Author of new book about St. Croix River region promotes fun and responsibility – St. Croix 360

Angie Hong tells of special places and the stories of the people who protect them.

Angie Hong wants everyone to know that there is a park or nature reserve for them and that everyone can do something to protect the environment. These are two main messages of her new book, Exploring the St. Croix River Valley: Adventures on and off the water.

“I hope it inspires people to explore some new places and get involved in conservation work,” Hong said in a recent interview.

Published by the University of Minnesota Press, the book is described as “an authoritative, accessible and entertaining guide to outdoor recreation in one of the Midwest’s most beautiful and stunning areas.”

Hong is a long-time environmental educator and newspaper columnist, and more recently a writer of popular conservation content on social media. She works for the East Metro Water Conservation program and lives in Stillwater. The book includes some of her popular columns, as well as many new locations and texts.

“There are so many places near Minneapolis and St. Paul that are still relatively unknown,” she said.

Exploring the St. Croix River Valley includes visits to some of Hong’s most popular natural sites, most of which are far from the region’s major public lands. Instead of popular state parks, Hong features places like the Standing Cedars nature preserve near Osceola and the lands of the Belwin Conservancy in Afton.

She tells of paddling trips on the St. Croix with her young son, Charlie, and adventures with a group of girlfriends who don’t take outdoor recreation too seriously. The book includes a short essay about a canoe trip on the river where they wore long skirts, jewelry and scarves and had fun playing “fancy ladies.”

“Many people think there’s a certain way to enjoy nature,” Hong said. “My friends and I dressed up like silly people and went down the river. There’s not just one right way to do it.”

The book is organized according to the different ecosystem types found in the St. Croix Basin, from forests to prairies. Hong admits that prairies are particularly dear to her heart, as she sees them as an unknown and undervalued resource.

“I’m a fan of the prairie,” she said. “There used to be a lot of prairie here.”

Today, there are only a few places left with healthy prairies, which she enjoys visiting and sharing with others.

“Everyone I’ve taken to the prairie has fallen in love,” she said. “The plants are shorter, smaller, colorful, and there are so many insects and birds.”

Hong believes outdoor recreation is an essential part of environmental protection. In nearly 20 years of working with people across the region and across political boundaries, she has found that connecting to the land and water enables their protection.

“Most people overwhelmingly support conservation initiatives,” she said. “Often they just need to know about certain places and problems.”

By exploring the St. Croix River basin, you will learn about and understand the resources and what is needed to protect them.

“Maybe you go to the Namekagon and see the crystal clear water, when you see fish and you can see the bottom,” she said. “That helps you understand the importance of clean water.”

Packed with photos, most of which are also by Hong, Exploring the St. Croix River Valley offers information and inspiration that is accessible to everyone. The book can be purchased here.