Interstate State Park Glacial Potholes

The potholes are the work of the last ice age. As the great glaciers melted, torrents of meltwater rushed through here with tremendous force, and the swirling water trapped stones in eddies that spun round and round in one spot. Turning like drill bits for years on end, those stones ground deep, smooth-walled shafts straight down into the solid rock.

The rock they cut is basalt, ancient lava laid down more than a billion years ago when this region was tearing apart and floods of molten rock welled up across the land. That hard, dark stone preserved the potholes almost perfectly, leaving one of the best displays of these formations anywhere on Earth.

Below the potholes, the St. Croix River squeezes through a narrow gorge called the Dalles, where sheer walls of basalt rise steeply from the water. The name comes from a French word for such rock-walled river passages, and the dramatic cliffs make this one of the most scenic stretches of the St. Croix.

The river here is a protected wild and scenic waterway, forming the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Seasonal boat tours glide through the gorge beneath the towering rock, giving visitors a view of the cliffs and potholes from the water below.

The St. Croix valley is part of the homeland of the Dakota and the Ojibwe, or Anishinaabe, who traveled and lived along this river long before the towns rose on its banks. The river was a route and a resource, and the Ojibwe and Dakota both knew its waters and the rich country around them.

In the 1800s the St. Croix became a highway for the logging boom, floating vast quantities of white pine downriver to the mills. Taylors Falls grew as a river town in that era, and its historic homes and buildings still climb the bluff above the water beside the park.

Beyond the potholes, the park offers trails that wind among the rock formations and along the river, and the basalt cliffs draw rock climbers to their vertical faces. The compact terrain means a lot to see in a short walk, from pothole to overlook to riverbank.

Spring and summer bring green to the gorge and the boat tours to the water, while fall sets the wooded valley ablaze with color reflected in the river, one of the finest times to visit. Winter quiets the park and frames the dark cliffs and river against the snow.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The glacial potholes at Interstate State Park, in Taylors Falls in eastern Minnesota along the St. Croix River, are a remarkable geologic wonder, deep, smooth, cylindrical holes drilled into the hard basalt rock by the swirling waters and stones of glacial meltwater rivers thousands of years ago. The park is home to some of the deepest explored potholes in the world, including a famous one many feet deep, set amid dramatic rock cliffs along the scenic St. Croix River gorge. Trails wind among the potholes and rock formations. With its extraordinary glacial potholes and river gorge scenery, Interstate State Park offers a fascinating destination in Minnesota.

The glacial potholes at Interstate State Park were formed thousands of years ago at the end of the last ice age, when tremendous torrents of glacial meltwater rushed through the area, and swirling currents spun stones and sand in circular motions against the hard basalt rock, slowly drilling deep, smooth, cylindrical holes over time. This natural drilling created the remarkable potholes seen today, including some of the deepest explored anywhere in the world. The process, powered by the immense force of glacial floods, is a striking example of water's sculpting power. These potholes make Interstate State Park a geologic wonder in Minnesota.

You can view and explore the remarkable glacial potholes drilled into the rock, hike the trails among the dramatic basalt cliffs and rock formations along the St. Croix River gorge, take in the scenic river views, camp, picnic, and in the area enjoy boating and rock climbing. The potholes and the river-gorge scenery are the highlights, a fascinating blend of geology and beauty. With its extraordinary potholes, rock formations, and St. Croix River scenery, Interstate State Park offers a rewarding outdoor experience in Taylors Falls, Minnesota.

The potholes and rocks can be slippery, especially when wet, and the area features uneven surfaces and drop-offs near the potholes and river, so wear sturdy shoes, watch your footing, keep back from the edges of the deep potholes and the cliffs, and supervise children closely. Do not climb into or over the potholes, which can be deep and dangerous. Near the St. Croix River, be cautious of currents. Watching your footing, staying back from the deep potholes and edges, and keeping children close ensure a safe visit to Interstate State Park in Minnesota.

Interstate State Park is in Taylors Falls in eastern Minnesota along the St. Croix River, within reach of the scenic St. Croix River valley, the Twin Cities to the south with their many attractions, and the eastern Minnesota countryside. That makes Interstate State Park and its glacial potholes a fascinating stop to combine with the St. Croix River valley and the other attractions of eastern Minnesota and the Twin Cities region on a visit to the state.