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.

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.

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.