About this spot
Interstate State Park, referred to locally as Pothole Park, sits in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. From the Twin Cities, drive north on Interstate 35 until reaching the US 8 exit beyond Forest Lake. Continue on US 8 into Wisconsin, and after crossing the St. Croix River, take the first right onto State Route 35 south. The state park entrance appears approximately one mile ahead on the right. Two primary jumping locations exist within the park: The first requires driving to the large beach parking area, then taking the rightward trail along the lake. Continue until reaching a woods intersection on the right, following this path toward the river cliffs. A prominent boat dock on the Minnesota side marks your arrival. Multiple options exist here: a 12-foot jump, a 23-foot jump used by most visitors, and a 41-foot jump situated upstream. Accessing the tallest jump involves ascending a boulder pile behind the area until locating a triangular-shaped rock tilted toward the river, with a small gap requiring careful crossing to reach it. The second location involves proceeding past the beach to the picnic area, then walking to the river and heading upstream along the trails. This section offers numerous jump spots ranging from 6 feet to approximately 40 feet, with flexibility for exploration. The river maintains considerable depth—roughly 3 feet near the cliff face throughout most of this region—making it relatively secure for jumping. Note that jumping is prohibited in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, so remaining cautious around park ranger patrols is essential.