Scenic trails abound in north Chisago Cnty.

Wild River State Park Visitors Center marks the start
of the Amik's Pond and the Windfall trails.
Photo courtesy of  Minnesota DNR.

A prairie, the St. Croix River, and an oak woods are among the many sights awaiting day hikers in the North Branch/Harris area of Minnesota’s northern Chisago County.

A short drive from the northern and eastern Twin Cities, North Branch can be reached via Interstate 35, which runs between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Duluth. Among the highlights of the North Branch/Harris area is the long popular Wild River State Park, which straddles the St. Croix River.

Great day hiking options in the North Branch/Harris area include:
g Amador Prairie Loops – At Wild River State Park, hikers can enjoy one of two routes through a restored prairie on this trail. The smaller of the two loops runs two miles and starts at the Wild River State Park Trail Center.
g Amik’s Pond Trail – Brochures for this nature trail can be picked up at its trailhead next to the Wild River State Park visitor center. It runs one mile.
g Checkerboard Park Trail – A one-mile trail meanders around swimming ponds at the Chisago County park for which the trail is named. The park is on County Road 67 east of North Branch.
g Fish Lake Park trails – Various unnamed paths ramble through Fish Lake County Park west of Harris. Enter the park from Elmcrest Avenue south of County Road 10; parking is free Monday-Thursday except on holidays.
g Mitigwaki Loop – The 1-mile loop heads through an oak woods overlooking Dry Creek. The trailhead is at the Wild River State Park visitor center.
g Pioneer Trail – Day hikers can experience three ecosystems – on oak woods, a savanna, and a prairie – on this loop that leaves from the trail center. Including an access trail, the walk is 3.1-miles round trip.
g River Terrace Loop – The 1.5-mile loop and its stem trail circles through a bottomland forest in Wild River State Park. It offers views of the Old Nevers Dam site on the river.
g Sunrise Prairie Trail – North Branch marks the northern terminus of the 23-mile trail that runs south to Hugo. The trailhead heads south from Minn. Hwy. 95/Main Street between Branch Avenue and Forest Boulevard.
g Windfall Trail – Like the Amik’s Pond Trail, a brochure for this nature trail is located at the Wild River State Park visitor center trailhead. It is 1-mile long.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.