Trails head through restored prairie in Wis.

Big bluestem grows across a restored prairie at the Carpenter Nature Center
Wisconsin Campus south of Hudson, Wis.

Carpenter Nature Center, Wisconsin
Campus trail map. Click for larger
version.

Ask most any hiker in the Twin Cities metro area where the Carpenter Nature Center is located, and they’ll answer near Hastings, Minn. They wouldn’t be wrong. The long-established pastoral nature center on the St. Croix River is a popular destination for many taking a day hike or just seeking some apples from the orchard there.

The nature center, however, actually has two campuses – the other is located just south of Hudson, Wis., roughly 20 miles north of the Minnesota site. The Wisconsin campus offers a number of great trails that head through remnant and restored prairies.

In all, seven trails loop about the 300-acre Wisconsin campus, making for a little more than 4 miles of hiking.

To reach the Wisconsin campus, from Interstate 94 in Hudson take County Road F (Carmichael Road) south. Once out of town, turn right/west onto East Cove Road. Alternately, from Prescott, Wis., take County Road F north past Kinnickinnic State Park and turn left/west onto East Cove Road. Once on East Cove Road, watch for the nature center’s signs; the buildings and parking are on the right/north.

Northern trails
From the parking lot, walk to the northeast corner of the buildings and follow the jeep trail east. Upon reaching the prairie, you can access the Ridgeline Trail. The 0.63-mile loop heads down a 50-foot hill into a basin, also known as “the bowl,” a remnant prairie habitat that was never farmed. It’s also an awesome trail for birdwatchers, as a number of species nest there.

To extend the hike, you have a couple of options. One is to take the Indigo Trail, a 0.2-mile side trail on the Ridgeline Trail’s northwest side. Pines as well as a variety of prairie plants, most notably blooming indigo, grow around the trail.

Another option is to take the Goldenrod Trail from the Ridgeline Trail’s southwest corner. A council ring – stones large enough to sit on arranged in a circle with no head of table or hierarchy – sits at the trails’ intersection, overlooking the bowl.

Recently added, the idea for a council ring came from the teachings of Jens Jensen, a Danish landmark designer who with Frank Lloyd Wright formed the Prairie School of Landscape Design. Jensen believed the rings symbolized humanity’s bond with nature; such circles can be found in the culture of the ancient Vikings, Native Americans and even legends, such as King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table.

Middle trails
A connector trail, the 0.25-mile (one way) Goldenrod Trail crosses East Cove Road and joins the Little Bluestem Trail. The Little Bluestem is a quarter-mile loop though the middle of an 80-acre restored prairie.

On the west side of the prairie and sharing a side with the Little Bluestem Trail is the Big Bluestem Trail. A 1.25-mile loop, the trail is named for the bluestem, a common prairie grass that grows between 6- to 8-feet tall. Its leaves range in color from light green/yellow to burgundy.

If interested in only hiking the Little and Big Bluestem trails, parking is available off of South Cove Road. To reach that lot, after turning from County Road F onto East Cove Road, drive past the aforementioned entrance and turn left/south onto Ahrens Road then left/east onto South Cove Road. The gravel lot is the on the road’s left/north side.

Southern trails
Two other trails sit at the campus’s southern corner. To reach them, from Ahrens Road turn right/southwest onto South Cove Road. After going around the curve, look for an entry on the road’s left/east side. Park there.

The Acorn Trail winds 1.2 miles through a deciduous forest. Serveral species of wildlife common to Wisconsin can be found along the trial, including whitetail deer, woodpeckers, owls and squirrels.

To extend the hike, take the Laurie and Al Hein Trail, a side trail off the Acorn. At 0.25 miles, the trail is named for the couple who in the late 1980s donated to Carpenter Nature Center 98 acres of land, the nucleus of the Wisconsin campus. This walk was among their favorites when they owned the property.

The Wisconsin campus is open for hiking every day of the year from sunrise to sunset, though the nature enter buildings are open only on select days.

Great hikes near major St. Croix Co. roads

Wildwood Trail

Several major highways offer access to Wisconsin’s St. Croix County, which is chock full of great hiking trails.

From the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, take Interstate 94 east across the St. Croix River. Visitors from southern Minnesota and Iowa can drive Interstate 35 north to I-94 while those in northern Minnesota can take I-35 south to I-94. Once in St. Croix County, most of the hiking trails are only a few miles north or south of the freeway. One easy hiking area to reach is Willow River State Park and its 45-foot waterfall, which is just a couple of miles off I-94.

From western Wisconsin take either Wis. Hwy. 35 or U.S. Hwy. 63 to I-94. Hwy. 35 runs through River Falls, past Hudson’s downtown pier and riverway, and to Somerset. Hwy. 63 meets I-94 in Baldwin, which boasts the Casey Lake Wildlife Management Area.

From eastern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, head west on Wis. Hwy. 64, Wis. Hwy. 29 or I-94. Hwy. 64 runs through New Richmond and Somerset, passing the latter’s La Grandeur Natural Area. Hwy. 29 links to I-94 in Eau Claire or can be taken directly to Spring Valley with its Eau Galle Recreation Area and Crystal Cave. I-94 passes Woodville and offers access to the Glen Hills.

From southern Wisconsin, take I-94 north into the county. The freeway offers access to each St. Croix County community.

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

Variety of trails found across St. Croix Cnty.

Willow Falls at Willow River State Park.

Wisconsin's St. Croix County consists of several communities with great hiking trails. Most sprung up as agricultural centers, though during the past couple of decades those closest to the Minnesota border increasingly serve as bedroom communities for the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. The county’s communities neatly fall into one of three groups based on the level of this transition from farm to bedroom town.

The Great River Road communities sit in the western third of the county, which is rapidly urbanizing. Wis. Hwy. 35, also known as the Great River Road, runs north-south connecting these cities. So also do four major rivers.

The county seat, Hudson, with its neighbor North Hudson, are located where the St. Croix River joins a tributary, the Willow River. Beautiful Willow River State Park sits just east of town; a hike to Willow Falls is a must for any visitor to this part of Wisconsin.

North of Hudson is Somerset, which the Apple River flows through on its way to the St. Croix. The city enjoys a colorful history as a rough logging town and bootleg alcohol production center during the Prohibition. One great Somerset hike is the Parnell Prairie Reserve Trail.

South of Hudson is River Falls. Partially in neighboring Pierce County, the city is home to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Hiking trails abound on the Kinnickinnic River, which flows through town en route to the St. Croix. The most scenic part of the Kinnickinnic is just a mile south of the St. Croix-Pierce county line at Glen Park.

The central third of the county is farming country though the population of cities along the Interstate 94 and Wis. Hwy. 64 corridors is growing at a faster rate than most other communities in Wisconsin.

The most populous, New Richmond, sits just east of Somerset in the county’s north. During 1899, an F5 tornado wiped out the community, killing 117 people. Today, the city is a vibrant town with many great local hiking options. Among them is the New Richmond Heritage Center and Paperjack Creek Trail.

Much smaller Star Prairie and Deer Park sit to the north and northeast of New Richmond. Roberts is to the south where Wis. Hwy. 65 and I-94 meets. Hammond and then Baldwin, the latter beginning as a railroad town, are east of Roberts on the I-94 corridor. The Casey Lake Trail near Baldwin offers an opportunity to see great blue heron near their rookery.

The eastern third of the county is farming country with cities no larger than a population of 1500, but quality trails can be here as well. Woodville and Wilson are east of Baldwin off of I-94. Glenwood City is to the north; nearby Glen Hills County Park boasts a number of great hikes. The Wildwood Trail links Woodville to Spring Valley, home of Crystal Cave and the Eau Galle Recreation Area.

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

Trails explore St. Croix County WI geology

Rocks forming the cliffs that Willow River cuts through were formed about
half-a-billion years ago.

Hikers can explore the geology of Wisconsin’s St. Croix County via a number of great day trails. Located just east of Minneapolis-St. Paul, the county is easy to reach via Interstate 94.

Underlying the entire county is 1.1 billion year old bedrock, formed when the North American continent began to split in two. From this rift flowed thousands of feet of lava. In the county, these flaws included the area northwest of where the Willow River runs today while the rest of the county mainly contains clastic rock, which is weathered rock that rivers dumped into the rift’s depression.

Fast forward a half-billion years. At that time – the Cambrian and Ordovician periods – the county sat in a sea off the edge of North America. Northern Wisconsin was a high coastal area. As rivers carried sediment off these eroding mountains, the sand and silt settled in the sea for more than 100 million years. As sea life grew more complex near the end of that period, their falling shells settled in the sediment, creating the marine limestone underlying much of the county’s topsoil. Cliffsides of this rock can be seen today at Willow Falls where the Willow River has cut through it; it can be reached via the Willow Falls Hill (Gray) Trail at Willow River State Park.

Two ancient faults during that time offset the rocks layers by as much as 400 feet in the county. One fault runs north of Hudson. The other one, known as the Hudson Fault, sits in the state park on the eastern side of Little Falls Lake. You can walk over the latter fault on the Willow Falls (Blue) Trail at Willow River State Park.

Fast forward nearly another half-billion years. About 2.5 million years ago, the Earth entered a series of ice ages. Much of the landscape seen today in St. Croix County exists as it does because of those glaciers. During one of those glacial periods more than 100,000 years ago, an ice sheet engulfed the entire county.

In the last ice age, which began about 100,000 years ago and ended a mere 8000 years ago, the leading edge of the Superior Lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet covered the county’s northwestern corner. It formed moraines – ridges of rock and sediment carried by glaciers – and kettle lakes, where melting ice broken from retreating glacier formed a depression, with the trapped meltwater forming a waterbody. Moraines are visible on the Mound (White) Trail at Willow River State Park and a kettle lake on the Siem Trail, located in the Homestead Parklands on Perch Lake.

Most noticeably, the St. Croix River served as a major drainage for meltwater from retreating glaciers with flashfloods scouring out the St. Croix River Valley. The Hudson Pier, at Lakefront Park in downtown Hudson, runs to the center of the river valley. During the height of the glacial drainage, the pier would have been a few hundred feet under the river.

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

Video of White Tail (Red) Trails at WI park

Day hikers can enjoy a pleasant walk amid a meadow and oak woods on the White Tail (Red) Trails at Wisconsin’s Willow River State Park. The combination of 2.66-miles of trails offers an opportunity to spot white-tailed deer and listen to songbirds.

To reach the park, from Interstate 94 east of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, 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. 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 cluster of oak trees with songbirds taken during spring along the White Tail (Red) Trails:

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.

Hike along famous Wisconsin trout stream

Willow River alongside the Trout Brook (Purple) Trail.

Trout Brook (Purple) Trail

Stem, three loops
offer variety of
interesting routes

Day hikers can amble alongside a popular trout stream on the Trout Brook (Purple) Trail at Wisconsin’s Willow River State Park.

A stem and three stacked loops, the trail offers a several hiking options to meet a variety of fitness levels. The majority of the trail is flat and well-maintained.

To reach Willow River State 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 drive for another 1.5 miles. Turn left/west into Willow River’s main entrance and follow the park road to a set of three parking lots at its terminus.

The trail can be accessed from the west side of the southern and middle parking lots. Look for the purple trail blaze – the trail starts at the western terminus of the Little Falls (Green) Trail – and cross the entry road. The wide trail enters a woods of mixed northern hardwoods and roughly parallels the Willow River.

In 0.08 miles, the path junctions with the Oak Ridge (Brown) Trail. Continue straight, passing a small wetlands on its south side.

Once you hear the rush of the river over rapids, the path is coming upon a footbridge that marks the southern end of the Nelson Farm (Silver) Trail, which heads north. The footbridge is at 0.62 miles from the trailhead. Additional rapids are west of the bridge.

The Trout Brook (Purple) Trail marks an excellent route for watching birds of all varieties. More than 90 unique species ranging from songbirds to water fowl and even a few raptors have been spotted on the trail.

Don’t be surprised if you also see white-trailed deer along the way. They like the cover and feeding grounds offered by the oak forest to the trail’s south and east.

At 0.72 miles from the trailhead, you’ll reach the middle of three stacked loops. They are named here the Western, Middle and Eastern loops based on their compass direction.

Western Loop
From the stem trail, go right/west to the part of the path that accesses both the Western and the Middle loops. In 0.08 miles, the trail junctions with the Western Loop, which heads back to a section of the Willow River known as The Race. At one time, this section of the Willow was a premier trout fishing stream.

Today, brown trout, smallmouth bass and bluegill dominate the Willow. Though long past its peak trout days like so many other rivers, you still can spy a fly fisher out on the banks.

The “three sides” of the western loop run 0.47 miles. They junction on the western side of the middle loop; take the middle loop left/north for 0.17 miles to reach the stem trail and return to the lot.

Middle Loop
To do the Middle Loop, from the stem trail simply avoid turning on any of the junctions and stay on the middle walking path. This route runs 0.84 miles through woodlands before returning to the stem trail.

Eastern Loop
Going left/east from the stem trail onto the Middle Loop provides access to the Eastern Loop.

In 0.1 miles from the stem trail, the path reaches the junction with the Eastern Loop; head left/east onto it. The amoeba-shaped loops runs 0.75 miles and briefly touches the western side of the aforementioned wetlands.

When the trail junctions again with the Middle Loop, go right/north onto it. In 0.27 miles, you’ll reach the stem trail.

Of course, depending on your energy levels, the loops can be combined in a variety of ways to lengthen the walk. Or the loops can be skipped altogether; arguably, the prettiest part of the walk is the stem trail, which if done on its own runs 1.44-miles round trip.

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

Photos of Willow River’s White Tail Trails

Photo album of Willow River State Park’s White Tail (Red) Trails The scenic White Tail (Red) Trails run for a combined 2.66 miles in Wisconsin’s Willow River State Park near the Minnesota border.

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.

From the lot, walk east, looking for the orange blaze of the Knapweed Trail. That route heads up a knoll through a small woods that opens up to a grassy area (below). Turn right/west and follow the red blazes for the White Tail Trails.

White-tailed deer like to graze in the meadows along the trail (below), hence the trail’s name.

Songbirds are plentiful on the trail thanks to the oak woods and birdhouses in the meadow (below).

The woodline consists mainly of oaks with a few other trees mixed in (below).

Here's a full description of the trail.

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

Spot white-tailed deer on stacked loops

The White Tail (Red) Trails skirts an open meadow and oak woods popular
with white-tailed deer.

Routes cross meadow near Willow River

A pleasant walk through a meadow awaits hikers of the White Tail Trails at Wisconsin’s Willow River State Park.

The trail consists of a stem leading to two stacked loops, allowing for circuit hikes of between 1.6 to 2.2 miles. Most of the trails’ surface is mowed grass, making this a great spring trail when other paths are still muddy from melting snow and rainfall.

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 drive 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.

From the lot, walk east, looking for the orange blaze of the Knapweed Trail. That route heads up a knoll through a small woods that opens up to a grassy area. At the trail intersection upon reaching the prairie, go left/west along the tree line. This is the stem trail for the White Tail (Red) Trails.

State wildlife animal
The woodline consists mainly of oaks with a few other trees mixed in. On the opposite side of the woods to the north is the aptly named Oak Ridge (Brown) Trail.

To the south and west, however, is a restored meadow. White tail deer tend to graze here, hence the trail’s name.

While white-tailed deer can be found throughout North America, they’re ubiquitous in Wisconsin. About 1.2 million white-tailed deer roam the state, nearly one for every three residents. The state’s official “wildlife animal,” many hunters here await the annual November gun season with the same excitement as kids at Christmas.

White-tailed bucks usually top a hundred pounds with mature ones sporting large sets of antlers. Despite their skinny legs, they can run up to 40 miles an hour and jump nine feet.

Even if you don’t see a deer while hiking this trail, you’re certain to notice signs of their presence. Watch for deer tracks on the trail’s few sandy or muddy portions. Where the route skirts the forest, look for trees with bark chewed off the trunks.

Long vs. short trail
In addition to white-tailed deer, two badgers were spotted along the trail in 2010. Songbirds also are plentiful.

About 1.6 miles from the Knapweed Trail intersection, the stem comes to the two stacked loops that make up the White Tail Trails.

For the northern loop, go right/northwest. In 0.14 miles, the trail intersects the Oak Ridge Trail then in 0.51 miles reaches the second loop. To complete the northern loop, take the middle trail east through the meadow for 0.51 miles back to where the stem trail met the loops. This hike, including the stem trail, runs 1.6-miles round trip.

For the longer southern loop, go left/south. After 1.3 miles, the route junctions with the northern loop. Turn right/east onto the middle trail, and in 0.51 miles, you’ll reach the stem trail. This hike, with the stem trail, clocks in at 2.2-miles round trip.

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

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.

Photo album of Knapweed (Orange) Trail

The scenic Knapweed (Orange) Trail rambles about 0.9 miles one-way through a prairie that’s being restored in Wisconsin’s Willow River State Park.

To reach the park, from Interstate 94 near the Minnesota border, 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.

The trailhead (below) is southeast of the parking lot. Watch for the orange trail blaze.

After cresting a knoll, the trail reaches a grassy area that is the prairie under restoration (below). At the trail intersection, go left/east.

The trail is named for an invasive species (below, photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR) that for better or for worse dominates the route.

The last section of the trail heads through a wooded area (below) near the park office. It then crosses the park entry road and ends at a junction with the Pioneer (Yellow) Trail.

Here's a full description of the trail.

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

Video of Willow River SP's Little Falls Lake

Among western Wisconsin’s prettiest waterbodies near an urban area is Little Falls Lake.

Located in Willow River State Park at the edge of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, the lake covers 170 acres and discounting an island on the eastern side, offers 4.12 miles of shoreline in the park. Home to panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and northern pike, the lake reaches a depth of 18 feet.

A beach stretches for 400 feet along a section of the shoreline. Amenities include picnic tables, beach house, playground, and restrooms.

Here’s a brief video of buffleheads swimming on Little Falls Lake:

A great trail to enjoy the lake from is the Little Falls (Green) Trail. The paved route skirts the lake’s southeastern shore for 0.6 miles one-way (1.2-miles round trip).

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

Video of Wisconsin’s Willow Falls

Among Wisconsin’s most impressive waterfalls is Willow Falls.

Located in Willow River State Park near the Minnesota border, the Willow River descends 45 feet over the falls. The main drop is about 15 feet high but more than a hundred feet wide.

A sandstone gorge nestles the falls beneath 200-foot high walls. Geologists estimate the rock at the bottom of the gorge is about 600 million years old and have found trilobite fossils in it.

Here’s a brief video showing Willow Falls:

A great trail to see the terraces from is the Willow Falls Hill (Gray) Trail. It runs 0.85-miles round trip on Willow Falls State Park’s eastern side.

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

‘Hikes’ author presenting St. Croix River Valley’s best birding trails

Where’s the best place in the St Croix Valley to see eagles soar within a few feet of you? To hear songbirds sing a sweet soundtrack as you walk through the woods? To spot pheasants, turkeys and other game birds?

I’ll tell about those and several other locales during “Best Bird Trails of the St Croix River Valley,” an hour-long presentation on Thursday, May 14, at Chapter2Books in Hudson, Wis.

Each of the trails will be pulled from my bestselling book, Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Trails of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, and most are within an hour’s drive of Hudson. Copies of the book and my other hiking titles are available for purchase at Chapter2Books.

The presentation starts at 7 p.m. Chapter2Books is located at 226 Locust St. in historic downtown Hudson.

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

‘Hikes’ author presenting St. Croix River Valley’s best wildflower trails

Where’s the best place in the St Croix Valley to see carpets of spring wildflowers? Prairie blossoms that pioneers found common when they arrived in the region? Rare flowers not seen elsewhere in the Upper Midwest?

I’ll tell about those and several other locales during “Best Wildflower Trails of the St. Croix River Valley,” an hour-long presentation on Thursday, April 16, at Chapter2Books in Hudson, Wis.

Each of the trails will be pulled from my bestselling book, Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Trails of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, and most are within an hour’s drive of Hudson. Copies of the book and my other hiking titles are available for purchase at Chapter2Books.

The presentation starts at 7 p.m. Chapter2Books is located at 226 Locust St. in historic downtown Hudson.

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

Short trail heads past lake and its beach in Willow River State Park

Little Falls Trail
links old dam,
campgrounds

A pleasant walk alongside a clear blue lake awaits day hikers on the Little Falls Trail in Wisconsin’s Willow River State Park.

The paved trail skirts the southeastern shore of Little Falls Lake for 0.6 miles one-way (1.2-miles round trip). It’s also referred to as the Green Trail because of its color on park maps and signage.

To reach Willow River State Park, take Exit 4 from Interstate 94, heading north on U.S. Hwy. 12 for about 1.6 miles. Then follow County Road U for about 0.3 miles to County Road A. Turn left/west into Willow River’s main entrance and drive the park road to its end, where the last or northernmost parking lot can be found. The trail can be accessed from the lot’s right/east side.

Beach and fishing
Once on the trail, head northwest to Little Falls Dam. The concrete barrier backs up the Willow River, which flows from its headwaters in the Cylon Marsh about 40 miles before meeting the St. Croix River. The river effectively bisects the state park.

After taking in the dam, retrace your steps between the parking lot and lake. Continue past your lot as the trail heads south.

Little Falls Lake covers 170 acres and discounting an island on the eastern side, offers 4.12 miles of shoreline in the park. Home to panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and northern pike, the lake reaches a depth of 18 feet.

A beach stretches for 400 feet along this section of the shoreline. Amenities include picnic tables, beach house, playground, and restrooms, all located between the trail and the sand.

Woods and boat launch
At the first trail intersection, go left/east. The trail soon leaves the beach area for a mixed hardwood forest.

The next site along the trail is the boat launch. Non-motorized watercraft are allowed in the lake. Much of the Willow River is stocked with brown trout, making the waterway and reservoir popular with fishermen.

The trail next reaches 300 Campground. Though a new segment links the trail to 200 Campground, rather than walk through the campsites, turn around here.

Bicycles and roller blades are allowed on the trail, so be sure to give them the rightaway.

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

New trail crosses state park’s northern side

Nelson Farm (Silver) Trail's West Segment

Nelson Farm (Silver) Trail map

Route crosses river, passes vista of lake, leads to waterfall

A new trail in Wisconsin’s Willow River State Park recently opened a large swatch of previously inaccessible green space to the public.

The Nelson Farm (Silver) Trail, unveiled in summer 2012, runs 5.7-miles one way. It nicely links the park’s developed southwest side to its northeast corner, where a popular trail heads to Willow Falls, the park’s centerpiece.

Given the length and access points, for day hiking, Nelson Farm (Silver) Trail is best broken into three segments.

Trailheads for the three segments described below all are located along 115th Avenue, aka River Road. To reach them, take Exit 4 on Interstate 94, and head north on U.S. Hwy. 12 for about 1.6 miles. Go County Road U for about 0.3 miles to County Road A, where you’ll continue past the park’s main entrance. After passing through the tiny village of Burkhardt, turn left/northwest onto County Road I then left/west onto 115th Avenue/River Road.

West Segment
The trail’s western segment leads to a bridge overlooking the Willow River.

You can reach the trailhead from 115th Avenue/River Road by turning left/south onto Nelson Farm Road. In about a half-mile is the Nelson Farm Parking Lot on the right/west side. The trail leaves from the lot’s southeast corner; go right/southwest onto it for a 3.6-miles round trip.

The wide jeep trail curves up a knoll into a woods. Little more than a third of a way to the turnaround point, the trail crosses an open field with a steep hill.

The last third of the hike to the destination heads again through a woods as approaching the river.

In just under two miles from the parking lot, the trail ends at a bridge that crosses the Willow River, offering scenic views. On the bridge’s south side is the Trout Brook (Purple) Trail.

Center Segment
The central portion of the trail leads to a scenic overview of Little Falls Lake.

Reach the trailhead by parking in Nelson Farm Parking Lot, as with the West Segment, except go left/northeast on the trail. The segment runs about 3.6-miles round trip.

Upon leaving the parking lot, the trail briefly passes through open prairie, but most of the route is lined with mixed hardwoods.

About halfway to the turnaround point, after climbing a steep hill, the trail reaches a scenic overlook of Little Falls Lake. Formed by backing up the Willow River at Little Falls Dam, the lake covers 140 acres and reaches a maximum depth of 18 feet. Largemouth bass is abundant in the lake, but northern pike, panfish and smallmouth bass also thrive more.

From the overlook, the trail makes a steep descent. The next trail intersection is a stem leading to River Road Hunter’s parking lot; turn around at the intersection and retrace your steps back to the Nelson Farm lot.

East Segment
Impressive Willow Falls awaits day hikers on the trail’s eastern section.

To reach the trailhead, take 115th Avenue/River Road to the River Road Hunter’s parking lot. The 4.2-miles round trip trail leaves from the lot’s south side, heading into the woods.

This is the stem leading to the main trail, which is reached at the first intersection. From there, go left/south.

Initially, the trail is a steep hill. The good news is the entire trail is forested, providing much appreciated shade on sunny days.

The trail heads to the Willow River’s north shore, upstream from Little Falls Lake.

Next, the path intersects and ends at the Burkhardt (Pink) Trail. Walk a few hundred feet south and down a stairs on the Burkhardt, though, and at the footbridge you’ll come to Willow Falls, a set of cascades that drops 45 feet with gorge walls rising 200 feet above the water.

The route on the south side of the bridge is the Willows Falls Hill (Gray) Trail.

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

Chapter2Books hosts author’s unveiling of St. Croix riverway guide

A special thanks to Chapter2Books in Hudson, Wis., for hosting the book signing of my latest hiking guidebook, Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway on Saturday. I signed and sold every one of copies as well as a few of my older titles. Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway features more than 70 Minnesota and Wisconsin trails along the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers. The National Park Service unit runs more than 250 miles from Prescott, Wis., north to near Solon Springs, Wis., and east from the Danbury, Wis., area to near Cable, Wis. It boasts seven state parks on or near its shores, including Hudson’s own Willow River State Park; Chapter2Books is located at 226 Locust St. in historic downtown Hudson. Here are pictures from the event.

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

‘Hittin’ the Trail’ author signing latest book Saturday in Hudson, Wis.

I’ll be signing copies of my latest hiking guidebook, Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, on Saturday, April 12, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Chapter2Books in Hudson, Wis. The book features more than 70 Minnesota and Wisconsin trails along the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers. The National Park Service unit runs more than 250 miles from Prescott, Wis., north to near Solon Springs, Wis., and east from the Danbury, Wis., area to near Cable, Wis. It boasts seven state parks on or near its shores, including Hudson’s own Willow River State Park. Chapter2Books is located at 223 Locust St. in historic downtown Hudson.

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Great trails abound at Kinnickinnic S.P.

Kinnickinnic River Delta, from the Purple Trail. Photo courtesy Wis. DNR.

For residents of the eastern Twin Cities and west-central Wisconsin, Kinnickinnic State Park offers a convenient central location to escape back to nature for a day.

The park is located on the St. Croix and Kinnickinnic rivers, almost equidistant from River Falls, Hudson, and Prescott, Wis. The latter two communities offer bridge access into Minnesota.

Among the trails at the state park (going from east to west):
g Red Trail – The 1.6-mile hike heads through prairie alongside a forest’s edge. Among the highlights is the Vulture’s Peak area. Near the park entrance, the set of two loops can be accessed from the park’s first two parking lot.
g Blue Trail – The 0.7-mile out-and-back trail (1.4-miles round trip) gives hikers the opportunity to explore gorges and coulees into the Kinnickinnic River Valley. Access the wooded trail from the second parking area past the park entrance. Add the 0.1-mile (0.2-miles round trip) Brown Trail, which serves as a sledding hill in winter, to extend the hike.
g Yellow Trail – The 1.2-mile loop edges a forest and prairie area. Watch for deer, pheasants and turkeys along the trail. The Kinni Overlook Lot is a good place to start; the trail can be extended by adding the Green, Orange or Purple trails.
g Orange Trail – A wooded out-and-back trail atop the Kinnickinnic River bluffs, it runs for 0.5 miles (1-mile round trip). Park at the Kinni Overlook Lot and access it via the Yellow Trail; add the Purple and Yellow trails for a longer walk.
g Green Trail – The trail loops about the outside of a prairie area under restoration and is an excellent place to spot partridge, pheasants and other birds. Access it via the Yellow Trail; from the Kinnic Overlook Lot, go left/north on the Yellow for a 1.6-mile round trip (The Green Trail itself is 1.1-miles long).
g Purple Trail – The 1.2-mile loop (when combined with a segment of the Yellow Trail), offers great views of the Kinnickinnic River Delta and the St. Croix River, as well as access to a swimming beach along the St. Croix. Park in the St. Croix Picnic Area Lot.

Read more about day hiking the scenic riverway in my guidebook Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

Diverse array of trails await at Willow River

Willow Falls, Willow Rivers State Park
Photo courtesy Wisconsin DNR.

Day hikers will find several excellent trails – including several to a scenic waterfall – at Willow River State Park outside of Hudson, Wis.

To reach Willow River State Park, take Exit 4 from Interstate 94, and head north on U.S. Hwy. 12 for about 1.6 miles. Go 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 side. Some trails listed here are best reached from other park entry points, however.

The state park’s trails include:
g Burkhardt (Pink) Trail – A walk alongside a scenic river, Willow Falls, and some impressive overlooks await hikers on this trail, which actually is three miles of connecting paths. It’s also known as the Pink Path because of its color on state park maps.
g Hidden Ponds Nature (Black) Trail – The half-mile interpretive loop is paved, level and out of the wind, ideal for young children. The walking path is right next to the park’s nature center and a short stroll to the park’s swimming beach.
g Knapweed (Orange) Trail – The trail runs for 0.9 miles one-way alongside an effort to restore prairie as it existed in Wisconsin before pioneers arrived during the 1800s. Among the plants you may notice – especially in late June to early July when it blossoms – is the purple knapweed, the trail’s namesake but unfortunately an invasive species that actually threatens the prairie and other ecosystems.
g Little Falls (Green) Trail – The 0.7-mile paved trail rambles alongside a Little Falls Lake between Little Falls Dam and the campground. A variety of waterfowl can be spotted from it.
g Mound (White) Trail – Located in an often overlooked section of the state park, the 1.1-mile Mound Trail offers views of the Willow River and a glacial mound (a hill that resisted erosion during the last Ice Age) on the opposite shore.
g Nelson Farm (Silver) Trail – The state park’s newest trail opened in summer 2012. The 3.7-mile trail heads from a bridge on the Trout Brook (Purple) Trail through several ecosystems to the lake’s north side.
g Oak Ridge (Brown) Trail – Hikers can learn about geological features created during the last ice age on this 1.1-mile trail. It heads from the beach through hardwood forests.
g Pioneer (Yellow) Trail – Among the best views of Willow Falls can be seen from an overlook on the 1.2-mile trail. It also passes the gravesites of the area’s first white settlers.
g Trout Brook (Purple) Trail – This 1.4-mile loop takes hikers through red pine stands and open prairie. You’ll be able to spot great blue heron, ducks and snapping turtles along the way.
g Whitetail (Red) Trail – Expect to spot at least the tracks of whitetail if not the graceful deer itself on this 0.7-mile trail. The path cuts across open fields and along a forest’s edge.
g Willow Falls Hill (Gray) Trail – The quickest way to reach beautiful Willow Falls is this 0.4 trail. The downside is the hill is quite steep, which may not be ideal for very young children.
g Willow Falls (Blue) Trail – An easier but longer trail for reaching the waterfalls is this 1-mile route. It follows the Little Falls Lake and Willow River shoreline to the falls.

Read more about day hiking the scenic riverway in my guidebook Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.