The America's National Parks Podcast is brought to you by L. L. L. Bine is a proud partner of the National Park Foundation. L. L. Bine and N. P.S. Shera believed that every community should have the opportunity and resources to experience the joy of the outdoors together.

Through this partnership, they're not only helping people find their parks. They're helping protect, restore, and

improve parks across the U.S. If it's outside, L.L. Bean is all in. Be an outsider with L.L. Bean. In the heart of our nation lies a river weight that has been federally protected for more than 50 years

and stewarded by Native Americans for thousands before that.

It carried logs piled so high they caused jams two miles long.

It witnessed the first steamboats, a Minnesota firestorm, and even a briefly

booming Pearl Button Factory.

The onset of fur trade, European settlement, and urban development began to threaten these

once pristine waters.

The unique habitat for aquatic life and recreational opportunities such as fishing and paddling was enough cause for people to rally for the waters protection. I'm Jason Epperson and this week on America's National Parks, the St. Croix National Scenic River. The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is made up of the St. Croix and the Namakagun rivers, totaling

252 miles of clean water. The St. Croix is a half mile wide

and acts as the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin.

More than half a million visitors a year visit the two rivers,

which are also home to seven state parks and multiple state forests

along their banks. The St. Croix Riverway was historically home to the Achipway and

Dakota tribes who depended on the River Valley for life.

They were semi-nomadic.

Moving from camp to camp searching for food.

The River Valley provided constant resources for clothing, homes, and tools that help people

hunt or fish.

Spring meant maple sugar camps.

Women organized efforts to tap maple trees, gather sap, and boil the liquid into sugar,

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