St. Croix National Scenic Riverway

The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is over 200 miles of clean water that flows through the forests of both Wisconsin and Minnesota. It consists of the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers and offers paddling, fishing, hiking, and camping opportunities.

Totogatic Park Campground

After a beautiful drive, dodging a few storms, on the way down from the Apostle Islands we arrive at our campsite and can’t believe what we’re seeing.

The site is large; but it’s on the side of a hill. In addition, the power we so desperately need to recharge our batteries (we’re down to 18% after being in the trees for the last few weeks) is at the extreme front of the site and our plug is on the opposite side at the back.

Challenge accepted!

We go in nose first, use all our blocks on one side, and dig a hole on the other to level the camper. We’re in and level on our second try. Everyone watching or passing by is looking at us in either amazement, bewilderment, or a mixture or both.

Meanwhile another camper in the same situation, who was already there when we arrived, gets so upset and frustrated he gives up and leaves.

Looking around the campground, it’s very clear that whomever designed it has no knowledge of camping as every site has one challenge or another.

The campground itself is beautiful and comprised of three sections.

Cranberry Lake

Two sections of the campground have beautiful Cranberry Lake on one side, with direct access to the lake. This 924 acre lake supports many forms of water sports and can provide ample entertainment for water enthusiasts.

Delcore Pond

One section has Delcore Pond on on the opposing side; which is also accessible for day use.

The final section is newer, much better designed, and ironically less wooded even though it was built in a forest grove plantation.

Jack’s Canoe Rental

We head down to Trego, WI to rent a canoe for the day to paddle down the Namekagon River from Big Bend Landing back to Jack’s Canoe Rental.

The first part of the trip is very peaceful surrounded by woods on either side of the river and we only see a few other paddlers.

We also see a few animals along the way.

We take most of our time on the first section of the river because we know that on the second section, beginning at Earl Park Landing, we are joined by hundreds of tubers. So, the peace of the river and animals are lost. However, it is replaced by the antics of humans of all ages; which provide a completely different form of entertainment. We are also passed by a trio of river adventurers whose kayaks are laden with camping gear. We can only imagine how long they’ve been on the river and how far they plan to go.

St. Croix Scenic Riverway Visitor Center

After completing our paddle down the river, we head to the Visitor Center shortly before closing. It’s a very small center, so we have plenty of time to see the exhibits, chat with volunteers, and get our passport stamp before heading back to camp for dinner.

Gordan Dam

According to the forecast this morning, we need to get out early for our hike and be back before lunch. So, we head north to one of the St. Croix sections of the Scenic Riverway and on the way stop at Gordon Dam County Park to see the dam and the resulting flowage.

While there, two park workers arrive and proceed to use a hand crane to remove a railroad tie from behind the dam. We thought they were removing debris until they neatly stack it on top of a pile of other ties that we hadn’t noticed. It’s then we realize this is what they use to increase and decrease the flowage through the dam.

North Country Trail Along the St. Croix River

Next we head to another section of the North Country Trail, this time along the St. Croix River. The last time we were on this trail was on our way to the Au Sable Light Station in Pictured Rocks NL.

The trail is very overgrown and we’re the only one’s on it, so we’re vigilantly watching and listening for animals. We didn’t see any; but we did see beautiful views of the river.

We also come across Gibson Cabin; which according to the sign posted outside, has been deemed eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. This 1925 log home is very well preserved; and the park service is hoping to keep it that way until they can figure out how to best use and preserve this cabin for the future.

Our short time at the National Scenic Riverway is over. We’ve only see a small section of it; but we’ve actually been in three of the ten mapped sections.

For now, it’s on to Minnesota to see Split Rock Lighthouse. Which we learned about earlier this summer from the lighthouse keepers at Big Sable Lighthouse in Ludington, MI.