City: Hastings, MN

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (651) 436-5391

Address: 6959 Peller Ave. South

Description: Five miles south of the town of Afton, Afton State Park is a 1,695-acre wilderness area set along the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The park is located in a landscape of rolling glacial moraines and rocky bluffs, surrounded by thick hardwood and pine forests, with protected remnants of original prairie being restored by park management. Throughout the park visitors get picture-perfect glimpses of the slow-moving St. Croix River.Afton State Park has more than 20 miles of paved and groomed trails for horseback riding and hiking in spring and summer. In winter many of these trails are left open for cross-country skiers and snowshoers to explore. Many activities are offered throughout the year by volunteers who lead snowshoe hikes, demonstrate bird-banding practices, and teach visitors how to identify many of the birds that visit the park. There are also several primitive camping sites with nearby access to hiking trails—reservations are needed from April to November but not from November to April. Bird-watching, swimming, sledding, and fishing are other popular activities at Afton State Park.

City: Hastings, MN

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (651) 430-8240

Address: 10191 St. Croix Trail South

Description: Five miles south of Afton, this 579-acre park is made up of rolling hills, blufftop hardwood forests, and nearly a mile of scenic St. Croix River shoreline. Woodlands and ravines cut through tight bluffs to the riverbank, making great bird-watching areas for everything from eagles to wild turkeys. Swimming is not allowed in the St. Croix, but boating, fishing, and ice fishing are. The park features a fishing pier and a boat launch, as well as trails for hiking and cross-country skiing. The park has a large campground suitable for both tent and RV campers.