About
William O’Brien State Park sits on the beautiful St. Croix River and is the perfect getaway to enjoy the outdoors. Hiking trails offer quiet exploration of the park's rolling, wooded hills. For anglers, the channels of the St. Croix have northerns, walleye, bass and trout. Ideal for canoeing, the river is also a migratory pathway that offers visitors an exciting diversity of sights and sounds. There are plenty of opportunities to stay overnight, with 124 campsites, 4 group camps, and 4 camper cabins. In the winter, the trails are groomed for skiing and snowshoers can explore the Riverside Trail.
Hours & Dates
Park permits: $35 annual, $26 second vehicle, $12 handicapped, or $7 daily. Camping fees are separate.Book an online reservation 24 hours a day.
Phone reservations can be made by calling 866-857-2757 (TTY: 952-936-4008) Apr–Sep, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. D
More Information
Seasonality
- Open in fall
- Open in winter
- Open in summer
On-Site Facilities & Services
- Children's programs (scheduled, supervised)
- Evening entertainment (regularly scheduled)
- Located on a lake or river
On-Site Recreation
- Bike trail
- Canoes or kayaks available
- Cross-country ski trail (groomed)
- Hiking trail
- Lake/river access (boat ramp)
- Swimming beach
Green Practices
- Waste reduction/reuse/recycling
Attraction Attributes
- Accessible to disabled
- Can accommodate groups of 45 or more
Number/Type of Campsites
- Number of camping cabins: 4
- Number of camping cabins available in winter: 3
- Number of tent-only sites: 4
- Total number of campsites: 124
- Total number of campsites available in winter: 12
Campground Features
- 50 amp
- Camping accessible to disabled
- Electric
- Flush toilets in campground
- Group camp facilities
- Hookups available in winter
- Hot showers in campground
- Lodge/central building
- Pets allowed in campsite
- Sanitary dump station
- Secluded campsites
Campground Type
- State Parks Campgrounds
Length of Stay
- Daily site rental
Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
Based on 54 reviews
Many great hiking opportunities at William O’Brien State Park. Enjoyed the Upper Park Trail. 5.5 mile hike that includes a variety of landscapes including wetlands, hardwood forest and rolling...
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TravelingSoccerLoon,
June 20, 2021
Spent a very hot weekend camping here… Park employees still not fully staffed. Park office closed most of the time. Showers are locked off. Half of the pit toilets are locked. They just have a very...
—
herewego2005,
June 13, 2021
We stopped here to go hiking on vacation. We hiked the 1.6 mile riverside trail. It was very scenic and had gravel paths. It was also a quick walk and was flat. Unfortunately the gift shop was...
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BVELock,
May 2, 2021
Great place to get out in nature and away from the city but close enough to the east metro of the Twin Cities making it very accessible. Enjoyed the pleasant Riverside Walk this Fall. Make sure to...
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TravelingSoccerLoon,
December 5, 2020
First time hike in William O'Brien. Our kids had a great time looking at all the wildlife next to trails from beavers, geese, and ducks to woodpeckers. This park is unique in Minnesota as it includes...
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Andy M,
May 4, 2020
What's Nearby
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Fall canoeing at St. Croix State Park / Christy Bruggenthies
Reeling in a smallmouth bass while kayak fishing on the Mississippi River in St. Cloud / Chelsea and Eric Eul, courtesy Clear Waters Outfitting
Magical forests and incredible hiking trails await just off the beaten path at Itasca State Park
Fall hiking at Afton State Park, southeast of St. Paul on the St. Croix River / Paul Vincent
Bring your dog to the posh Lora Hotel in downtown Stillwater / Paul Vincent
Recharge your batteries with a winter trip to the Como Conservatory / Visit Saint Paul