Description: Spectacular views, minimal development and rugged terrain are all part of the wildlife watching experience at Afton State Park. Explore the oak savannas, prairies, oak woodlands and floodplain forests. The river overlooks provide excellent vantage points for watching migrating raptors and the Trout Brook Valley area is great for spring warblers and other migrating and nesting songbirds.

You can often see deer along the drive from the gatehouse to the visitor center. Look for field sparrows and savanna sparrows, eastern and western meadowlarks, indigo buntings, blue-gray gnatcatchers, scarlet tanagers, wood thrushes, eastern bluebirds, Baltimore orioles and pileated woodpeckers. Listen as frogs and toads call in the spring.

Although the terrain here is quite rugged and hiking can be strenuous, you can see many different animal species and great views of the St. Croix River without hiking very far.

Wildlife to Watch: Birdwatchers can observe hawks and waterfowl on the St. Croix flyway, bluebirds and meadowlarks in the grasslands, and waves of migratory birds in the floodplain. Deer, fox, and badgers live here along with the thirteen-lined ground squirrel, turkeys, gray and fox squirrels.

Special Tips: Afton State Park Birding Checklist
Campsites at Afton State Park now can be reserved through the centralized reservation service by calling 1-866-85PARKS (1-866-857-2757) or online at stayatmnparks.com.

Ownership: MN DNR
Size: 1695 acres
Closest Town: Afton

Facilities: