taylors falls mn riverboat cruise

Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours | Cruising the St Croix River

The Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tour is a beautiful way to see the scenic Taylors Falls area. The tour begins at the Taylors Falls Marina and takes you on a journey down the beautiful St Croix River.

Most of us are land dwellers. We have two feet planted on the ground at all times. Having earth beneath us is a great thing. But sometimes you have to leave the ground and see things from a different perspective. That is what I did this past weekend with the Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours .

The tour takes passengers from the falls and goes through the beautiful gorge. Along the way, you’ll see all the famous features hidden in the rocks.

Thank You to Taylor’s Fall Scenic Boat Tours for partnering up with us for this post. We had a great time on the boat. As always, my opinions are my own.

Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tour Review

The tour leaves from the intersection of Hwy 8 and Hwy 95. They share an entrance with Interstate State Park, just swing a left to get to the boat parking.

They have some additional parking is behind the ticket booth. We loved this spot because we didn’t have to climb a steep walkway to get to the boat.

The only thing we would do differently next time is back into our parking spot. Because there will be over 100 people walking behind your car as they get off the boat.

We got to the Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tour 20 minutes early and found that people were already lining up outside. The boat boards 15 minutes before they take off.

Those waiting in line were hoping to get some of the coveted spots on the front of the boat on the open-air portion of the second level.

There is no bad seat. It just depends on your preference. We sat under the awning section above. Once the boat ride started, we were warned that the awning only provided protection from the sun.

There were rain clouds that loomed above us. We decided to risk it because I love the open-air view.

The St. Croix River

The lower section is enclosed and has snacks, soda, wine, and beer for sale. We brought some of our own snacks. They allow you to have a picnic on board as long as you didn’t bring any alcohol.

My son could not stop looking at the paddles in the back of the boat. I didn’t fault him at all because they are hypnotic.

Along the way, the crew will point out a lot of the famous Minnesota landmarks or rock formations on the St Croix River Valley including the Stone Cross, Lion’s Head, Turk’s Head, and Old Man of the Dells.

You have to use your imagination a little to see some of it. They do a good job of explaining what to look at.

What surprised me was how diverse the river is. Normally, we get the perspective from the cliffs in Interstate Park.

But when you are on the river, you get to paddle 35 minutes down and see a completely different environment. Only a small section at the beginning of the tour has the iconic high rocky cliffs. Otherwise, it transitions to sandy beaches and woods.

As we floated down the river, we saw a lot of different paddlers, canoers, and kayakers enjoying the waterways.

One interesting part of the river is its camping. Along the river, you’ll find different campsites, similar to BWCA designed for paddlers. The Saint Croix River camping is all free.

If you are looking for a shorter paddle trip, there are a few outfitters that rent one-way paddle trips including Wild Mountain . They provide transportation back to the rental facility.

Taylor’s Fall is a great area to explore. Make sure to check out the other fun things to do: 17 Things To Do In Taylors Falls Minnesota | The Ultimate Guide

The Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours offer 45 and 80 minute daily excursions. These run multiple times during the day. While you don’t have to buy tickets online, I recommend it so they don’t fill up.

If you’re looking for the royal treatment, take one of their Dinner Cruise. They are available a few times during the week. Check their schedule to find out more.

You can get tickets a few ways. If you purchase through their website, you’ll guarantee a spot and save $2. Otherwise, you can also buy tickets when you get there.

For more great ideas on your trip to Taylors Falls, check out my weekend itinerary !

After doing the boat tour, I highly recommend stopping at Wild Mountain Waterpark. It’s a great way to cool off! Essential Things to know before visiting Wild Mountain Water Park

Would I take another Taylors Falls Scenic Boat tour?

Yes, we had a great time. Next time I’d back into a parking spot, and get there a little bit early. Otherwise, it was a fabulous adventure.

If you’re looking for a scenic boat tour in the Taylor Falls area, the Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tour is definitely worth checking out!

The tour guides are informative and entertaining, and the views of the falls are simply spectacular. It’s a quick trip from the Twin Cities, making it a great day trip anyone can do!

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Minnesota native and Midwest travel expert Jennifer provides insider tips and budget-friendly trip ideas for families looking to explore the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Through her travel blog DayTripper28, she draws on first-hand experience to recommend the best hidden gems, outdoor adventures, road trips, and weekend getaways around Minnesota and the Midwest. With her passion for uncovering local flavors and culture along the backroads, Jennifer shares affordable itineraries for creating memorable experiences across the region.

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EXPLORE TAYLORS FALLS, MN & ST. CROIX FALLS, WI

Tame the Wild River

Let the paddleboat captain give you a tour of the historic st. croix river on board the taylors falls princess, or glide along the river in a canoe or kayak. these boat and canoe/kayak operators know the river well and have the equipment ready for your next river adventure., taylors falls scenic boat tours  .

220 South St. Taylors Falls, MN 55084 651-465-6315 www.taylorsfallsboat.com

Eric’s Canoe Rental

1289 South Vincent Street, St. Croix Falls, WI 54024 (651) 270-1561 www.ericscanoerental.com

Taylors Falls Canoe and Kayak Rental

Canoe base is located in the Minnesota Interstate State Park Taylors Falls, MN 55084 651-465-1080 www.taylorsfallscanoeandkayakrental.com

Riverwood Canoe Rental

254 S Cascade St, Osceola, WI 54020 (715) 222-2288 www.riverwoodcanoe.com

Captain Shawn’s Rental

12565 Lake Blvd. Lindström, MN 55045 (651)-769-3343 www.captainshawnsrental.com

Frequently Asked Questions

• Chevron down Do I need to make reservations?

Reservations are not required, but are highly recommended.

Ticket Book Now

Do the boats ever fill up? Will I be turned away?

The boats rarely fill up, but on the occasion they do, a second boat will be taken out if one is available. You can guarantee your seat by purchasing tickets in advance either online or over the phone.

• Chevron down Does the boat go out rain or shine?

Yes, the lower level of both of our boats is fully enclosed.

• Chevron down Is there food or beverages on board?

Yes, we have a snack bar on board that serves sandwiches, chips, candy, soda, wine, and bottled beer. No carry-on alcoholic beverages or outside food is allowed on the boats. You can also preorder a River Rock Meal for your daily excursion or stop by our River Rock Patio to purchase food to bring onboard your trip.

Which cruises provide lunch?

Our daily excursions do not provide lunch, but if you like, you can add a River Rock Meal when you book your daily excursion, sundown, or twilight cruise tickets online by 11 pm the day before your boat trip.

• Chevron down Do you allow dogs on the boat?

Yes, we do allow dogs on our daily excursions, sundown, or our twilight cruise, but they need to be kept on a leash at all times.

• Chevron down Is the boat handicapped accessible?

The Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours are handicap friendly. Both boats are somewhat accessible, depending on a variety of factors. The lower level of the boat is accessible in a semi-limited capacity to most standard-size manual wheelchairs during normal water levels. The restrooms onboard are not handicapped accessible, but there are handicapped stalls in our restrooms next to the ticket window in the brown building. There is no elevator to the 2nd level of the boat. The staff and crew at the Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours are committed to assisting guests with accessibility whenever possible. If you have questions please call our staff and we would be happy to answer your questions regarding the water levels and the type of handicap accessibility that you are looking for. For questions, please call 651-465-6315 .

CLICK HERE for images of the assistance offered and handicap accessibility.

• Chevron down Are there restrooms available on the boat?

Yes, there are restrooms available on board but the restrooms are not handicap accessible. Prior to boarding, we recommend using the restrooms next to our ticket window (brown building) which have handicap stalls.

• Chevron down Where should I park?

RESERVED (VIP) PARKING

$10.00+tax for 3 hours

Click here to reserve

Your reserved parking spot will be accessible for 3 hours total, beginning 30 minutes before your trip departure time. The slot number for your assigned space will be included in your confirmation email after purchase. To locate your designated spot, proceed to the area behind our ticket building (the large brown structure). Please look for the number specified in your confirmation and pull into that spot.

• Chevron down Where are my tickets?

Your tickets will be emailed to you automatically when a reservation is made, but there is no need to print the tickets out. Your name will be on our manifest for daily excursions, sundown, and twilight cruises.

• Chevron down What if I need to reschedule or cancel my cruise?

Your Daily Excursion, Sundown, or Twilight Cruise reservations are nonrefundable, but you may reschedule with a 24-hour notice via your confirmation email or by calling us at 651-465-6315.

• Chevron down Do you offer a Military Discount?

We offer a discount to our U.S. troops as a way of saying thank you! Any service personnel and their immediate family (spouse and children under the age of 18) will receive a discount on our daily excursion ticket when showing a valid current military ID at our boat stand or when purchasing your tickets when booking online. Valid anytime.