Things to Do in Stillwater, Minnesota

The 1931 lift bridge carried Highway 36 until 2017, when the new St. Croix Crossing opened to the south. It has seven steel truss spans and a 140-foot lifting span, one of three surviving bridges of its type. Since 2020 it’s part of a five-mile walking and biking loop through Stillwater and Houlton.

★ Good to know It’s free, and the loop crosses back to Minnesota on the St. Croix Crossing’s bike path.

Stillwater River Boats runs paddlewheelers from 525 South Main Street, and every public cruise includes lunch or dinner. There’s also a Sunday brunch cruise and a Saturday dinner trip with a strolling Dixieland band. Cruises last about two hours on a river the company calls a National Parkway.

★ Good to know The season runs from May to mid-October, reservations are required, and the company asks you to arrive 45 minutes early.

From 1853 to 1914 this stone house was home to the wardens of the Minnesota Territorial Prison. The prison once held Cole, Jim and Bob Younger of the James-Younger Gang. The Washington County Historical Society has run the house since 1941, making it Minnesota’s second-oldest house museum.

★ Good to know It’s open for guided tours from May through October; check the historical society’s schedule before you go.

A real Venetian gondola, rowed on the St. Croix by a gondolier. You can book a daytime or evening cruise and bring a picnic, and alcohol is allowed. On cool nights they hand out down comforters. It launches from Nelson Street, a short walk from Main Street, and it’s a popular spot for proposals and anniversaries.

The trolley’s historic tour is a 45-minute narrated ride around town, a quick way to get the lay of the land. It also runs a Haunted History tour and a storytime trolley for kids.

Just north of town on Highway 95, this wayside marks the old log boom. Timber from upriver was sorted and stored here from 1856 to 1914, then sent to Stillwater’s sawmills. It’s a National Historic Landmark, though almost nothing of the boom remains, so come for the river view.

The historical society’s main museum, on Greeley Street South, is open year-round, unlike the seasonal Warden’s House. It’s the best bet for county history on a winter visit. The society also runs the Hay Lake School and Erickson Log Home up near Marine on St. Croix.

South of Afton, this park protects St. Croix bluffland and rolling glacial moraine, with hiking trails and river views. It’s a favorite for birdwatching, and the campground and swimming beach are walk-in only.

★ Good to know A Minnesota state park vehicle permit is required.