Day Hiking Trails: Video of Willow River SP's Knapweed Trail

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Video of Willow River SP's Knapweed Trail

Day hikers can walk the edge of prairie that botanists are restoring on the Knapweed (Orange) Trail at Wisconsin’s Willow River State Park. The 0.9-mile one-way trail also offers a short walk through a piney woods.

To reach the park, from Interstate 94 take Exit 4 and head north on U.S. Hwy. 12 for about 1.6 miles. When Hwy. 12 turns east, continue straight on County Road U for about 0.3 miles to County Road A, where you’ll continue for another 1.5 miles. The park’s entrance is on the road’s left/west side. Park in the lot for the Group Campground on the entry road’s south side.

Here’s a video of a portion of the prairie along the Knapweed Trail, taken in early May:

Here's an article more fully describing the trail.

Learn more about nearby day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of St. Croix County guidebook.

Meet the Author

My name is Rob Bignell. I'm a long-time hiker, journalist and editor. My son Kieran and I have been hiking together for the past decade. Before Kieran, I taught middle school students in New Mexico and Wisconsin, served as an infantryman in the Army National Guard, and worked in newspapers. I've won several journalism awards, from editorial writing to sports reporting. In 2001, The Prescott Journal, which I served as managing editor of, was named Wisconsin’s Weekly Newspaper of the Year. Currently I own and operate an online editing business, Inventing Reality Editing Service. After spending several years in Southern California, my son and I now live in Wisconsin on the scenic Red Cedar River.