To reach the park, from Stillwater, Minn., take Minn. Hwy. 95 north to the park. Turn right/east onto O'Brien Trail North/County Road 33. The road curves south, dead-ending in a parking area alongside Lake Alice.
The trail heads through a floodplain and typically is open during summer and autumn when water levels have gone down. You’ll find rest areas (some with benches) about every 900 feet on the trail, as well as interpretive signs.
The trail begins at the picnic grounds immediately east of the parking lot. To the west is a swimming beach on Lake Alice (below).
Several spur trails head off the main loop to the lake (below).
The trail is mostly flat and wide, consisting of pea gravel (below).
A number of views of Lake Alice are on the trail’s west side (below). St. Croix River views are on the trail’s east side.
In May, carp often can be seen spawning in Lake Alice; they make ripples in the otherwise calm water (below) and sometimes even jump out of the water.
Here's a full description of the trail.
Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.
