Southern Polk County offers great day hikes

Cascade Falls in Osceola, Wis.

Offering some of the most fantastic scenery on the St. Croix River, a trip to Wisconsin's Polk County is worth the drive for day hikers. Most notably in the county’s southern portion is a 25-foot waterfall and two rail lines heading through woodlands and pastoral farm scenes.

Along the Great River Road in Osceola is Cascade Falls. A stairway downtown heads to the waterfall’s base. From there, the creek flows into the St. Croix River.

A former rail line, the 14-mile Stower Seven Lake State Trail runs from Amery to the Osceola/Dresser area. An excellent segment of the trail starts at a historic train depot in Amery and heads west into the countryside.

Between Clear Lake and Clayton, 11 miles of old rail bed have been conerted to a hiking trail. A good segment of the Clear Lake-Clayton Trail to hike during summer is a 3-mile round trip west of Clayton from County Road P to 65th Avenue; this section passes scenic Magnor Lake.

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