On April Fool’s Day we woke up to 10 inches of fresh snow here in Minnesota! It was a beautiful and sunny day, so we took the boys and dog out for a hike between General Conference sessions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints which we watch every first weekend in April and October. It was a gorgeous spring morning! I’ve been wanting to hike to the Arcola High Bridge in Stillwater for some time and Saturday’s fresh snow and warm sunshine made it the perfect opportunity!
Arcola High Bridge Viewpoint
Trailhead: Arcola Bluffs Day Use Area in Stillwater
Distance: 1.70 miles out and back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Fee: None
This is a very family friendly and dog friendly hike. The trail begins at the Arcola Bluffs Day Use Area which is part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. There is no fee but the parking is very limited and only available on the roadside. There is a map at the trailhead and dogs are allowed if they are on a leash. The trail leads to a view of the historic steel arch bridge from the banks of the St. Croix River. The impressive bridge was built in 1910 and 1911 and sits 185 feet above the river.
It was absolutely beautiful! I would love to come back again and hike the trail in the summer and autumn months. I think it would be so pretty to see the bridge when the river is thawed and the trees have leaves and color. There are also side trails that lead up to bridge level which we didn’t have time to explore so we will have to come back again. No crossing the bridge as the railroad is still in use to this day.
Tips
- Bring plenty of water
- Open year round
- No fee
- Limited parking on roadside
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Snacks for kids. We had a snack break when we arrived at the river and enjoyed the view of the bridge
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Have you ever heard a sound like this before? On our hike the heavy snow began falling from the trees all around creating this beautiful moment:
