Polk County
A Great Place to Have a Good Time!

From great recreational adventure in the heart of the northern wilderness to a haven for the arts with exceptional professional theater, Polk County has it all and more! Located an hour north of Minneapolis/St. Paul on the east bank of the Upper St. Croix River, Polk County is a scenic wonderland full of history, charm, the arts and outdoor activities. The friendly and charming towns of Balsam Lake, St. Croix Falls, Osceola,  Amery, Dresser and others offer both outstanding community living and outstanding vacation fun for the entire family.

Outdoor  Wonderland

Besides the beautiful forested hills, enchanting valleys  and majestic bluffs, Polk County boasts the great St. Croix River and 400 lakes and streams,  thundering rapids and cascading waterfalls. On the St. Croix River, you can swim, fish, rock climb along the banks, canoe, kayak, and take a paddlewheel excursion cruise. Polk Country's many trails, including the 98-mile Gandy Dancer rail trail, the beginning of the 1,000-mile Ice Age Trail and a dozen more single and multi-use trails, meander throughout breathtaking wilderness, rural countryside and towns and villages. Enjoy hiking, cycling, mountain biking, horseback riding, ATV riding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling or cross-country skiing on these trails, many of which link  to other recreational trails throughout the county. Polk County has many local and state parks, featuring great camping, hiking, and bird and animal watching, including eagles and osprey. The area features excellent hunting and year round fishing.

 Polk County golfers can choose from seven scenic golf courses, all well kept with varying degrees of challenges! Two ski hills, Trollhaugen in Dresser, and Wild Mountain, in St. Croix River Valley, offer fantastic ski and snowboard facilities; also, in the summer there's a waterpark with go-karts and an alpine slide for  family fun! Enjoy the beautiful view of Hidden  Falls, the St. Croix and Taylors Falls, on a boat tour where you can see the falls which  are somewhat hidden today.

Special Attractions

The area's history is well preserved and comes alive in Polk County's many museums and historical sites. Relive the feel of yesteryear at the Clear Lake Area Museum where you can walk down a re-created Main Street, visit a pioneer family's log cabin, a one-room school house and a century old church. There is also the Polk County Museum, Balsam Lake, which displays 150 years of county history and is housed in an historic courthouse; the Rural Life Museum, Balsam Lake, which houses an old country school, general store, railroad depot and telegraph station; and the Frederic Depot, a beautifully restored 1901 Soo Line Depot.

Take a ride on the historic Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway, with elegantly restored passenger cars powered by a steam engine. Enjoy spectacular scenery much as it was in the early 19th century before the great timber harvest and some special excursions include  dinner or other events. 

Other area attractions include the Fawn-Doe Rosa Wildlife Education Park,  Ice Age Interpretive Center and the State Fish Hatchery, all in St. Croix Falls. A multitude of community events and festivals throughout the county celebrate the history and nature found in the area.

A Haven for the Arts, Shopping, Dining & Lodging

Polk County is privileged to serve as the home of three fine arts organizations, including the St. Croix ArtBarn, where theater, visual arts, music writing, dance and story telling are promoted and presented to captivated audiences; the nationally recognized St. Croix Festival Theatre Company, a professional theater company that presents lost and forgotten works of outstanding playwrights as well as classic and contemporary works; and the Northern Lakes Center for the Arts in Amery, a nationally certified school for the arts that provides training, performances and exhibit facilities and a 55-piece chamber orchestra.

The area provides an ideal setting for a growing community of artists and artisans with hand crafted pottery, blown glass, water colors, pastels, Amish oak furniture and handmade quilts as well as many other local craft creations. Local craft and art fairs also feature many of these eclectic art works.

The shopping is never ending in Polk County. In addition to the artist's studios and galleries featuring art works, Polk County is also a great place for antiques.  You'll find antiques and collectibles throughout the county, including Native American relics, military apparel, clothing, furnishing, jewelry and more. 

The dining and lodging opportunities are also endless. From dinner aboard a paddlewheel  boat to a home cooked meal in a cozy family restaurant, there are meals ranging from hamburgers and fries to fine Californian and European cuisine, and everything in between!

Polk County visitors can choose from a wide range of lodging including campsites, cabins, bed and breakfast inns, cottages, family motels  and deluxe hotels with all the amenities.

Polk County Business Directory for Amery, Alden, Osceola, Lincoln, Osceola, St Croix Falls, Farmington, Garfield, Balsam Lake, Eureka, Frederic, Luck, Black Brook, Milltown, St Croix Falls, Apple River, Clear Lake, Georgetown, Balsam Lake, Laketown, Clayton and neighboring Wisconsin Communities

Polk County Attractions, Parks & Things to Do

Polk County Map

Polk County
Easy to Get to and Hard to Leave

For more information, contact the 
Polk County Information Center 
at (800) 222-POLK