Afton State Park
Afton State Park, Peller Avenue South, Hastings, MN, USA
Open 24/7
$$
swim, road-trips, outdoor-adventures, bike-trails, hikes
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Afton is one of my favorite Minnesota State Parks in close proximity to the Twin Cities.
This state park is within 45 minutes of the Twin Cities, being located east of the cities, along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. Sitting along the St. Croix River, this park has so much to offer. There's opportunity for virtually any outdoor activity here, from hiking and biking, to swimming and fishing. You can paddle down the river by canoe or kayak, or go birdwatching in the forest. This park truly has it all. In the winter, this park offers snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. With 1,700 beautiful acres to explore, you can come here any day of the year and find opportunities for getting active.
The Rangers at this State Park are super helpful, and they love to see kids and families out enjoying nature. Like all Minnesota State Parks, you can pick-up a Junior Ranger booklet for your kids at the Entrance Station. These are so fun for kids!! We've spent many days sitting in the shade at a State Park, learning and filling in our Ranger Booklets. Minnesota's Ranger booklets come in three different books, corresponding to the three distinct biomes found in Minnesota State Parks. This park is so huge, it encompasses many different types of features, including open prairie, and dense forest.
One other really cool feature we love at this State Park is that there's a special spot where the very cold Trout Brook, meets the much warmer St. Croix River. Have you ever stood with one leg in two different bodies of water, where you can feel each leg is in a totally different temperature of water? Here at Afton State Park, you can experience this phenomenon, and it's pretty cool. My kids loved it!
The beaches here along the St. Croix River are gorgeous. You can bring along your fishing rods, and toss a line, or bring your kayak and paddle along the shore. We enjoy searching for pebbles along the shoreline and skipping rocks in the river. Oh, and don't forget hiking gorgeous trails! The sky is truly the limit with regard to fun ways to stay active in this beautiful park.
This park has plenty of parking, tons of trails, and lots of wilderness to explore!