Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
torn-up logs (they love mealy ants and worms), turned-over logs. Carry a bandanna,
shirt,orhattodropordistractthebear.Leaveyourbackpackonforaddedprotection.
Also pray that you never come between a mama bear and her cubs.
Camp in open areas away from trails, thick brush, berry patches, or spawning
streams. At the campsite, food is what can kill you. Store food and all odorous
items by hanging them at least 10 feet above the ground, four feet from the top and
side supports, at least 100 yards from your tent. Strain all dishwater and store with
garbage; dump water and store garbage 100 yards from your tent. Do not sleep in
the same clothes you cooked in. Do not take anything odorous—such as chocolate,
toothpaste, and so on—into your tent, or don't be surprised if a bear sticks his head
in and says, “Got any chocolate?”
If you meet a bear,
do not run; it may incite aggression.
(They can run 30 miles
per hour.) Chances are a black bear will be more afraid of you than you are of it.
Talk to the animal in a calm, low voice while slowly backing away. If it attacks, try
to scare it away by shouting, making noise, or throwing small stones. Always fight
back with a black bear.
Lower St. Croix River
Beginning at the St. Croix Falls Dam, this stretch runs 52 miles to Prescott, where it flows
into the Mississippi River.
Osceola,
five miles downstream from St. Croix Falls, was named for an Indian chief.
The name was originally Leroy, and old Leroy wouldn't allow the change until he was paid
two sheep. Downtown, a flight of wooden stairs climbs to
Cascade Falls,
or you can just
wanderthroughthecharmingtownandstopforalook-seeatthe
Emily Olson House
(715/
294-2480), which doubles as the local historical society quarters. The
ArtBarn
(1040 Oak
Ridge Dr., 715/294-2787) is a renovated barn housing galleries, a theater, workshops, and
more. There's a statue of
Chief Osceola
and a large
state fish hatchery
(2517 93rd Ave.,
715/294-2525) also in town. The chugging steam engines of the
Osceola and St. Croix
Railway
(114 Depot Rd., 715/755-3570,
www.trainride.org
)
depart from the old depot just
off WIS 35 downtown. The old trains steam on fantastic 90-minute round-trips to Marine-
on-St.-Croix, Minnesota (11am and 2:30pm Sat.-Sun. Memorial Day-late Oct., $18 adults).
Two miles below Osceola, a sharp left cut in the river marks the dividing line between
the Sioux and Ojibwa nations under 1837 treaties. The river spins for 10 more miles,
passing a Minnesota state park and great old Marine-on-St.-Croix, Minnesota, before the
