Afton State Park — Attraction in Denmark Township

All of the staff, but especially the park rangers I think John and Sonya was their names were SO INCREDIBLY AMAZING. I got there soon to park closing and I’m not really good with directions even with a map so I got lost and took to long to find my spot before dark . I thought my canoe campsite was on the beach because of the map and almost set up there. My back injury hurt super bad from dragging my wagon through the sand , luckily the Ranger showed up right before dark to help me find my campsite and actually helped me carry my stuff to my campsite, started a fire for me , left me with a torch, knife, and flashlight to keep me safe and keep me warm since it was nighttime. I was camping alone . He drove me back up to my car so I could grab my cooler before being in the dark and having to walk a mile. I thought I was good to go but I had some weird health issues in the middle of the night kept waking up having a hard time breathing , my circulation wasn’t good, and I felt like puking. This happened for a long time , when I got up in the morning with little sleep due to these things I got out of my tent and my heart was racing so fast just from walking and not even carrying anything (another health issue) and it hadn’t been like this for about 6 months. I felt terrified of the thought of having to carry a wagon full of stuff and 30lb cooler over a mile back to my car, I didn’t even feel safe to take down camp with my heart and nausea. Luckily the previous ranger told the next day ranger to come check on me the next morning. They assisted me with giving me some electrolytes and snacks (she even offered her own food) and kept an eye on me for a few hours to make sure I didn’t need to go to hospital and they took down my entire camp for me and brought everything to my car. I am SO thankful for them. I feel like something really bad would have happened if I was alone without their help. I felt weird all day and I stayed until I felt more decent to drive . Best rangers ever, amazing customer service . Would definitely go back here if I was feeling well, take much less things due to the not being able to bring car to campsite and steep hill. I would still probably bring someone with me just incase . It does get cold there at night too. Just glad I had nice fire and got to see the stars on the beach . I hope these rangers get a big pay raise they go above and beyond to help and keep people safe. Even on the way to my cooler the ranger stopped every so often to check in with each guest making sure they got to their campsite ok and familiar With area and give them the low down on the...

From peaceful prairie, to wild woods, and a relaxing river stroll, Afton State Park is the perfect spot to soak up some St. Croix River views or spend long weekend exploring and camping. Stop at the Park Office to find out about the birding and other activity kits available.

The trails are peaceful, even when the parking lot is full. At sunset the 2.2 mile Prairie Loop Trail is the spot to be as the pastels of nature glow together in the golden light. You'll find a long stretch of soft sandstone wash beach along the North and South River Trail which is almost perfectly level as it parallels the St. Croix River. The trail to the beach from the parking lot and along the river is smooth gravel and perfect for biking, which is only allowed on some sections of trail in the park. The Deer Valley and Trout Brook Trail Loops provide some bonus elevation challenges, a sneak peek at Afton Ski Resort, and a quiet seclusion that is surprising to find in an area that is so close to the big city hustle and bustle.

With the variety of camping options; 4 cabins, 2 yurts, a canoe in site, 1 wall tent, 28 backpack sites, and 2 group camps, there is a convenient camping option for everyone. Be mindful, however, all state park campsites require a reservation and the yurts are usually booked out far in advance. You could get lucky with a last minute reservation and score the wall tent or a backpack site on weekdays but they're usually full on the weekends.

Afton State Park is a Minnesota gem and if we remember to Leave No Trace packing out what we carry in, respecting the trails and wildlife, it will stay a pristine natural area for generations of...

We recently went on a bike ride around Afton State Park, and overall it was a mix of beautiful scenery with some frustrating challenges. The natural beauty of the area is undeniable—the rolling landscape, peaceful setting, and wide-open views make it a wonderful place to spend time outdoors. We were especially surprised that there weren’t any bugs during our visit, which made the ride much more enjoyable. The highlight of the evening was definitely the sunset—it was absolutely spectacular and made for a perfect backdrop to end the day.

Unfortunately, the trails and parking lot left a lot to be desired. The paved trails are in very poor condition. In fact, they were some of the most uneven, cracked, and bumpy trails I’ve ever ridden on. It was difficult to relax and enjoy the ride because we had to constantly watch for rough patches and broken pavement. The parking lot wasn’t in great shape either, which added to the overall impression that the infrastructure here has been neglected.

My biggest complaint is the lack of upkeep on the paved trails. Considering visitors pay for passes, it feels like some of that money could and should be reinvested into making the park more accessible and enjoyable for everyone. A fresh paving job would go a long way in improving the biking experience and encouraging people to keep coming back.

In short, Afton State Park has incredible natural beauty, but the poor condition of the paved trails really takes away from the experience. If the park could put some resources into repairing and maintaining them, it would easily become one of the best biking spots...