4 Hours in Taylors Falls

Have you been to Taylors Falls?

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven through Taylors Falls, Minnesota. We pass through the town on our way to Ryan’s family cabin in Wisconsin, and literally every time (Ryan can attest) I say, “I’ve never been to Taylors Falls, we need to come back one of these days!”

Passing through on Highway 8 gives you a quick glimpse of everything this cute St. Croix River town has to offer: hiking trails, biking, kayak & canoe rentals, scenic boat tours, good eats and more!

What to do if you only have 4 hours in Taylors Falls, Minnesota

Taylors Falls is only an hour away from the Twin Cities, making it a perfect destination for a half-day or full-day trip.

Last weekend we finally visited Taylors Falls, but only had 4 hours to explore. We are not early risers (if you know me, you already know this!) so we didn’t get there until 10:00 AM, but that was early enough to snag a parking spot near the Interstate State Park Visitors Center. The park opens at 8:00 AM and parking fills up fast. Vehicle permits are required, and can be purchased online or at the park office kiosk for $7. Everything we planned to do was within walking distance of the parking lot, so it was a perfect location. You can find free street parking, but with a toddler-in-tow we try to make it easy on ourselves!

Hike the Pothole Trail at Interstate State Park

Starting off we walked towards the “pothole trail” and viewed these geological wonders, created by glacier erosion. We kept Micah in the backpack carrier as we viewed these deep holes and walked on top of the steep overlooks. We let him run free inland along the trails and through the bouldery landscape. This area of the park offers stunning views of the St. Croix River, and is absolutely gorgeous in the fall. Keep in mind, this makes it an extremely popular destination and busy time of year to visit, so plan accordingly.

All Aboard the Taylors Falls Boat Tour

There is no better view of the St. Croix River Valley than being on the river itself! Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours offer 80 minute daily excursions, departing at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. We opted for the 11:00 AM departure and purchased tickets online for a discounted rate. Children under 3 are free and adult tickets are about $25/ticket after tax, kids 3-12 are about $15. It’s worth it for a fun way to see the sights!

Beer, Wine, NA and snacks are available for purchase on the boat. It was a picture perfect fall day … crisp air, colorful trees, and a local cider in hand topped it off as we floated down the river. Best of all, Micah absolutely loved being on the boat!

Picnic lunch from Juneberry Cafe

After picking up a grab-n-go lunch from Juneberry Café we found a picnic table overlooking the St. Croix River and devoured the delicious meal.

Walk the Taylors Falls Riverwalk

We followed the riverwalk trail down to the river’s edge and spent some time throwing rocks, enjoying the beautiful weather and gorgeous view. Nap time was calling our name so it was time to hit the road home.

Have more time? Here are additional recommendations in the area:

Hike St. Croix River Trail and Railroad Loop
Hike Sandstone Bluff Trail
Rent kayaks or canoes from Taylors Falls Canoe & Kayak Rental
Eat at The Drive In and play a round of mini golf
Visit for free the Franconia Sculpture Park
Stop in the town of Lindstrom, MN – America’s Little Sweden
Feed the animals at FAWN-DOE-ROSA Wildlife Educational Park
Sip on local wine at Winehaven, Wild Mountain Winery, Chateau St. Croix, Dancing Dragonfly, or Deer Lake Winery
Get adventurous at Wild Mountain any time of year
Pick your own apples, pumpkins or Christmas trees – find locals close by, HERE

Have you been to Taylors Falls? Comment below!