Stillwater Lift Bridge & St. Croix River

The Stillwater Lift Bridge

The Stillwater Lift Bridge is a historic vertical-lift bridge whose central span once rose to let riverboats pass beneath its towering steel frame. Now a beloved pedestrian and cycling crossing, it links the Minnesota and Wisconsin shores and anchors the view from this camera.

The St. Croix River

The St. Croix River forms a broad, slow-moving channel framed by forested bluffs and limestone cliffs. A federally protected National Scenic Riverway, it draws sailboats, paddlers and pleasure craft that drift across the camera's wide expanse of water.

Downtown Stillwater Riverfront

Below the bridge stretches the landscaped promenade of Lowell Park, the green heart of downtown Stillwater. Strollers, cyclists and families gather along the brick-paved walkways, gazebos and gardens that line the historic riverfront.

A Historic River Town

Known as the birthplace of Minnesota, Stillwater grew from a 19th-century lumber boomtown into a charming destination of restored brick storefronts, antique shops and riverboat cruises that define its timeless character.