Osceola boat launch to receive major upgrades
Rendering of the new Osceola landing. Photo courtesy of National Park Service.
Boaters on the St. Croix River will have an improved experience when enjoying the National Scenic Riverway from Osceola.
An effort from the National Park Service will add additional facilities to the boat launch and landing, separating motorized boats from canoes and kayaks with a dedicated motor-boat launch.
The changes will improve safety by reducing congestion at a facility that saw 76,000 vehicles come through last year.
Visitors to the Osceola Landing will also find new toilets, parking spaces, and waiting area along with the paving of some walking paths.
Carlton, Minnesota-based Nordic Group Inc. was awarded a $3.3 million contract to complete the work, which began in the fall of 2021 and will continue until the spring of 2023.
The National Park Service says that during construction, parking will be limited and there will not be drinking water provided at the landing.
While the launches near the Highway 243 bridge will remain open during the project, the southern portion of the landing will be closed until completion.
Osceola landing is the take-out point for many paddlers traversing Minnesota and Wisconsin’s Interstate Park, and a launch point for boaters headed downstream.