How far up???

This is an old question, I’m sure…….

But,
How far up river can you travel via boat, if you launched out of Prescott?

Is Taylor’s Falls the end of the line?

Is it an easy naviagate?

I would like to take my fiance’ for a ride up the river for scenic purposes and would like to know how far you can go without destroying my boat.

I’m running a 16′ runabout with an 85hp, so power and distance is not an issue.

Thanks!

The “High Bridge”……..

Is that Hudson?

No wake all the way up??? How many miles is it from Hudson to Taylor’s Falls?

Gary,
It’s about 26-28 miles from Prescott to the DNR check point North of Stillwater. It is very easy to navigate. The scenery North of Stillwater is excellent. Plan a full day and stop in Stillwater or Hudson for some lunch and beverages.

Sandbar

Do to cabin fever I did a little ramp checking on sunday after noon.
Checked the following locations

William O brian Main channel is open. Bay where the landing is Iced up. Should take long to open

Copas landing Wide open.

Osceola landing Both ramps open with boats using it.

Fronconia Did not stop by but would think it is open.

Lions club landing north of Taylors falls on the MN. Closed do to Ice damage. A person could drag a boat in if needed.

Lions club landing Wis. side looked to be open.

Wild river state park. Gate closed.

Ther is lots of ice floating around north of Taylors Falls on sunday. It would be some slow boat travel up there.

South of Taylors Falls looked pretty good. Small ice chunks floating around here and there. Boat travel should be good just watch out for logs and thick chunks of ice.

Water levels look to be a little on the high side. Hope it stays at this level or higher for the opener.

Hey Gary – My St Croix River Boating Guide lists the Upper Dells of the St Croix at Taylor Falls at River Mile 50.8. The Hudson Bridge is listed at about River Mile 16. So that is about 34.8 miles if I did my math right. The High Bridge is the Soo Line Railroad Bridge north of Stillwater located at River Mile 28.8 which is about 12.8 miles from Hudson. The National Park Service has declared no upstream travel past the High Bridge due to the zebra mussel infestation. In the summer they post a houseboat at the High Bridge and enforce the no upstream travel. Right now you can probably get by there for upstream travel. According to my Metro Area Rivers Guide a special water use regulation is enforced on the St Croix River between Taylors Falls Dam and the Arcola Sandbar at the mouth of the Apple River. It is not exactly a “No Wake” Zone. This area is designated as a “Slow Speed Zone” where motorboat operation must be restricted to operating “at a leisurely speed, less than planing speed, whereby the wake or wash created by the motorboat is minimal.” I think this speed regulation is enforced by the National Park Service and the DNR. Determining who is in violation of the speed regulation may be open to some interpretation but basically you shouldn’t be hauling butt through this area. During normal water levels it does get shallow in spots north of the Arcola Sandbar and you need a small boat or jon boat to operate effectively.

Thanks for all the info guys!

Much appreciated!

Hey Guy’s We talked to the NPS Ranger last year and complained about “Captain America” Buzzing us very close and all the other fishing boats going about 60MPH North of Stillwater last opener. He said it wasn’t his job to enforce speeding that it was the Sheriffs job! Even though he can legally enforce all laws being a Federal officer. He said he had received several complaints about that particular boat. It’s the giant cigerette boat with a flag painted on the side of it. I think he was just passing the buck? I have never seen anyone North of the highbridge enforcing except the NPS. Has anyone ever seen a game warden up there? The sheriffs seem to spend all their time hanging out South near no wake zones handing out tickets.

Ferny.