Sandrock Cliffs is a natural area featuring stepped sandstone escarpments along the banks of the St Croix River. The area is a part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and is administered by the National Parks Service. Sandrock Cliffs features a popular day hiking trail network that spans up to 5-miles on interconnected footpath loops.
There is a grouping of walk-in campsites in a pine forest on the cliffs with views of the St. Croix below, as well as a paddle-in campsite that is part of the river trail. A canoe/kayak landing is available on the north end of the area and a boat ramp at the south end. Parking lots and pit toilets are available at each end of the trail network.
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The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway preserves 169-miles of the St. Croix River, 101-miles of the Namekagon River, thousands of acres of forest covered wilderness on both banks of these rivers and features hundreds of miles of combined hiking and horseback riding trails in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Sandrock Cliffs Trail area makes up 5-miles of the footpaths used by hikers to access the National River.
Sandrock Cliffs is particularly popular with walkers and hikers. The trail is easy to find and reach, beginning from a wayside at the Highway 70 landing in Grantsburg that is on the Wisconsin side of one of the few road bridges over the St. Croix. There is also a large parking area at the end of Tennesse Road, which is where campers can park to reach the walk-in campsites.
Most people will find their way onto the A Loop, which is a 3-mile loop connecting the lot at Tennesse Road with the lot at Highway 70. This easygoing trail cuts along the St. Croix River on low banks through lightly covered deciduous forest. As the trail approaches the cliffs it rises up a couple of rolling hills on a wide track. The A Loop then returns on high ground through denser forest set back from the river.
The A Loop connects directly to a number of other unmarked trails that form loops on the cliffs. The cliffs are soft white sandstone and are shaded by a dense stand of tall white pines. Interspersed along the loops on the cliffs are 5-7 large walk-in campsites that feature fire rings and picnic tables. Most sites have views of the river and islands below the cliffs. This area is extremely scenic and quiet, and feels like a real wilderness retreat. Sites are claimed on a first-come basis, are fee free, and don't require any kind of registration - just set up a tent and enjoy. There are pit toilets close by at the Tennesee Road parking lot, and you can get down to the river banks for fishing at the Sandrock Cliffs canoe landing. No drinking water source is available.
The rest of the trail loops are very easy and in total add up to an additional 2-miles of potential hiking at Sandrock Cliffs. The C Loop leads out to lower banks of the St. Croix and one of the paddle-in campsites. If you are driving into this area, please try to leave the paddle-in campsite for canoe-campers who may be desperate for a site on busy summer weekends on the river.
Additional hiking trails connect directly to the Sandrock Cliffs Trail at the Highway 70 Landing. A footpath leads under the Highway 70 bridge over the Governor Knowles wayside and into the St. Croix Family Campground at Governor Knowles State Forest. From there the footpaths join the Raspberry Route and head south along the river for dozens of miles on a backpacking trail with interspersed riverfront campsites in the State Forest. You can easily put together a multi-day backpacking trip that includes the Sandrock Cliffs. The St. Croix Trail 12-mile backpacking trail is also just across the river on the Minnesota side.
Sandrock Cliffs is a scenic loop hike that is easy to walk and easy to access. The trails are perfect for families, and experienced hikers will also enjoy the quick walk to scenic vistas of the beautiful St. Croix River. Walkers of average ability can see all that is offered at this natural area in 2-hours at a leisurely strolling pace.
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| St. Croix River at Sandrock Cliffs |
Sandrock Cliffs Trails
COUNTYBURNETT
COMMUNITIES
GRANTSBURG
TOTAL MILES
5-MILES NETWORKED TRAILS
DIFFICULTY
EASY
LOWEST ELEVATION
797 AMSL
HIGHEST ELEVATION
894 AMSL
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN
500 FT
POINTS OF INTEREST
ST CROIX NATIONAL RIVER, SANDROCK CLIFFS LANDING, HIGHWAY 70 LANDING
CAMPING
SANDROCK CLIFFS WALK-IN CAMPSITES, GOVERNOR KNOWLES STATE FOREST ST. CROIX FAMILY CAMPGROUND
Directions and Trail Map
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Address for your GPS: 15996 WI-70 Grantsburg, WI 54840
| coordinates: 45.774730, -92.779104 |
| From Milwaukee | 6 Hours |
| From Madison | 5 Hour |
| From Green Bay | 5 Hours |
| From Wausau | 3.5 Hours |
| From Minneapolis | 1.5 Hours |
| From Chicago | 7 Hours |
Photos
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| Sandrock Cliffs landing in high water conditions |
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| Steps from the Sandrock Landing to the campsites on the Sandrock Cliffs |
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| Walk-in campsite at Sandrock Cliffs |
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| Sandrock Cliffs Trail |
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| Sandrock Cliffs Trail |
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| Sandrock Cliffs Trail |
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| View of the St. Croix River from Sandrock Cliffs |
Links
Sandrock Cliffs Trail GuideSt. Croix National Wild and Scenic River
Governor Knowles State Forest