Permits & Reservations

Riverside campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis and do not require a permit or a reservation except for those on the St. Croix River between Highway 8 and the Soo Line High Bridge. A free annual Camping Permit is required for that river section. Reservations are required to camp in state park campgrounds along the Riverway. Go to the camping page for details about camping options along the St. Croix and Namekagon.

Picnic shelters located in the day-use area at Osceola Landing can accommodate up to 50 people. The two shelters are the Osprey shelter, nearer to the entrance, and the Blue Heron shelter, further south in the day-use area.

• Shelter Hours: sunrise to sunset.
• Costs: there is no fee for the use of the shelter but reservations are required.
• What's not provided: electricity

Call the St. Croix River Visitor Center at 715-483-2274 to make a reservation. Unfortunately, we cannot hold dates and only accept reservations for the current calendar year.

Other Nearby Shelter Suggestions
The following links are suggestions for picnic shelters located on or near the Saint Croix River. Reservations are required.

• Lions Park Main Shelter - St. Croix Falls
  809 N Hamilton Street

• Lions Park - Taylors Falls
  1751 Chisago Street

• Minnesota Interstate State Park

• Wisconsin Interstate State Park

Overview

A special use permit is required by 36 CFR Section 2.50 for activities providing a benefit to an individual, group, or organization rather than to the public at large. These activities require some degree of management from the National Park Service if there is:

• the potential to interfere with usual visitor use patterns.
• congestion of highly visited areas such as the Osceola Landing and Picnic Area.
• possible impact on park resources.

The National Park Service may permit a special park use if the proposed activity will not:

• cause injury, damage or impairments to park resources;
• be contrary to the park’s purpose for which the park was established and the mission of the NPS;
• unreasonably impair the atmosphere of peace and tranquility maintained in wilderness, natural, historic, or commemorative locations within the park; or
• interfere with visitor use, access, and programs
• interfere with park management or administration;
• interfere with commercial operations or other public facilities;
• present a clear and present danger to public health and safety.

Special Use Permits must be obtained in advance. It takes a minimum of two weeks to process an application and issue a permit. Depending on the time of the year, it could take longer. Applicants must plan accordingly. A fee may or may not be charged depending on the activity. Permit fees are non-refundable and include the cost of permit processing and monitoring of the event. If resources are damaged or trash is left, additional fees will be charged.

How to Apply

Step 1: Determine if your activity needs a permit.

Below is short list of example special events and activities which would require a Special Event Permit from the Superintendent. It is not a complete list. Please contact the Permit Office, 715-483-2245, to determine if your potential event will need a permit.
Examples:

• Ski or foot races (e.g., 5K, ultra marathon, skijouring)
• Demonstrations
• Fishing competitions
• Festivals
• Freedom of Speech events and gatherings
• Rallies
• Religious gatherings
• Scattering of ashes
• Weddings
• Commercial photography (still)

Step 2 – Fill out the Special Use Permit application.

Form 10-934- Demonstrations and Distibution of Materials
Form 10-932 - Filming, Still Photography, and Audio Recording
Form 10-930 long form- All others

Make sure to provide an original signature, and either mail in the original document or scan and email it to the Special Use Permit Coordinator. Unsigned documents will be returned to the requesting party, and may delay the processing time needed to issue a final permit. Have questions? Please contact the Special Use Permit Coordinator.

When completing the application, you will need to identify a location. If your location requires use of the Osceola picnic shelter(s), please indicate as such in the Project Information block. If your application is approved, the reservation for the specific shelter(s) you indicated on the application form will be reserved for you. Confirmation and final permit of the shelter reservation will be distributed to you, but it may arrive ahead of your final SUP paperwork. The following locations are areas permitted for use under the SUP program:

• Any section of the Namekagon or St Croix rivers between Namekagon Dam to Riverside, Gordon Dam to Riverside, and Riverside to Boom Site, Stillwater, MN
• NPS-owned landings (e.g., Osceola Landing) or its adjacent facilities
• Auditorium or meeting room spaces
• Parking lots
• Picnic shelters
• Campgrounds

Step 3 – Pay the application and/or additional fees online (if applicable).

St Croix NSR uses Pay.gov to process payments. Doing so, reduces internal procedural work that increases the costs of the program to the public. Follow the steps below only if the Special Use Permit Coordinator contacts you, and instructs you to pay an Application Fee, Location Fee, or other required fees. No paper checks, cash, or other methods of payment will be accepted, but EFTs, credit card, AmazonSmile, etc are acceptable forms of payment on Pay.gov.

1. Go to: https://www.pay.gov/public/form/start/198425940. And ensure that the page states 'SACN Special Use Permit Fees' before making Payment.

2. Once at the page, Please click the red button to 'Continue to the Form'

3. Your Permit Number will be provided to you once your application is approved.

4. Please fill in the Event Name and Contact information.

5. Check the box(es) and complete the appropriate financial information provided to you by the SUP Coordinator.

6. The Total Payment Due at the bottom should match what was provided to you by the SUP Coordinator, then press 'Continue' to complete your payment.

Step 4 – Provide the necessary insurance information (if applicable).

Not all parties will be required to provide proof of insurance. The SUP Coordinator will determine whether insurance is required, and then itemize the type and volume necessary. The requestor must ensure the “United States of America” is listed as an Additionally Insured Party on the insurance. Additionally, the requestor must provide proof of insurance before a draft Special Use Permit will be sent to the requesting party.

Step 5 – Review the draft Special Use Permit.

If no changes are needed, sign and date, and return the Permit with the original signature to the SUP Coordinator. Your permit is not finalized until it is signed by the Superintendent, and sent back to your attention.

Questions about the program can be sent to the SUP Coordinator at any time by email or phone at 715-483-2245.

• In most cases, permits and fees are not required for filming, still photography, or audio recording that involves eight or fewer individuals. In order to avoid permit and fee requirements, the filming, still photography, or audio recording must meet all of the following conditions:

  • Occurs in areas open to the public;

  • Uses hand-carried equipment only;

  • Does not require exclusive use of a site;

  • Does not adversely impact park resources, values, or other visitors; and

  • Is not likely to result in additional administrative costs for the NPS.

• Permits and fees are never required for filming, still photography, or audio recording that is associated with an activity or event that has been authorized under a written instrument (e.g., permit or agreement), such as a wedding, sporting event, demonstration or other activity.
• All filming, still photography, and audio recording is treated the same under the new law. It does not matter whether it is commercial, non-commercial, for content creation, by a student, or conducted by media or for news gathering.
• When a filming, still photography, or audio recording permit is required, the National Park Service will charge location fees and fees to recover its costs to administer the permit, including application fees.
• Individuals and groups conducting filming, still photography, or audio recording remain subject to all other laws and regulations applicable to visitors to park areas, including those requiring permits for certain activities (e.g., special events or demonstrations) and those prohibiting disturbance or other negative impacts to natural or cultural resources.
• Individuals and groups conducting filming, still photography, or audio recording are subject to entrance and/or recreation fees that may apply in park areas even when a permit is not required.

If a permit is required for your planned activity, please fill out the form linked here.
For more information on filming, photography, and audio recording in National Park units, please follow this link here.

Scientific research is often conducted in national parks by professionals and schools independent of the National Park Service. Apply through the National Park Service Research Permit and Reporting System.