to hike the paved paths by Lake Alice but truly enjoyed the trees, stream, and kayakers on the river. The views from the river bluffs and from the shoreline of Lake Alice were breathtaking. The restrooms are closed, leaving only porta potties as an option. Lots of bugs...bring spray!

Grace Gilbert

We decided to take a last minute, over-night trip. We arrived and found that there were still plenty of spots available. The staff was VERY friendly and the campsites were well maintained (including the restrooms and showers.) At each campsite there is a picnic table and a small fire pit with a grate over top. The spot we got was right along the edge of the marsh and we got to watch the sunset. The trails here are amazing. Even though spring was not in full bloom (everything was still dead and brown from winter) it was still an amazing site. This park offers a variety of different loops and trails, we went around the Prairie Overlook Trail , the Beaver Lodge Trail, and the Wetlands Trail. There were a variety of birds throughout the trails, beaver lodges in the water, and Beautiful views of the rolling hills that surround that part of Minnesota. Highly suggest this place, even if its just for the day.

Thomas Connors

I have been visiting William O'Brien regularly for 30 years. At first, it was a spot to launch my boat when the river was high enough to run south to my favorite fishing spot. The river is beautiful! I have run, skied, and hiked every inch of the trails. This past weekend I camped in the park for the 1st time. I would like to extend a special thank you to Wayne Boerner, the Park Manager. He offered to open the back camping area to us, so we could enjoy one more night of the record temps in MN. I can’t remember ever being so welcomed by a park employee. Thank you and all of your staff!

Susan Mortensen

One of the cleanest and most peaceful camping spots. Great for tents as well as trailers. Wonderful restrooms, showers. The camping spaces are not all crammed together and it was so relaxing...a weekend is not enough.

Sarah D

Beautiful park with miles of hiking and a very clear and clean lake for swimming. The trails are well groomed and even in CoVid the rangers were really helpful!

James Aukema

Nice ski trails in the winter. Surprisingly wide skate deck in most places. The main trail is uphill for a long ways and then back down to the marsh. Prairie Overlook trail has quite the hill in the back but it makes for a nice view & a quick trip down!

Jennifer

Nice hiking trails, some along the St. Croix River. Great for walking the dog. Bring along some bug spray as the mosquitoes can swarm at times in the wooded areas.

Todd Downing

Went camping here. It was great!!! Quite. Clean. Lots of things to do near by. Had a really good time and would definitely go again. Firewood was pretty expensive. $7 per bundle over 3 days was around $80. Clerk at the Marine on St. Croix General Store was extremely rude.

Amy Hollerud

Wonderful park, easy drive from MSP area. Hiking trails take you through wetlands with beavers+dams, prairie with a variety of songbirds, and through forest areas. People traffic has thinned out after the fall color change so parking is much easier and trails are less populated. I've gone twice this fall, intending to visit the river but both trips I was so enamored with the other trails I didn't make it to the river #notsad Amenities (bathrooms and visitor center window services) were open as-of Oct. 31, 2020

Aaron N

What a fantastic state park. I went for a day hike, but the camping areas seem great too. The sites on the upper half of the park have old growth trees surrounding the sites. I never The trails were amazing, very well kept, even for early spring. The trails take you through marsh, heavily wooded forest, rivers, and prairie fields. One thing I look for when going to a park is how well they are maintained and how well the park is signed. This state park has been the best so far. I don't think there was one fork in the trail that didn't have a sign with a detailed map and a noted spot of where you were along with distances till the next fork in the trail. Within this park you should see and hear a great amount of wildlife. Everything from deer, frogs, beaver, and all sorts of bird life. Truly a nice park, I will be back for sure.

Lindsey Foley

We wanted a campground within an hour of the twin cities for us to camp with our two you kids(5 and 3). This one had everything we wanted on paper so we camped here for a weekend. Cons: 1) the river has bluffs all along it where the walking trail is. Its about a 10-15 foot drop in to the water, making it extremely stressful and dangerous to walk with young kids who just want to look in to the water. 2) the campsites are small and super close together. Get one along the edge of the trees or else you can hear your neighbors scratch themselves, you're that close. 3) if you go during leaf change in the fall i bet its beautiful, but in june it was not anything especially scenic. Nothing you wouldnt see in any other park near the cities. Pros: 1) lake alice has a large sandy swimming beach and a fishing pier. These 2 areas were great for our young kids. 2. The bathrooms and showers were sparkling clean and there is a secondary family toilet for use when the main bathrooms are being cleaned 3. Proximity to side trips- fawn doe rossa, interstate park and franconia sculpture park are all within about 25 minutes of the park. Fawn doe Rossa is an absolute MUST if you want to get out of the park! It was the highlight of the trip. Plus at only 45 minutes from home its a manageable drive with young kids.

Andrew Sean

William O'brien State Park is a precious area of natural forest, prairie land, and marshland filled with trails to explore and plenty of wildlife to observe. It is definitely worth a visit, any time of year!

Ben Nelson

Well groomed trails with scenic over looks. Nice sandy swimming area for kids. Didn't camp, but the sites looked good sized and well maintained. Great swimming area with shaded picnic spots surrounding the beach.

Kari Johnson

This is a great State Park close to the Twin Cities. There are some easy, but pretty trails with views along the St. Croix River and Lake Alice. Bring a picnic lunch and/or your hammock to enjoy the park after your hike.

Ishara Waduge

A beautiful state park. Can be buggy though. Nice trails. Deers and pretty flowers on the way

Corine Kohler

Beautiful trails next to the water. About an hour worth of walking, so not too much if you don't have a lot of time.

Mick Roush

Went to the beach area for a Fathers Day get together and it was great! Plenty of picnic tables and space in the shade as it was 90 degrees! Our group was about 25 people. Park Rangers were around keeping an eye on things but friendly and cordial. Bathrooms were in good shape and the handicapped bathrooms were ok. Could be a little bigger. (My wife is in a wheelchair.) All in all though it was a great place!

Todd Mulvihill

Located in the St. Croix Valley Riverway, this MN State Park is an easy destination to reach from the Twin Cities for an abundance of outdoor activities: camping, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, Geo-caching, and more. At just over an hour drive time, the scenery will transition from dense metropolitan area to less dense small town to sparse villages with quaint, picturesque buildings, some heavily influenced in Scandanavian heritage. Autumn is a fantastic time to make this drive and visit the park - fall color can be outstanding on the drive as well as in the park. Campsites are good size, but close together with minimal separation. If you are looking for a more secluded site, reserve one of the walk-ins. There are also two campgrounds offering you the choice of more wooded landscapes or savannah. Restroom facilities are functional, but dated.

Charlie Gray

Park overall is vary beautiful nice water areas Campsites are really small the park ranges are vary bug you kind of people they just look for reasons to come look for reasons the flush bathrooms with showers are nice but the others I would stay away from with all the ranges up you butt around here you would think one could keep up with the camp bathrooms iv been to alot of the state parks here in Minnesota this one I won't be returning too

Jim Pearsall

All the usual park features plus more trails than most. Great 6 mile run or ski loop with hills that provide a workout.

Nick Stark

The river trail is great for kids - lots of lookouts over the river and Lake Alice. Trail is about 2 miles long and is mostly flat - great scenic fall color views in October.

Gyeoung-Jin Kang

This is a great state park even in winter. The snowy trails along the frozen St Croix River were really great. Many people were enjoying Nordic skiing. Some adventurous people were also enjoying camping (including me...🤣) …

Will P

Fun place to explore with the dog! Practically empty on a holiday when compared to other state parks.

Alex Burlingame

Beautiful park and nice staff but beware of camping there as it gets crowded and noisy. I had an incident with a family while camping during the week about noise they didn't seem to care and the campground host was worthless. Isn't it their job to keep the peace ? If it wasn't for that I would give it 5 stars.

Victoria Beckmann

Went on a short hike and loved it. The paths are well maintained and there are spots designed to get you down right next to, or even in, the st croix river. The interpretive center had nice and clean bathrooms.

Trypp Adams

Cross country skiers paradise! Per past experiences with William O'Brian, it's very exclusive with 80% of the park being devoted to cross country skiers during the winter and only the riverside trail being available to hikers/snowshoeing. I'm not sure why trails couldn't be side by side through the rest of the park... seems like such a waste or limited use...

Luke Price

The river walk was a delightful, extremely easy hike filled with fall colors on the St Croix. Definitely recommend a trip.

Trudi Greaves

Beautiful hiking with wide grassy paths. Very familyvand dog friendly.

Mary Spaid

We enjoyed the river walk with our 2 grown daughters and 5 grandchildren! The children enjoyed the visitor center too.

Tonia Friday

William O’Brien is my favorite state park to hike in the area. It has many trails with various distances to go. The trails are kept wonderfully! If you go in one trail where the beaver dam is, you may even see a beaver!

Scott Walmsley

Fantastic place to visit. Staff were extremely nice. Beautiful place to walk and explore. Update 2021: Super friendly staff and ranger. Canoe rental is a must. Paddling the river adds a dimension of fun to the park.

Ron Fisher

Great park with GREAT bathrooms and showers! what a treat to have in a campground. Plus the park Ranger are so nice! I didnt get her name, but she had brown hair.... anyway super nice! helped us out a lot last friday night. Friendly and knowledgeable. Top notch staff here. plus its only 45 minutes from the cities. We will for sure go back.

Chano

Very beautiful river trail that we took. Definitely will come here again. The colors were pretty awesome.

Lynda Decker

What a beautiful park! Walk, hike, canoeing, biking and more. Just driving through is a great escape into nature.

Adam Lesperance

Pretty good. I prefer backpack sites but made do with car camping for a little bit. Nice trails and it's right on the river

Donald Callies

What a perfect secret so close to the cities. Hiking trails are wide and well maintained, beautiful views at almost every turn walking the savannah trails while the riverside trail offers a close personal experience with the St. Croix river and lake alice. The campsites are large and fairly private in the savannah area, a little smaller and more open at the riverside area but still very well maintained with clean facilities. Many interesting places to visit nearby: Crabtree, Brookside, PY's to name a few. We're already planning our next visit.

Ellen Walters

A very nice park. I definitely would go back to camp again. It seemed to mostly be campsites and hiking trails.

Arvind Naik

Beautiful, calm and serene place. The river was like a mirror, never seen before. Worth spending an hour at least.

Tanaya datta

It's a cute little park. We went for fall color hike. Nice hike though fall color was good, not outstanding. I guess it was almost past peak.

Steven LaMere

William O'Brian was an outstanding terminal point for our group of 10 kayakers to come ashore and have a picnic to closeout our trek.

Deborah Huebner

Great hiking trail. RV spot tight to get in even with a small travel trailer. Cut down trees which would make it easier to park. Park Ranger came by could not park pickup on grass.

Chris Ross

This State Park has a swimming beach. Camper cabins are available but you need to reserve them 12 months in advance. What I like about this park is that it is a reasonable drive from the Twin Cities. WiFi is available for those who can’t disconnect.

CHINSHIAN LIN

During the summer, the hiking trail is so nice. It is shady and easy to walk. Suggestion: Must to bring and put lots of bug spray on.

Luke Gorski

If you are going to hike anywhere up the hill on the south and west sides of the park, you will want sunscreen. The trails along the river and Lake Alice are the better ones in the park, if you want to hike up the hill, the north end of the park is more interesting than the south end.

Alan Quigley

Very nice camp grounds, pity about lake Alice been full of mill foil. The people were very friendly and helpful.

Craig Willford

I have happy memories of this place from when I was a boy. Still beautiful and easy to get to. Looking forward to more camping here.

Erick Greene

Always love going to this park since High School. Beautiful and clean environment.

Rhonda Rounds

Beautiful place. Didn't catch any fish, but it was a lovely place with good shore fishing along the river.

Ira Mitchell

Close and congested. Campsites aren’t great. So many better parks in the state.

Grayson Fortenberry

Nice trails, very busy, hoping to go back to explore more.

Jordan Buggert

I was severely disappointed with this park. I was so excited to have a nice park close by when interstate is super busy and it had been highly recommended by many people. It's well maintained and some of the scenery is plenty pretty, but nothing overly unique. However, the trails are not marked at all. We had no idea what trail was which or where the trailhead was because there were no trail signs. And the map is wrong (and yes, I know how to read a map, I'm an avid hiker). We took a turn based on what the mapped showed and ended up in a completely random spot that made no sense. May go back to try the lake because I've heard it's nice, but unless you're content getting lost, I wouldn't recommend hiking. If you want a good hike and beautiful scenery, I would go to Willow River State Park instead.

Brianna McCarver

Absolutely beautiful!! In live with the grounds and the surrounding area.

Heather Peach

We come here every year for the 4th of July. Great picnic area and beach. We saw a deer on our way out this time!

Cigar Gal

So much fun!!! The girls swam across the shallow river as I stayed back with our day packs and magnet fished finding all sorts of.....fish hooks😅 …

Art Arsenault

Excellent park to visit in the winter. They have a great river side hiking loop that is a little over 3 miles of groomed snow. The 3 mile loop starts and ends from the Visitors Center parking lot.

Anthony Brindamour

Awesome park. Did a river trip yesterday & the water was very low in some areas but was still able to find some fishing holes. Started the day with a thick fog, saw some deer along the riverside & a lot of bald eagles. Right now the current is slow, perfect time to get out on a kayak!

Jeremy Peterson

Nice park. Great hiking along the river and through the woods and prairies. Excellent fall color viewing.

Tim Johnson

Great place to camp with nice views of St Croix river and good hiking. Only downside was mosquitoes were crazy bad!

Satira Kay Kramer (Santana)

This place is paradise! Every bit of it and we can't wait to come back!

Rachael Ryhn

My husband and I decided to take a spring drive and ended up wandering into the park. This was our first time here - and what a hidden gem it is! We parked in the beach / picnic lot and were instantly in awe of the beauty that surrounded us. The lake (with small beach) is hugged by a serene backdrop of tall trees on an incline, with the beach perfectly tucked in for an intimate aesthetic. There were only a handful of people around, including a family swimming in the lake. We thought they were brave since it's only the last week of May, so we had to check it out for ourselves. We took our shoes off and tiptoed in, and to our surprise, the water was quite warm. This is the perfect place for a relaxing day outing with the family. We look fo brward to coming back to do just that. I'm looking forward to exploring more of this beautiful location.

Chris Matko

Great place for a hike. Lots to explore along the river, with great views.

M's Adventures

A really nice place to hike. The parking wasn't terribly well labeled, so I ended up having to hike up and down the huge hill to get to the riverside trail. I will definitely go back, and next time I will know better.

Lukas Paul

This is my family's favorite place to camp because there is so much to do in the park. There is fishing, kayaking, swimming, biking and lots of walking paths. In the morning you can go sit along the riverbanks and read a book, and then relax at your camp spot. You can swim in the nice swimming beach and watch the sun set on the fishing pier. If you are looking for a amazing place to camp then this is the place for you.

John Schulte

This park is close to the twin cities (about 45 minutes) and makes for a great day trip with plenty of cool hiking trails. Great place to go kayaking too, Twin Cities Kayaking can deliver kayaks there so you can paddle around the islands on the St. Croix River.

Hailey Sweeney

Gorgeous trails, plenty wide enough to remain socially distanced. Stunning scenery everywhere. Rest stops with restrooms every so often on the trails. This park tends to be quieter, so if you're looking for an added measure of peace, William O'Brien is always a good choice. It's a favorite of mine.

Kia Vang

Beautiful park. Took a canoeing class there and our instructors were great!! Thanks Maya and Morgan!!

rita bulger

This park is a gem!. Go down to the river for beautiful walk by the river and lake. Lots of wild life. Or go by the nature center for prairie walks and beaver ponds. How lucky we are to have this so close. Even on a busy day, like we've had during the pandemic, the park doesn't feel crowded.

Mysnikol Miller

First time visiting. Just a quick overnight. Will definitely be back!

Chris Haynes

This is a very nice state park with just a quick drive from the Twin Cities. There are two campgrounds. Savannah and River way. There are many hiking trails, a swimming beach, boat launch, fishing dock, horseshoe pits and more. The campgrounds have nice bathrooms and showers. There are several electric sites and very nice private tent sites.

Ashley Pieri

Gorgeous hiking trails for people of any experience. It was fun for the kids to see all the wildflowers and different kinds of caterpillars. The beach always looks super busy so we did not attempt to stay and swim but, the ranger was friendly and the hiking trails were beautiful and well maintained.

Allan Spray

Peaceful, quiet, and just a beautiful park. Very spacious sites also with picnic tables and a fire pit.

Pete Boisclair

My friend and I loved the hiking trails here; very good workout and the views at the Prairie Overlook Trail were gorgeous as well as along the Beaver Dam Lodge Trail! We saw three different beaver dams which was really cool to see. Grateful that places like this are preserved for everyone to enjoy! Get outside and plan your visit to a local state park!

Joshua Madetzke

Nice area to get away from the city without driving too far. From woods to prairie to water, there's something for everyone. There are lots of good hiking trails.

Erica Parsons

Hands down one of our favorite places to camp! There is a nice restroom/bath house and the Riverway Campground is our favorite. There are some really pretty trails right along the St. Croix River and nearby town Marine on St. Croix is a fun little spot to grab a drink or dinner if it’s raining.

Corey Popp

Beautiful trails in the spring, summer fall for walking. I believe only cross country skiers can go on the trails in winter. This place gets really busy between 10 and 2.

Sarah Magnuson

One of my favorite places to hike. Lots of options from a fairly flat 3 miler to a hilly 5 to 9 miler. The best!

Kevin Revier

Very nice State park. Lots of hiking trails. Yep campgrounds with nice spots. No Verizon reception. Fire rings are too tall-not good air flow and can't enjoy a normal sized fire.

Fiona Demel

a very nice park for both winter and summer activities. Lots of back wood trails and great cross country skiing. Nice summer options by the water. The lowland trails are subject to light flooding in the spring so check beforehand if you plan on doing a long hike

Shirley H.

August 2021 was a Beautiful day in William O'Brian State Park on the St Croix River

Robby Dube

Nice, natural paths with ample parking and good views of fall colors. It's a state park, so you'll need to buy a day pass if you don't have a season pass. Mine was $7.

Michelle Dobbratz

Two short loops available for winter hiking- 1.6 miles and 2 miles. Nice scenery along the way- worth the drive to get out of the city. Plenty of cross country ski trails available if that's you're thing. I hear it's even prettier in the summer.

Dan Schannach

The trails and scenery are awesome!!! I love this park!

Austin Sego

Very well-kept park. There are many trails to hike on, and there is a beautiful river walk right outside some of the campgrounds. The campsites are nice as well -- ones around the perimeter are separated by trees and brush, so it makes it a little more private.

T tsurv53

Great Park and Great Trails. Campground is good, bathrooms are dated and worn need to be updated. All campsites should have electricity. There is Winery close by that was fun to visit.

Saul Nunez

Private, big enough to walk and paddle for days. Loved it!

Cathy Zucker

Very well maintained park, well marked trails

Ann Rinkenberger

Very convenient to our home so it was a great first introduction to camping in the camper cabins with young children. Easy trails along the river for hiking make for an enjoyable and relaxing day of exploring the St. Croix River.

Donita Jackson

Beautiful and fullly manicured camping area. The Rangers and host are friendly and warm. The bathrooms are clean and kept. Good 30 amp electric, some WiFi and minimal bugs/pest. I didn't even see much animal poop on the lovey, quiet trails. Even my "little" nervous dogs love camping here. Private spaces and I felt safe each time I visited. This is my favorite get away though it's barely 40 minutes out of the Twin Cities.

Seasons and animals

nice place for camping and canoeing

zohre nemati

The park offers a nice combination of prairie and forest. There are several hiking trails available connected together which allows you to extend your walk as much as you want. When we went we saw different wild flowers, birds, a snake, a frog, and a bunny! There is a pond with beaver but they say the best time to see them is near sunrise or sunset. We saw their nest but didn't see them. I recommend to visit the visitor center. They have a nice exhibition of the different animals you can see around.

Maple Teyer

Peaceful and clean. Lots of walking (or groomed ski trails in the winter) with or without hills depending on which trail you take. On the other side of the park is a lake with canoe/kayak access and a small swimming area. They have a handful of programs and a youth Nordic ski club. Definitely a gem here in the valley.

sarah em

I love the river view campground. We stayed in a rustic - non electric site. No mosquito that day which is good. There are hot showers available. You can rent a Kayak and/or canoe if you want something to do. We fish around the lake and I caught some fishes at the dock. Walk around the trails and saw a deer crossing by!

Dora Ragin Powell

This was one of my better camping experiences. We had one of the sites around the loop, not in the center, so we had quite a bit of space and woods for the kids to roam in. You could hear cars at night on the road right by the campground, which is really my only complaint. Otherwise, this is a very special and beautiful place that our whole family loved. The trails by the river were gorgeous and it wasn't too crowded even though the whole site was booked. We will definitely be going back.

Design Concepts MN

So many hiking trails! We were able to find a quiet picnic spot along the river. The place was packed on a Saturday but it was a free state park weekend. Would love to come back and hike some of the more difficult trails in the hopes they are less populated.

Jeffery “jekewa” Warren

We camp here almost every year. The facilities are clean, the site is well-maintained, and all of the park people are friendly. It rained a lot, and there were unexpected volumes of mosquitoes, but that's not the park's fault. Prepare well, and you can still have fun.

Loren Walberg

Excellent landing for a kayak trip down the scenic St. Croix river. Also great for XC skiing.

Vaishnavi Soundar

A nice place for a quiet afternoon hike on a spring, summer or fall day. It doesn’t get super crowded like other parks and allows for a nice lazy stroll or a good run. Only drawback is the non-availability of restrooms throughout the park when the visitors center is closed. I had to run back 3 miles to a porta potty which also ended up being locked.

liz biagi

Quiet during the week visit. Nice restrooms/showers. Has interpretive center.Staff is polite and helpful. Miles of walking trails. Lake Alice with a small, sandy swimming Beach and St Croix River. Rental place for canoes and kayaks within the park. One of my favorite places to go. Outside of the park are many small towns to visit and see if you seek other things to do.

Wanderlust1

Excellent place to get away for the day. Variety of trails - prairie, wetland,wooded & along the river. All the trails where maintained well with maps & benches along the way. All the buildings are closed due to Covid 19 but portable outhouse was very clean & fully stocked.

Josh Blue

One of my favorites. We go back at least once a year it's getting tougher to book now with the new policy in place. So it feels even more special being here. I miss Shawn as the activity coordinator he was awesome!

HaruRobu Johnson

We went to see the fall colors. It was amazing!

caroline wales

Just visited the beach. The beach was clean. The bathrooms were clean. The swimming area has a nice sandy beach. The swimming area also has an outdoor body/foot wash area which is located on grass. Very nice for getting rid of sand when you are done swimming. Will return to check out the camping and trails.

Nickia Jensen

I love this park! Tent area are great with good access to water and bathrooms. The cabins are amazingly warm for cooler temp stays. Beach and canoe rentals are fun for the while family! Cant get enough of this park :)

Helen Meissner

Beautiful campground. Nice beach, ok fishing, modern bathroom facilities.

Amaya S

I went with my Girl Scout troop. Very nice place for families to go and camp lots of different trails to go on. Cabins are nice if you don’t want to camp in a tent or camper.

Amber

Beautiful tucked away state park. Nice walking trails, lots of grills and picnic tables, clean secluded camp sites, small swimming area, boat launch & lots of public parking. The swim are and boat launch is pretty far from the savanna campgrounds, but this is a great place to check out. Just north of lovely Still Water.

Jim Edward

Great bicycle trails (north and south of the park). also lots of biking trails, but didn't go on them. Bathrooms and showers very cool in October. Visitor's center is a great place to warm up (in fall has a working woodburning stove) and a place for kids to explore hands on nature. Drinking water in the visitor's center does not taste to good. Great fun with Falloween. Some sites in the Savanna campground may be tight to back in trailer.

Brian Strahan

Great park. River Walk, Prairie and woods hike. Must see for all.

Mark Vanderwiel

Nice park and trails, could use some vine cleanup as trees are affected

Kyle Trenberth

Really nice clean park. Great camp sites.

TS Niebeling

Great little park. Happy feel, beautiful scenery. One of my favorites near the cities. Excellent riverfront and facilities, campsites and staff. My only qualm is the busyness for its proximity to the cities, and now all sites are 100% reserveable; book your site early!!! Not as easy to roll in and have sites open for those making a day trip into a night trip on a whim. In the summer this place is jam-packed. Be mindful.

Steve Moses

Great camping experience. Nice park and clean facilities.

Chris Rampersad

Wonderful weather camping along the lower camp ground closer to the river, Riverway. The camp spots were nice and the fire felt good even in summer. It was fun to wake up in the morning and see the fog along the river and walk along the trail. I got firewood at the park office for 6$. You need at least 2 or 3 bundles, they burn fast.

rod pinch

Have been coming for years. Fishing dock and great walking paths. Nice boat launch for 17 foot or less boats. High water now and shallow in summer. No wake zone this far north. Great place to kayak.

Eric Massie

Riverside trail is a beautiful, very easy 1.8 miles. Plenty of places to sit and enjoy the St Croix river, Alice lake, it just the peace of the woods.

Bizzo J

Such a great park located close to the MN metro. Good services, camping spots are heavily wooded, trails are nice, bathrooms clean, and it's on the St. Croix river with a boat launch! During the summer they also offer canoe and kayak rentals.

Carol Lugg

Well groomed trails, beautiful forest and great skiing. Warming house at trail head has a nice fire during posted hours (usually beginning at 9 am) and the restrooms are always clean. Park workers are friendly and helpful.

Bridget Adams

A very nice state park close to the Twin Cities with lots of amenities like swimming, hiking, and canoe rental. Love the carts at the walk-in sites, but be advised: there's about 10 feet of brush between the walk-in sites and the surrounding trees, so you won't be able to hang a hammock or clothesline.

kimberly velez

Very nice good spacious trails. Interesting to walk on wetlands.

Nadine Ness

Absolutely lovely park. Great hiking trails, lots of great picnic areas. A wonderful lake that is great for swimming. Just a short drive from the city...and what a beautiful drive!

Mic Thomas

This is a great park, lots of trails and wildlife.

Lucia Bintner

Beach was nice, campgrounds were quiet. They also hosted bird watching hikes.

Bill Lund

Great place to camp close to home.

Donald Hankins

Nice state park next to St Croix river. He had a nice fall hike through restored prairie, wetlands and hardwood forest. The same trails are also very nice for cross country skiing in the winter.

Hillery Frank

One of the most memorable parks in Minnesota I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. Tons of trails, everyone is enjoying the beautiful atmosphere also, we are hikers and this is a gem of a place nestled around Scandia, Minnesota .

Veritas

This State Park is well tended, with good WiFi and over the air TV. Sites are gravel, relatively level, spacious and secluded with tall shrubs. It is pretty mosquito and insect free, even at dusk. The only downside is the onerous $23 required permit for the park in addition to $31/night for out of state visitors. We opted for the $35 annual permit in the event we opt for another State Park in MN but it will deter us from visiting in the future.

Don Schmidt

Lots of miles to walk, wildlife to see and memories to make

Donna Miller

William O'Brien State Park is my favorite place to x-c ski and what a perfect day we had for doing the Marsh Trail. It is an easy trail, mostly level but interesting. Beautiful scenery everywhere! The Visitor Center is warm and spacious. Had a Good Time!!!

Lynne Haugh

Beautiful park on the banks of the St Croix River. Lots of trails riverside or across Rt 95 in the prairie meadows. Camping on-site but have never camped there. Nice place to launch a kayak or canoe and explore the river!

Sandra Perron

Ranger was very professional and friendly. Plenty of camp sites, hiking trails and things to do if beaches aren't your thing. Ask about geocache GPDS and birding resources. We'll marked trails.

false

Beautiful state park less than an hour from the cities. Nice easy walking trails for a family with young kids, and lots to see and do. Highly recommend coming out and exploring this awesome park.

Miroslaw Malachowski

Very well maintained and mark trails. Good for walk with a dog.

Joshua R.K.

#exploreoutside. William O'Brien State Park is a nice place to go and have easy hikes with beautiful scenery. I've taken my dog here several times to go on hikes and just get away from the busyness of the city. Great place to bring a family to.

Carla Motter

Beautiful park. We camped at a walk in site and they had nice big carts available to haul our supplies from car to site. The park was full that weekend and the outhouse was really ripe and garbage overflowing the dumpsters, but luckily our site wasn't near enough to be affected.

Brandon Erkens

It's a nice park. There are a lot of trails to hike and cool sights. I was more garbage on the ground than I would have liked to see around the camp sites, but all in all, I would go back again.

Michael Schroeder

Loved the riverside hike along the St. Croix.

Mat Dj

Been here for a few times, and decided to camp over the weekend. Quite a nice place to bring your family.......there is a nice little lake, and also located by the st croix river, and best part is that...it is about 30-40 mins away from the twin cities.

Soren Barr

Great trails along the river and still closer to the cities. It's a great light hiking day trip. Cross country skiing in the winter looks line a lot of fun, too.

Cheri Lynn M.

This is our favorite place in the twin cities area to hike. You can hike the trail in the lower section that follows the river and the lake Alice. Along the way you'll pass a huge boulder that looks very out of place left from the iceage. Its relatively flat, dirt surface, and about 2 miles. But easy. If its hot, thats the place to go, its mostly shady. The top section of the park has many trails with more hills and is quite sunny. Both parts are wonderful. After.... your close to Stillwater, with its quaint shops and antiques. A really fun day.

Regina Hockert

I adore this state park! You can tell people practice Leave No Trace here. Rangers are always friendly. It is a beautiful place to camp and hike. I have come here multiple times with friends.

Alexis Leritz

Me and the rest of my GS troop came here. This was our 2nd time here. We decided to go back here every year now. I always recommend it to people! Great sights and trails! If you want to see a few of the photos I took look on the photos option!

Dave C

This is one of my favorite state parks. The trails right next to the water (that you don't have to hike to get to), lots of benches to rest my weary legs, fishing, boating, camping, dump station, a very nice and kid friendly interpitive center, awesome staff (really I've never meet a park ranger that wasn't nice), and really cool activities for everyone.

Eric Morin

Great variety of landscape. Wide open trails, minimal challenge.

Karol Sullivan

Beautiful Minnesota State Park on the St. Croix River. Fantastic wildlife to observe and photograph. Canoe, kayak, and paddle board rentals. Many picnic areas with 2 large, covered picnic areas that can be reserved for large gatherings. Great campgrounds both by the river and in the upper park; and camper cabins too! Lake Alice has a swimming beach and a fishing pier. The park will loan you fishing poles of you want to try it out! Beautiful wildflowers and frequently nesting Sandhill Cranes in the spring, breathtaking colors in the fall, and cross country skiing in the winter!

Chris Rathbun

Clean, but bathrooms and public facilities aren't opened yet in late April. That needs to change. If parks can stay open into October, then why not open earlier? Nice open and wide paths.

Joe Keeler

Beautiful state park with access to trails right along the St. Croix River as well as trails to hike through woods, prairie, and wetlands away from the river. The park has several camping options too.

Chad Truss (Chad's Hobbies)

Went camping here. Great park. Word of warning though, while it says regular camp sites are good for up to 6 people, many of them are not large enough for 6 unless you are all sleeping in one tent. So if you have more than 4 people, I would go for a group camp in this particular park.

John Booth

Great hiking trails and well marked.

Eric Thesing

Really nice campsites, several surrounded by trees offering privacy. Easy access for canoeing or kayaking on the St. Croix river.

Sondra Kaye

My stay at the Savannah Campground in William O'Brien State Park has been relaxing, enjoyable and one I will long remember. The scenery is more than breathtaking, the activities exciting and numerous and the staff helpful & friendly. I highly recommend William O'Brien and will be visiting often. It's now on my official list of favorite places to be. Period.

Justin Powers

Met a beautiful woman here once. She left tho 😔 …

Chelsea Kaminski

Looked like a nice place to fish or kayak with trails.

Kendra Charles

The 1.5mi loop that starts at Lake Alice goes along the lake and St. Croix river and is gorgeous. Flat and graveled the whole way, great for walking with little kids!

Merry Domke

A bit windy today but still tons of fall colors!

Ashley Sierra

CAMPER CABINS! The most convenient way to go. I brought a sleeping bag and marshmallows. Firewood and ice are available at the entrance. You can hear some cars and you will occasionally see other visitors but this is a great quick nature getaway. A lot of Oak Savanna and wetland but there are more forested area, I recommend the lake Alice trail for that. Great staff (nice to a cityiot like myself).

Isaac M

Camped on the riverfront Campground and was very pleased by the park. There are showers and electrical outlets available at both the riverfront and Savannah camp sites. However if you are planning. However if you are planning to camp be certain, if you're looking for an electric site, to register well ahead of time. The Minnesota DNR Parks system has moved with same-day registration and reservation for all campsites. So if you're looking for a more rustic site without electricity you might be lucky and be able to get a campsite same day. As well though, if you're looking for one of the backpack in or canoeing sites you may want to be certain that you get a reservation as those are highly desirable. This state park also has a quite developed trail system for hiking and cross country skiing. If you're looking for something to do that's not on the st. Croix River starting out at the trailheads at the visitor center is a great weekend activity.

Steve Fenske

Great camp and facilities. Nice trails and activities for campers. Sites are well-surrounded by trees and brush so its sites are fairly private, even when they are next to each other. Very close to the Metro area.

Deb Ziebarth

Very nice camping there. Spots are secluded with trees between sites. A lot of hiking options.

Jerome Liggett

Great place to camp or just spend the day. Plenty to do for all ages. Fish, swim, hike or just relax by the river. If you picnic either bring from home or do a area search along your drive. There are not any really close places to grab something once you are there.

Elizabeth Bull

Had gotten posin oak from trails not good place to be with kids but clear lake amazing for swimming Sunny's come by your feet all day while swimming also good rope place ment for kids no worry about them going under. There are muskys in the river not many quiet no bites when we went there but sunny good size at the doc you can fish and keep. No fishing equipment on the beach there is a doc keep kids feet safe please. Good potrol I had the ranger there bring my dress that I had back to the right camp sight. While I was on my way to the beach. There are criders that like food so keep your food in seeld area or tent or vecale while out. Out door water spickets very convent. And out door showers by the beach if you would like to get rinsed off if wanting to there are indoor showers. Nice clean river over looks with stairs going down suggest to go see it is very beautiful and calming.

Julie Jansa

Beautiful views with challenging elevation changes. If you like variety in your hikes check out this park; woods, prairies, shore views.

Connor T.

Great park there's a river and a lake so you can do all sorts of fun activities such as camp, hike, swim, go fishing and kayak or conoe. The river is the St.Croix river. I give the park 5 stars because it has lots of great trails and lots of wildlife.

melody ward

We love this State Park. Lake Alice is great all summer--perfect for families with younger kids. The hiking trails are some of my favorites.

Gustav Leinbach

One of our favorite places to visit during the winter or the summer! Great view of the river!

Raquel Jarabek

Beautiful riverside trail but a bit crowded. I wish the trail was 1 way because passing people is when you can’t social distance to 6 feet. Park in the lot by Alice Lake for the Riverside Trail.

Eric Pleiss

William O'Brien State Park has two different camp grounds (plus a couple of group camp grounds and two hike-/cart-in sites. We stayed at the Riverview campground. down the river bluffs from the main portion of the park, and as the name implies, on the shores of the St. Croix River. Our site was a non-electric site on the outside ring, with just a thin slip of woods and a hiking trail between us and the St. Croix river. On a hot summer day, the breeze off the river would be welcoming and cooling, but on an abnoramlly chilly spring day, the wind off the river was a bone-chilling constant. The campsite itself was situated about 500' from the shower/bathroom, and those facilities were clean, and in service, but otherwise unremarkable. There was not a lot of other tent campers at the campground, likely the cold temps kept some folks away, but the electric sites in the rest of the campground were filled with campers. We had the unfortunate experience of being across the road from the loudest group of campers in the campground, as a part of eight different families and their campers used the site across the road from us as their main gathering point. Quiet hours at the campground are from 10pm to 8am, and their festivities carried on until nearly 2am both nights. There was no effort from park staff to enforce quiet hours, which was a bummer. With the exception of the loud neighbors, and unseasonable cold weather, this was a solid campground, and being near the river with quick access to the hiking trail was a plus.

Jess Walczak

Large park that borders the St. Croix on the Minnesota side. I've honestly really only used it as an endpoint for kayaking from Interstate Park in Taylor's Falls, but I always see folks walking around this park. You can really walk around a bunch here and get some fresh air here.

Aaron Chmelik

One of the best MN state parks I've been to. Easy access to the St. Croix. Nice campsites, well maintained. Great staff, very helpful and cheery. I plan on coming back again.

P Kurt

Great place to hike or ski. Wonderful trails and a nice visitor center. Purchase a one-year pass and visit the state parks as often as you wish.

David Ray

Such a beautiful park. The staff are friendly and helpful. Sometimes there are a few too many families with young kids who make it difficult to call it "quiet" but that's usually only during busy weekends.

Kewal Panchputre

Nice beach. Very shallow water so good for kayaking and swimming. Beautiful trail along St. Croix river.

Doug Lemon

Had a wonderful time, the camp sites were clean and adequate size. The park had lots to offer hiking horseshoes. Restrooms were well maintained.

Dustin Hudak

Great trails easy to understand paths & trails great camp sites very nice state park for being half an hour away from the cities you have to love it every season something fun & diffrent

Paul Domsten

Its our go to hiking state park. Close enough to the Twin Cities and far enough out to feel like you are in the wilderness.

Brittany Furgala

This has been one of my favorite state parks since I was a little kid. It's close to the cities so you don't have to travel far but still quiet enough to enjoy nature or to have a camping experience.

Rachel McDonald

Beautiful and not overly crowded. Great opportunities for photographers, nature enthusiasts. Not much for bike trails, not much for children aged around 8 to 16.

Amber Griffin

This park is great! The nature center is one of the best I have been too. It talks about the establishment of National Park System. They have videos, activities, and guides. Great location for day trip.

April J.

Great state park! Very limited cell service. Showers, bathrooms are clean. You're close to your camper neighbor. Great walking trails. I'd come back!!

Brandon Grunow

There's only one actual bathroom with a showers in each campsite. And the rest are porta potties.

Dale O.

Very nice hiking trails and picnic areas. Would be nice if it had a small playground to amuse kids.

Uncle Ongy

This place is fantastic! I have only done the riverwalk, and I am hooked. I would suggest the yearly pass if you plan on going more than a few times. Incredibly well kept park.

Nick Sampson

We love camping here. Always fun, park staff is friendly. Great hiking trails for people and dogs.. and the night time fireflies are magical!

Randy Hohn

Had a wonderful time, clean park ,all amenities available to us! Trails well groomed, friend rangers! Spots easy to get in and out!

Lori Steinmetz

The Riverwalk trails are groomed and had a great walk today.

Brian Stankiewicz

Great gem just outside of the Cities.

geso

Great park. Went there to get some outside time during the pandemic. Too bad Ranger Rick was ticketing cars for not having a pass. Saw one family with kids come back to a ticket on their car... Really?

Shawn Lyon

William O'Brien state park is a wonderful park that is less than 45 minutes from downtown Minneapolis. The river trail is my favorite part of this park, but the grasslands trails are also very nice.

Dow Fredrickson

Love the park and the boat launch. Just not real pleased about the office not being open (not even the pass-through window) during this Covid thing. Makes it difficult for disabled vets to get their free annual pass.

VENLAA “VENLAA”

Everything a family can do here. Canoeing, paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, camping, hiking, swimming, etc. Lake Alice is full of so many types of fishes. A great and friendly place for families to spend their days at.

Brenda Rohlik

Nice park. We walked the 1.5 mile loop around the lake and it was perfect with young kids. Lots of picnic tables available.

Nick Preese

Great hiking trails and camping. Close to the Twin Cites.

Steve Miceli

Hidden Gem.. Nice campgrounds with great hiking trails along the river. MN state parks are most all pretty nice but this one is even better than ost

EmilyJo

Such a great place to camp or picnic with friends and family.

Zachary Ryan Toms

Amazing hiking trails and easy access to St. Croix River

Char R (Nanafords98)

My first time here and was grand. Of course kids were in school, so campers were older generation. So quite you could hear the crickets chirping. GREAT place to relax. Will stay again.

Tim Phillips

Pretty darn nice camp grounds fairly close to th metro area. Staff was very helpful, cabin one night, which was almost too nice, and tent the next. Great trails, and beach for kids.

Perry Senjem

Beautiful fall colors this weekend. Lovely prairie areas and beaver lodge. Great little hike and picnic!

Adah Lindquist

Beautiful park with lots of trails. Good place to camp and explore.

Graceie Bodo

Amazing trail by the lake and river. We decided it's a wonderful place for a wedding. The group camp spot was right on the river.

Anthony

Close to the cities with that north camping experience. Love it will make this a staple on our summer camping journey.

Nikki Niedz

Our favorite place to camp. Its so peaceful and the scenery is beautiful plenty of walking trails. And they rent out fishing poles and tackleboxes.

Laurel Tornes

Very nice campground. Many walking trails at many levels. Beautiful St. Croix River!

Tom Mortensen

Great camping trip in the Riverside camp grounds.

Dennis Tjaden

First time camping with our grandson. Great fishing for kids and adults. Nice place with Restrooms and showers. Very well maintained.

Dolly Ann

Great scenery, beautiful hiking paths and a quaint lil beach too...camping is awesome, but bring lotsa bug spray!

william braun

Classic Minnesota State park. Experience Minnesota's great outdoors close enough to the twin cities to run home if you forgot something at home, like a child ;-) Boat launch, swimming beach, a great State park

Tara Kardong

Nice walking paths. Beautiful view of St Croix River. The park rangers were friendly and knowledgeable

chris warren

Clean park, lots of activities for the children. Great trails filled with wildlife. Gorgeous scenery, and great camp sites. Fishing, hiking, and lots of fun camping!

Amit Yatagiri

Good walking trails, a small beach at the entrance, clean public rest rooms, great river sight

Don Johnson

Nice wide trails, tons of people walking the trails. It was a nice weekend day; probably not so crowded during the week.

Natalie Runquist

William O'Brian is the perfect place for a hike, jog, camp, ski, or photo session with all of its beautiful views :) If you haven't been, I would highly recommend going.

Douglas W

A nice park close to the twin cities. The river camping area and beauty of the St Croix river are as nice a place as can be had in the upper mid west.

Laurie Carlson

GREAT trails, easy to follow signage all over, GREAT terrain and trails very with inclines and nice water sources for dogs to drink!

Larry Gunderson

Want a great place to go camping fishing hiking and enjoy the great outdoors definitely try out William O'Brien State Park

Paul Yakshe

I’m very impressed with this park. Beautiful surroundings, lots of amenities, nice people, friendly rangers, clean facilities. I’m definitely coming back next year.

Therese Markert

awesome park with scenic trails through woods and hills near Alice Lake and St Croix River; nice stone shelter with tables, large fireplace, and well stocked with wood near river

coreyb86

Very pretty area. Lovely campgrounds and nice and courteous campers and park rangers

Deborah Stanke

Beautiful park on the pristine St. Croix River. Helpful and knowledgeable park staff. Clean bathrooms and showers.

Joe Rice

This state park is stunning! It is so much larger than one would initially presume and the trails are fantastic.

Roshini m

Alright park. Went there with our dogs hoping it would be a beautiful place to see fall color like the park in red wing, mn but we were disappointed. I personally would not be returning to this park and will take the time to drive to temperance park.

Andrew Wylie

Went to cross country ski. So fun, I wish I'd done it sooner. Miles and miles of challenging, fun trails. Rentals available on sight. Highly suggest

Badd Habytz

This park makes up a great deal of my fondest childhood memories. Now that I have two rugrats of my own I can think of no place better to instill in them the same love of nature and camping that I have.

Stephen Anderson

One of my favorite camping spots close to the twin cities!

Robert Schroedl

If you are a cyclist looking to do an overnight trip not too far from the city this place is perfect. Took the gateway trail and then crossed over to hwy 95 along the St. Croix. Folks at the desk are the bees knees.

Mathias Hughey

Good park with lots of summer and winter trails. There are two campgrounds here, one down by the river and one up, away from the river.

ben crescenzo

Gorgeous park with plenty to offer. Camping, hiking, boat launch, restrooms, and full of events. One of my favorite areas

Binoy Kalayil

Cool folks at the office, take a yearly membership, trails are sometimes stupid and end in residential- I think it’s a Minnesota thing, other trails are good, sometimes marked and remember they are ticky.

Anthony Tohm

I've been here twice for hiking, never had the chance to go camping yet but I've been told its a nice enjoyable campsite.

tony brown

Great day walking the trails!

April Mamer

Love the walk along the river,great scenery,wildflowers,towering pines.People kayak,canoe and boat on the river there is camping.

Blake Libby

There are so many snakes on the trails but I am not scared because I love snakes. There is also a beaver dam, so cool.

kelly perry

This is a great place to stay and camp you have your privacy and the park is very well kept up and you have great walking and hiking trails through out the park they have a great staff on site and they are very friendly and helpful on any information you might want or need about the park and the surrounding area your just minutes away from shopping and dining out as well. if I would be asked to rate this state park on a scale of one to ten i would rate the park a 9 1/2 out of a ten and that is because there is no big ride attractions or amusement area for the kids and parents to enjoy amusement rides on the parks property but this is not that type of park for attractions if you are looking for that in with your camping plans this might not be the place or type of camping you are looking for so if you are looking for a rv camper and trailer park and a big area with lot's to park in with electric power and sanatation and all others amenities showers,bathrooms,and concession,and more all with in the park grounds so overall if you are looking for a great place to stay and camp for as long or as short as you want or need then William O'Briens state is a great place to stay and camp. K.perry

Anna D.

Beautiful paved trails for walking or bicycling. Don't miss the access to the river, bring or rent a kayak or canoe!

H Padgha

Nice camp grounds... lots to do... canoeing kayaking hiking biking etc.. water in St Croix river is awesome!!

Jeff Walstrom

Nice place. Quite. But the park Ranger....

Jim Boyd

This is a nice quiet area to camp with a lot of great trails and lake access. I had a very good experience camping here.

Jonah Yang

Nice, well kept park. Not a far drive from the cities. nice camp grounds and right on my favorite river (st Croix)

matthew clifton

We love this park. Nice campground. On the St Croix. Lots to do and close to the twin cities.

Abel Green

Beautiful camp ground and easy access. Bathrooms were clean and well maintained.

Daniel Goldberg

Woods, river, and prairie all in one state park, great any time of year! Just have shoes that do well in water.

Matt Valek

Great hiking trail along the river, nice and short!

Sally Wolleat

Great park for hiking, camping, and cross country skiing (trails groomed for both classic and skate).

Scott Merrill

We hiked all the designated winter hiking trails. Especially liked the trail that was near Marine-on-St. Croix.

Kim Cairns

Love hiking here! For the best hilly hikes with a view, park at the small lot off Ostrum trail.

Roger Siljander

Nice day trip from the Twin Cities.

Scott Snell

Great trails and scenery, well maintained, good fishing, close to the twin cities.... it's a winner!

Andy Carlson

Good place to walk and get a break from a hectic day. Great ski trails when we have decent snow.

Ron Steffens

There are lots of things to do. They have great trails and beach area. Canoeing and kayaking is also available.

amanda woodstrom

I love the whole camping experience my family and I had a blast and I have been told that this place is a definite do again.

Max Brown

Great place to camp that's easily accessible from the cities. Very bicyclist friendly!

jim wood

Clean, everyone friendly. Lots of kids just having fun, walking , biking, playing. Definitely will go back. Bonus... close to twin cities

Brian W

Great location where you can bike, canoe, or kayak the St. Croix. Love heading down to Marine and checking out the local shops.

Lauren Shegstad Cloutier

Love the trails here always a great hike with the kids wish they had more of a play ground

Jeff H

Nice trails. Just far enough from the city so that it isn't too crowded.

John Martensen

One of my favorite state parks, and there's more to explore, a couple small towns and another state park in the area.

Luna Loony

It is a very cozy, local state park that will be a comfortable place to camp for a weekend or maybe a bit longer.

Karol Riley

Beautiful and clean, we had a wonderful time hiking at the park.

Brian Lorsung

Great trails. Fishing, hiking, swimming, camping. What more could you ask for?

Malcolm Theis

As all mn state parks clean well maintained. Be sure to take river/channel trail.

Star Skit

Its a nice place. I've been here lots and it has a really nice clean beach and nice campgrounds

DOOMtube

Took my girl there to do some kayaking. It poured on us, but we still had a great time.

Jeremy Slick

Lovely camp ground. Great trails. Nice accommodations/facilities.

Aaron Bridley

Stayed in Riverway campground, nice sites, paths and overall a good stay. Friendly park staff too.

Mike-Allen Butterfield

Great park. Good hiking trails, canoe and kayak rentals, and a swimming beach.

Twyla Sietsema

Will visit park again and bring grandchildren along camping. Lots to do and see, great nature programs as well.

Leo Ochoa

Even with the humidity and rain storms, I had a great time! The bathrooms were clean, the staff were helpful and friendly.

Mike Aeling

Beautiful park to visit. Great fall colors. Nice hiking paths.

Vern Wahlberg

Very nice park great walking trail along river.Boat launch and restrooms.

John Michael Mac Donald

Nice walking trails, nature center, and easy access to St. Croix river. Leaves are just starting to change there.

Adam Becker

Lovely fall colors, gear up for trail hikes and enjoy a day outdoors. Nicest staff ever! Thanks to all.

Mark Yackley

Well groomed hiking trails for those times where you just want an easy hike through the woods. Pretty in Autumn!

Leah Anderson

Great cross country skiing in the winter with groomed trails and helpful park rangers!

Cheryl Snell

Great park, love their trails and close to lake and river!

Darrin Rogers

Nice park, camping in good shape, decent trails. Enjoyed the geocaching.

Nancy

Beautiful trails, kayak rentals available and peaceful river views.

Krissie Spande

Great park. Camped at Savanna. A bit buggy but bathrooms were clean.

KEVIN DeBilzan

Bought the year round state park pass & this ones relatively close to home. Can't wait to put the pass to use & come back !

Mike Sanders

Park that pays homage to Billy O'B.

Diedre Austin

So peaceful and so many hiking options. Planning on returning to explore some more!

Jeremy Nordling

It was so much more than I expected. Lots of hills, great scenery. Trails are well marked.

Bradley Mahr

If you're from the cities, and looking for a way to get outside during Covid, head up here for a lovely summer walk!

A W

Took our family camping here last year and we had a blast!! We'll be back again.

Margaret Still

Great camping peaceful

Mike Klinker

Friendly staff and a beautiful Park with plenty of hiking trails and other offerings !

Brittney Jensen

Great hiking, lots to explore! Great scenery, will definitely return once everything is green

Joan Davis

Woodsy sites with space between sites, lots of hiking trails and a beach. Was quiet when we were there.

Zach Podhorzer

Really well taken care, gotta leave some stars for the most beautiful parks in the country though!

Carrie Cabe

Great place for a family hike

Jason Christensen

A really nice park. Close to the cities which brings in more people. But still nice and totally worth it.

Abhay Kulkarni

Kayak and canoe rentals!, nice park very close to the twincities. Great weekend getaway close to home!

Kerstin Johnson

Nice walking loop down by the river. Close enough to the Twin Cities for a day-trip or a short camping trip!

Jacob “BeetleJuice” Williams

Went camping and canoeing with my church The University Lutheran Church of Hope

Steve Wodke

Enjoyed hiking and biking.

Adalton Kaji

Nice State Park easy access to the river, family friendly, lot place to walk

Reggy Frazier

Awesome park but I love the Saint Croix River so I'm somewhat biased

Kevin Morgan

Campground has nice facilities canoe rentals and a large pond and river to fish on.

Thom Roethke

Campsites are smallish and old but the park is nice.

Jennifer Radke

Camped at the Riverside campground, hiked the hiking club trail. Beautiful getaway close to the cities.

Sarah Lowe

Great place for a picnic! Lots of informational meetings and inspirational concerts are held here too!

Alrosaq Khalid

"I Can Paddle" was a great experience!

Kevin Paradis

Very nice park great views

Becky Acheson

Sites were nice and shaded, bathrooms were clean but the beach was a sad story.

Long Her

Great place for kayak or canoe. Boats beware of the shallow river at some parts.

Jason Husveth

One of the best kept secrets in the Twin Cities. A great state park, any time of year.

Patrick Cretan

Lots of trails, never been there in the winter but amazing in the summer.

Micah Hanson

Great park went pole hiking, and running there, really great paths

Clint Schmidt

Fun place close to the Twin Cities with hiking trails, beach, and campsite.

Alex Go

One of the best state parks for pictures and hikes.

M Kaderbhai

Awesome staff, beautiful park. Had fun camping and Kayaking.

Jason Nadeau

Very nice place to camp. Bathrooms clean sites were level and large.

Greg Hodgson

Peaceful. Well maintained trails. Wonderful smells in the prairie.

Ashley Kleven

Love this place! It's gorgeous here! Great environment for camping!

Timothy Vang

Great park to visit and camp. Swimming area gets weedy in summer months.

Laura Riskin

Beautiful day for skiing!

Jeff Berndt

Nice place. Lots of walking trails. Friendly staff

zach garr

GORGEOUS park! Great camping and hiking. Lots of wildlife.

Brady Brodsho

Beautiful camp site along the river. Sites are a little close in some areas

Wayne Shellabarger

Great stop on Free Park Friday. Amazing trails!

Christopher Henagin

Beautiful walking trails and views of Lake Superior.

Jan Lehnen

Nice large wooded site, very clean bathrooms and terrific staff and hosts. Love this area

JoelnTammy B

Very nice, clean and quiet. Repeat visitor and definitely looking forward to another chance to return!

Pamela Yager

Very quiet, Big lots I was in #29 with a 40 ft. Travel trailer..

Angie Shape

Great place nice for Kayaking and see the St. Croix river.

Creedance Halverson

Ben there years ago. It was great time we enjoyed our weekend totaly.

Mandy Nguyen

If you love nature and history this ia definitely a state park you should visit!

Ronald Carlson

Great scenery, nice hiking path, good nature center.

Josh Eberhardt

Drove through today, but have stayed here multiple times. Nice Park close to the cities.

Terry Welcome

nice visitor center and hiking trails. Boat landing at river

Bee Yang

Camp sites are very close to each other but nice for a quick getaway

Jason Hedlund

Great park. Incredible cross country ski trails!

Eric Zoller

Small park with big doings, on St. Croix river with little lake boat dock. All good ill be back

Corri Gilbertson

Experience pretty much all the different biomes MN had to offer all in this one park!

Roxanne Stipe

"Beautiful." - Have shared. Generation's, with, picnic's...Family, Hikes, camping...Thankyou...4. All your Hard Work....:)

Bryan Lecy

Wonderful park and great fishing for sunfish, Bass and Pike.

Simon Says

The nature is just beautiful. I defiantly recommend camping here

Tom Motzel

Great chalet if you need it. Beautiful trails.

Paul Hagen

Hagen Family Picnic! Remember to reserve and ask about electricity!

Brian Giffrow

Fun place to camp alot of swamp and no alcohol beverages allowed

Shane Bacon

Beautiful Park! Friendly Staff! And only 45 mins from Minneapolis

Scott

2nd time here and loved it. We went to watch a meteor shower and had a great time.

Cory Howe

Nice hiking, trails a little confusing and not always well marked

Sharon Karels

Beautiful park with shio much to do and see.

jd “JD” miller

Nice park very good staff great park for walking the trails

Blackfox 288

Nice hiking through Maple/Basswood forests and Oak Savannahs.

Andrew Herubin

Nice quite place. Swimming was what we needed and it fulfilled.

Clark Koenen

Great park. Scenic. Good hiking.

Nathan Sturre

So many hikes to do. Awesome park.

Rose Lindemulder

Very nice campground. Friendly hosts.

Nick Fruge

Good facilities, zero entry beach, and great fishing pier.

Rob Johnson

Great trails

Stephan Gallipo

I really enjoy Hiking here.

Jenna Van Haveren

Great weekend camping! Lots to see and do.

Nikki Pettitt

Love canoeing here really nice camp sites

Glen Jenc

Fantastic hiking and secluded camp sites

Mari Boyd

Perfect weather & beautiful park. That's probably why it was so busy.

W Craig

Great hiking trails! Quiet campsite!

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