Beginner Rock Climbing at Interstate Park: Guided Climbs on the St. Croix Dalles
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
4 hours
Fitness Level
Moderate fitness — able to handle short steep moves, carrying a daypack, and standing on your feet for instruction periods.
Overview
Learn to climb on the rhyolite cliffs of the St. Croix Dalles with expert guides from Forged Guides. This half-day, beginner-friendly session pairs hands-on instruction with dramatic river gorge scenery.
Beginner Rock Climbing at Interstate Park: Guided Climbs on the St. Croix Dalles
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The river here doesn't whisper — it pushes. You arrive to the thunder of water against ancient stone and a gorge that cuts a clean, raw line through the forest. Guides from Forged Guides meet you at the Minnesota Visitor Center and within minutes you're on a short trail that drops to vertical rhyolite faces, the rock cooling in layers ripped open by Ice Age floods. The St. Croix dares you to look up.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Arrive early for parking
Parking is limited at the Visitor Center; arrive 20–30 minutes early and be prepared to buy a day pass on busy weekends.
Wear non-marking approach shoes
Climbing shoes may be provided, but good approach shoes with grip make the short walk and scrambling much easier.
Bring a personal water bottle
Hydration is key on warm days—the river cools the air but not your exertion; filters are unnecessary for a short session.
Expect variable weather and river spray
The gorge creates cooler, damper conditions than the topside trail; pack a light shell for wind or mist.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Bald eagle
- White-tailed deer
History
The Dalles sit on ancient Midcontinent Rift rhyolite and have been a focal point for Indigenous transit and 19th-century logging routes; conservation efforts later preserved the gorge.
Conservation
Climbers are asked to follow seasonal closures for nesting birds and to minimize chalk and anchor impact; practice leave-no-trace around belay stations.
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Adventure Hotspots in Taylors Falls
Recommended Gear
Approach shoes or sturdy trail runners
Good traction and ankle support make the access walk and scrambling comfortable.
Light fleece or wind shell
The gorge can be cool and breezy in spring; a light layer keeps you comfortable between climbs.
spring specific
Reusable water bottle (1–2L)
Staying hydrated is essential during exertion and there are no reliable water stations on route.
summer specific
Camera or phone with wrist strap
Capture river viewpoints and top-rope shots; a strap prevents drops on exposed ledges.