The Stillwater Lift Bridge is the town’s best-known landmark, a steel vertical-lift bridge spanning the St. Croix River between Minnesota and Wisconsin at the southern end of downtown. Its twin towers and raised centre span are the image that appears on postcards, brewery labels and tourism brochures, and a view of the bridge with the water in front and the brick town behind it is the classic Stillwater photograph. For many years the bridge carried highway traffic across the river, and the arrival of a newer crossing downstream changed its role. Today it is mainly a place to look at and to photograph, with the riverfront park beneath it, and the paddlewheel cruises from Stillwater pass underneath it on their way up and down the river. It is free to see, and it is worth visiting at different hours.
Planning
The best places to view the bridge are the riverfront near Lowell Park and the downtown streets that slope down to the water. Check the Minnesota Department of Transportation page for the current status of the bridge, because arrangements for people on foot and bicycle and the lifting of the span for river traffic can change. Parking downtown can be difficult on summer weekends and during the leaf season, so arrive early or park a little farther up the hill and walk down, which has the advantage of showing you the town as the logging barons saw it.
What to do
Walk the riverfront first, then look back at the bridge from the water on a boat cruise, which gives a very different perspective, with the span rising above the boat as it passes beneath. Photographers favour early morning, when the light is soft and the town is quiet, and the evening, when the lights come on and reflect in the river.
In autumn, the colour of the bluffs behind the bridge makes the scene especially rich. If you are visiting with children, the moving boats and the sight of the bridge from below are often more memorable than the structure itself.
Making the most of it
Combine the bridge with the Stillwater Trolley tour for background on the town, a riverboat cruise for the view from below, and a meal at a riverside restaurant. The area around the bridge is also the natural starting point for a walk along the water in either direction. Because this is a free landmark, there is no ticket to buy, no schedule to follow and no time limit, so it works well as a flexible anchor for a Stillwater day, a place to return to in different light as your plans allow.
What to expect
The experience
A free self-guided visit to the town’s signature vertical-lift bridge and the riverfront beneath it.
Best time
Early morning or evening for the best light, and autumn for colour on the bluffs.
How long
30 minutes to an hour.
Tips
Check the transportation department page for the current arrangements before you go, and park early on weekends.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Photographers and first-time visitors.
- Families
- Easy, free and often more fun combined with a boat cruise.
- Couples
- A lovely spot for an evening riverfront stroll.
- Pair with
- A paddlewheel cruise that passes beneath the span.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes to an hour.
Good questions
Is there a charge to see the Stillwater Lift Bridge?+
No. It is a public landmark that you can see from the riverfront at no cost.
Where is the best place to photograph it?+
The riverfront near Lowell Park is the classic viewpoint, and a boat cruise gives a view from the water.
Do boats pass under the bridge?+
Yes. The paddlewheel river cruises pass beneath the span on the St. Croix River.
Can I walk across the bridge?+
Arrangements can change, so check the Minnesota Department of Transportation page for the current status before you go.
When is the best time to visit?+
Early morning and evening for light, and autumn for foliage on the bluffs.