taylors falls scenic boat tours

We went a few years back during peak color time, and this boat ride was fantastic. This year we missed the colors, but the narration was still excellent. We enjoyed the boat ride and the kids liked looking at the rock formations.

This is a great tour of a hidden treasure of WI/MN. The captain was full of information about the area & the scenery was beautiful. Very pretty rock formations & bright fall colors. We chose a really cool morning but decided to sit on the deck for the best view. There is an enclosed area & refreshments are available. Really enjoyable cruise on the river!

We boarded the Taylors falls princess and we enjoyed the experience.The tour takes about 90 minutes and goes through a beautiful river valley with the captain also acting as the tour guide with information about the valley and its history.Some people might find the price of $17.5 on the weekends on the higher side, but its definitely worth a try.

Lazy paddle boat trips couldn't be much better. It was a slow and comfortable ride down the river with some good information to boot. Our kids got pretty bored after 20 minutes of the 80 minute tour. After you clear the rock ledge shores, it's basically looking at Minnesota and Wisconsin wooded hills. I would recommend this more to a couple for a romantic relaxing ride than a family with small kids. Our kids were 12 and 14 when we took the ride. Staff was extremely friendly and it was a great day. Taylors Falls could use a little help though. The traffic was horrific on the way in. It took over an hour to travel 8 blocks on a beautiful fall day. The shops in town were limited (they had a "yarn" shop on the prime real estate main drag). The ice cream shop had a line 30 deep on a hot fall Saturday without enough help to keep up so we had to leave. The Interstate Park Potholes were interesting and right at the entrance to the Park which was adjacent to the Scenic Boat Tour. It was a great day for family.

Yesterday - my husband and I floated down the lazy St. Croix River on the St. Croix Princess at Taylors Falls, MN. A wonderful trip on a double decker paddleboat - was the perfect way to spend a beautiful fall day in Minnesota.An 80 min., fully narrated tour, took us by fishermen, kayakers and breathless scenery. Rock climbers could be seen scaling the bluffs (Wisconsin side) while an eagle soared high above. Come prepared to test your imagination - since the boat captain will fill your head with much folk lore re: the rock formations in/on the bluffs!! :)For the more adventurous - canoes can be rented at the Interstate State Park (Minnesota side) for a one way paddle down the river. A shuttle bus is available to take you back to your vehicle, once you reach the predetermined destination (I think I heard the boat captain say the canoe trip takes apprx. 2 hours).While in Taylors Falls - stop by The Drive In; an old fashion drive in restaurant including carhops and window trays!! The home made root beer and fish and chips were delicious!!It was truly - a delightful day!

Dear Deborah,I'm sorry that you were unable to find our location. Your husband did call our office afterward and we walked him through our website and he realized that you weren't on our website to find the address. You are correct, we would not offer you a cash refund, but we did offer you a complimentary trip anytime for the rest of the season. We would love to have you come back on the boat so, you could have a better experience. We are sorry that you didn't have the anniversary you were hoping to have, but hope that you will take us up on the offer to go on another excursion at no charge.Sincerely,Amy R Frischmon

We took the 80 minute ride down the river and back was a perfect day, more crowded than I would like but with the perfect weather, what did I expect? The grandchildren were able to go topside and watch the paddle wheel propel the craft along the tour guide keep the information coming and kept the kids interested , Will try and do a trip later when the leaves are changing color.

We went on a Saturday night 6:30 dinner cruise. We parked in the lower lots. The cruise boarded and left on time. The food was great. (We both had the prime rib). Nice guided tour on the trip out, followed by entertaining piano music on the trip back. I would definitely recommend the cruise.

Although there isn't a ton to see after you pass the towering cliffs and rock formations, the paddlewheel boat provides a relaxing and interesting river cruise. The commentary about the early settlement of the river provides insights into the history of the area. After the cruise, don't miss the pothole trail in Interstate State Park (Minnesota side). A bit pricey, but watch for coupons and Groupons. Snacks and restrooms are available on the boat. Get in line early to ensure a seat on the upper deck if the weather is good. Be sure to check their schedule on line as they are down to one trip per day starting in late August. (1:30). Early in the season they do 3 to 4 daily.

The boat drifts down the river sort of aimlessly on this leisurely boat trip (they call it a cruise). The top deck has seating under a sun shade, the bottom has indoor seating surrounded by glass windows. Take your choice for the kind of weather you will encounter. The lower deck has a nice view, so you won't be penalized by taking what might seem to be an inferior placement. The tour is narrated, in this case by a young man named Hunter, who gave both a professional and entertaining account of the geological formations along the river. The most scenic views are are the beginning of the tour. The river becomes less canyon-like as you process downstream. Still, it is a good tour that is long on relaxation and short on any mental demands.

Dear g_smith, I am sorry for your disappointment. I know it seems hard to believe, but we really don't know on a day to day basis what the water levels on the St Croix are going to be during certain times of year, all dictated by the amount of rain received.. As soon as we knew for sure that we were going to be unable to offer an 80 minute trip, we emailed all of our guests the change. In addition, we offered to reschedule to another day at no penalty if that fit your needs better. As far, as being able to run the longer trip on Sunday, yes, we could. We have 2 boats that we use. One was able to make it further downstream, while the other one was not. On Saturday, the boat that draws less water was chartered for a private group. We had to use the other boat. Sunday, both boats were available and we were able to do the full 80 minute trip. Now that it has been raining since Sunday afternoon, both boats can once again take the full 80 minute trip. This is the first time that this has happened this season and I'm hoping it does not happen again. I am very sorry that your trip was shorter than you anticipated, but I hope that you were still able to enjoy the St Croix River and the beauty it offers.

Very nice opportunity to get down closer to the water and take a ride. Very fun boat trip, really enjoyed the paddleboat. The tour was interesting and the views were gorgeous! Very fun!

Relaxing, scenic boat ride; interesting information by the ship's captain. Because we were there on a very hot, sunny day, we moved from the upper deck to a shady spot on the lower deck after a while. We were there on a quiet weekday; might be less relaxing on a weekend. The plastic chairs on the upper deck were too close together for comfort. The lower deck had padded chairs. This deck was mostly vacant the day we were there. Please visit the FREE nearby Franconia Sculpture Park and the adjacent glacial pothole exhibit.

This is a 2 hour cruise on the St. Croix River with an excellent buffet meal (chicken, ribs and lots of extras). Food was delicious and the paddleboat ride was informative and lovely. We got some great pictures of Eagles

We have lived here now for 11 years and we went years ago with a homeschool group which we really enjoyed. My husband's sister was in town and we went, 6 of us. We had such a great time showing them things we knew about and the guide shared things we forgot about. Thanks so much for the great time with family. :)