Autumn hikes on Minn.-Wis. border, Part II

Brilliant fall colors can be seen along the Minnesota-Wisconsin
border from September and mid-October.

If living in a border

county or traveling near the Wisconsin-Minnesota state line, plenty of great autumn trails await.

Central and northern Minnesota border with Wisconsin mostly follows the St. Croix River from Prescott, Wis., to Lake Superior. Maple, basswood, oak, aspen and birch dominate.

Minnesota

Carlton County
Day hikers can cross a swinging bridge above a raging river running over nearly 2 billion-year old rock then enjoy incredible autumn colors at Jay Cooke State Park. The 1.5-mile round trip East Ridge Trail crosses and then partially follows the St. Louis river southeast of Duluth. A new $1.1 million swinging bridge opened in 2013. To the delight of most kids (and adults), the 219-foot pedestrian bridge bounces and sways. The rest of the trail heads through a hardwood forest whose green in summer rivals that of Oz’s Emerald City. The leaves turn an impressive array of yellows, reds and oranges as autumn sets in. From Interstate 35 take the exit for Minn. Hwy. 210, driving east through Carlton. The park is about five miles from the freeway. Turn right/south at the River Inn Visitor Center and park in the lot nearest the river. For more Carlton County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota.

Chisago County
Hikers can follow some of the same footpaths and rail lines that the region’s first Swedish immigrants used to settle Minnesota on the Swedish Immigrant Trail. During the late 1800s, many Swedish immigrants took the ferry across the St. Croix River and then footpaths to their destinations. A spur off the St. Paul-Duluth rail route to Wyoming opened during 1880, helping speed the immigration inland. Perhaps the best of the trail’s completed portions is the Shafer Segment. Birch trees dominate in some sections, but the trail is mainly lined by mixed hardwoods that leave the path and its grass shoulders covered in an array of colorful leaves during autumn. Park on the street in downtown Shafer, off of Redwing Avenue near 303rd Street. The trailhead is near 303rd and heads for about two miles east of Redwing. Look for the white signs with the trail logo in the blue and yellow colors of Sweden’s flag. For more Chisago County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota.

Pine County
Hikers can walk alongside pretty Tamarack River, where a variety of trees light up the trail in autumn. The 3.75-mile out and back Tamarack River Trail runs along the river’s west side before it flows into the St. Croix River. Rolling terrain features maple, basswood, ash, aspen, oak, tamarack along with the evergreens Norway, red and white pine. From Sandstone, take County Road 123 east then go straight-left/east on County Road 30. Turn right/south onto County Road 24 and then left/east onto County Road 25. After passing Markville Cemetery, take the next right/south. Park at the Tamarack horse camp and head south on the trail in the St. Croix State Forest. Note that the full trail actually is a loop but requires a river crossing, so that and the route on the river’s east side are not included here. For more Pine County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota.

St. Louis County
A pair of picturesque waterfalls, footbridges, and a walk alongside Chester Creek await hikers on the Chester Park Loop in Duluth. Located near the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus, the 2.4-mile trail is particularly beautiful in autumn when the golden bronze of maple and basswood leaves form a canopy over the path and float upon the creek. In Duluth from West College Street take North 19th Avenue E southeast. Turn right/west onto W. Kent Road, then right/west onto East Skyline Parkway after the curve right/northwest onto Chester Park Drive. Park along the road then walk back alongside the road to E. Skyline Parkway and cross the bridge to the trailhead. For more St. Louis County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota.

Washington County
The fresh scent of pine needles upon the pathway and the gentle rush of water along the river’s rock walls instantly lulls you into a feeling of serenity on the Riverside Trail at William O’Brien State Park. The 1.5-mile trail loops through a floodplain and typically is open during summer and autumn when water levels have gone down. Roughly half of the trail follows the river, mainly through a good mix of hardwoods common to a floodplain forest in this region. During autumn, their leaves turn gold, red, orange and brown. Across the water is Wisconsin, and with the two undeveloped shorelines, tranquility reigns. From Marine on St. Croix, Minn., take Minn. Hwy. 95 north into 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 begins at the picnic grounds immediately east of the parking lot.

Wisconsin

Burnett County
Day hikers can walk across an old railroad bridge over the St. Croix River at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and St. Croix State Forest on the Wisconsin-Minnesota border. The Gandy Dancer Trail, which starts dozens of miles south of the state forest in Polk County, at Danbury crosses the border into Minnesota. The trestle bridge segment is about two miles round trip. You’ll head through a forested area. The mix of trees near the riverfront yields a fantastic multi-colored leaf display in autumn. An added bonus for autumn hikers: You’ll probably spot a number of migrating waterfowl, including sandhill cranes. Also watch for bald eagles, osprey, northern harriers and hawks, all of which reside year-round in the area. In Danbury, parking for trail access is next to the walking route north of Hwy. 77 between and Hwy. 35 and North Glass Street. From the lot, take the trail north.

Douglas County
A walk along a pristine sand beach awaits day hikers of the Lake Superior shoreline in the Bear Beach State Natural Area. The unmarked trail runs for up to 3.4-miles round trip along narrow Bear Beach. Hiking the beach, you’ll get a good sense of what this area of the world looked like before Euro-Americans settled it. A thick woods hugs the sand’s southern side while the lake stretches wide beyond to the north. Though the forest this far north is heavy on the evergreens – especially balsam fir, white pine and white spruce – in autumn the yellowed-colored leaves of paper birch and trembling aspen and the spring green of speckled alder are well-represented. From Brule take U.S. Hwy. 2 west. In Maple, turn north onto County Road F. Next, go left/west onto Wis. Hwy. 13 then right/north onto Beck’s Road. Park in the dirt lot at the end of Beck’s Road near the Lake Superior shore.

Polk County
Day hikers can experience an autumn forest that looks almost like the one Native Americans and pioneers saw during the 1800s. The 2.9-mile Ridge View Trails near Osceola heads beneath a lush forest canopy in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Osceola State Fish Hatchery on a bluff overlooking a St. Croix River back channel. Sugar maple is the dominant tree. Each autumn, its leaves vary from yellow to orange or red. Basswood, whose leaves turn olive in fall, and white ash, which changes to a deep maroon, usually are mixed in the canopy. From Osceola, take Wis. Hwy. 35 north and turn north onto County Road S. The two trailheads are on the road’s left/west. Both trailheads have their own parking areas off of the road. Just beyond 93rd Avenue is the southernmost parking area, which is an excellent trailhead for either loop.

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The splendor of fall colors combines with a vista of the St. Croix River and fasinating rock formations on the Summit Rock Trail at Interstate State Park. The 1-mile round trip trail heads to a bluff’s highest point. Moss and autumn leaves cover the surrounding rock and ground while maples, basswood and eastern white pines line the trail. At the top, prickly pear cactus can be spotted amid the outcroppings. The highlight of the hike without question is the incredible view of the riverway from the summit. Looking north, the Old Man of the Dalles rock formation is visible. From St. Croix Falls, take Wis. Hwy. 35 south. Turn right/west into the park and follow the entry road to the parking lot across from the Lake O’ the Dalles.

St. Croix County
Tucked within Wisconsin’s dairy country is a hilly, wooded region that gives day hikers the chance to get back to nature. Glen Hills County Park offers a plethora of trails amid 700 acres of maple and oak trees. The 2-mile round trip Glen Lake East Trail goes downhill to a campground. Before hitting the trail, though, head to a scenic overlook of Glen Lake, ringed by red pines and hardwoods. From U.S. Hwy. 12 in Wilson, take County Road W north. Turn left/north onto Rustic Road 4 then go left/northwest onto Thompson Lane, which dead ends at the parking lot.

Pierce County
Hikers can walk through a rare old growth oak forest on the Purple Trail at Kinnickinnic State Park. The 1.2-mile loop sits near the confluence of the St. Croix and Kinnicknnic rivers. Pioneers and 19th century logging companies cut most of the trees in this part of Wisconsin, but the trail passes through one of the few woodlands to escape the ax. The oaks are majestic, especially when their leaves turn tan, orange and brown in autumn. The trail includes a deck overlooking the confleunce where eagles can be spotted. From Prescott, take Wis. Hwy. 29 east then turn left/north County Road F north. Turn left/west onto 820th Avenue then left/south into the park; follow the entry road west all of the way to its end and park in the St. Croix Picnic Area Lot.

Autumn hikes on Minn.-Wis. border, Part I

Mount Charity, Minnesota

If living in a border county or traveling near the Wisconsin-Minnesota state line, plenty of great autumn trails await.

Southern and central Minnesota’s border with Wisconsin follows the Mississippi River from Prescott, Wis., south to the Iowa border. Maple, basswood, oak, aspen and birch dominate.

Minnesota

Dakota County
Day hikers can enjoy modern sculptures in a forest setting at the Caponi Art Park in Eagan. A variety of pathways head through the 60-acre site that in autumn is made all that more magical by the changing leaves of birch, maple and basswood. Most of the sculptures were created by Italian-born Anthony Caponi, who as an adult adopted Minnesota as his home. From Interstate 35 in Eagan, take Diffley Road east. Turn right/southeast and park in the lot. The art park is on both sides of the highway with an underpass connecting them.

Goodhue County
Hikers can traverse the top and the base of a bluff looming 430 feet above Lake Pepin at Frontenac State Park. The 2.6-mile Bluff Side Loop Trail offers impressive views as it heads up and down the steep bluff with a series of wooden stairs and switchbacks. Fall is a particularly good time to visit with the bird migration through the area at its peak and the leaves resplendent in an array of harvest colors. A couple of picnic spots along the way offer vistas of the lake below with the visible Wisconsin shoreline about two miles away. From the park entrance, go left/northwest on County Road 28; follow the road to its end, where it loops back upon itself and forms a parking lot.

Houston County
Among the most scenic hikes in Minnesota is the Root River State Trail, and that’s especially so in autumn. A range of fall colors line the trail, thanks to the great variety of trees that grow there. Riverside features black ash, willow, box elder, cottonwood and elm while the highlands boast maples, basswood and oaks. A great segment of the trail to hike begins in Houston and runs 2.3 miles west to a picnic area for a 4.6-mile round trip. From Minn. Hwy. 76 in Houston, turn north on Plum Street and park at the Houston Nature Center. The nature center, as well as the International Owl Center just two blocks away, are well worth a visit, and if you have little ones, they’ll love the playground near the trailhead.

Wabasha County
One of the best urban areas in the Midwest to enjoy fall colors in the small town of Wabasha. For seven weeks from September through October, the small town celebrates a harvest festival. You can enjoy the festivities and take a nice stroll on the 0.8-mile round trip riverwalk. The Wisconsin shoreline on the opposite side of the Mississippi River is lit up in golden hues, the perfect match to the streets’ autumn decorations. To reach the riverwalk, park in downtown Wabasha. Finding a spot on Big Jo Alley near Pembroke Avenue is best, as the National Eagle Center is at the corner of those two streets. The riverwalk is behind the center.

Washington County
The fresh scent of pine needles upon the pathway and the gentle rush of water along the river’s rock walls instantly lulls you into a feeling of serenity on the Riverside Trail at William O’Brien State Park. The 1.5-mile trail loops through a floodplain and typically is open during summer and autumn when water levels have gone down. Roughly half of the trail follows the river, mainly through a good mix of hardwoods common to a floodplain forest in this region. During autumn, their leaves turn gold, red, orange and brown. Across the water is Wisconsin, and with the two undeveloped shorelines, tranquility reigns. From Marine on St. Croix, Minn., take Minn. Hwy. 95 north into 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 begins at the picnic grounds immediately east of the parking lot.

Winona County
A great view of the Mississippi River awaits at the Great River Bluffs State Park on the 2.2-mile round trip Kings Bluff Trail. After heading through a forest of white pine and the yellow to maroon-colored leaves of ash trees, the trail arrives at Kings Bluff, which offers a spectacular vista of the river valley below, a blue ribbon surrounded by the yellows of various birch and aspen. From Interstate 90 at the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, take County Road 3 north. Turn right/east onto Kipp Drive, which becomes Park Road. About two miles in, look for a small parking lot on the left/northwest. The trail heads northwest from the lot.

Wisconsin

Pierce County
Hikers can walk through a rare old growth oak forest on the Purple Trail at Kinnickinnic State Park. The 1.2-mile loop sits near the confluence of the St. Croix and Kinnicknnic rivers. Pioneers and 19th century logging companies cut most of the trees in this part of Wisconsin, but the trail passes through one of the few woodlands to escape the ax. The oaks are majestic, especially when their leaves turn tan, orange and brown in autumn. The trail includes a deck overlooking the confluence where eagles can be spotted. From Prescott, take Wis. Hwy. 29 east then turn left/north County Road F north. Turn left/west onto 820th Avenue then left/south into the park; follow the entry road west all of the way to its end and park in the St. Croix Picnic Area Lot.

***

Amber, orange and crimson leaves surround and reflect off of the blue waters at Nugget Lake County Park east of Ellsworth. The Nook Trail and the Lake Overlook combine for a mile-long round trip that gets you up close to 117-acre Nugget Lake and to a great vista of it. From Ellsworth, take U.S. Hwy. 10 east. Turn left/north onto County Road CC then right/east onto County Road HH, which curves south. The park entry is on the road’s right/west side. Park in the lot where the road runs out.

Pepin County
Day hikers can explore a bluff steeped in majestic white oaks and legend high above Lake Pepin. The Maiden Rock Bluff Trail runs 1.4-miles round trip in west-central Wisconsin overlooking beautiful Lake Pepin. It’s located in the Maiden Rock State Natural Area, which preserves a blufftop prairie that turns golden in autumn. From Stockholm, take County Road J north. Turn left/northwest onto County Road E then go left/west into Long Lane. The road dead ends at a grassy parking lot on the blufftop. A trailhead is a few yards east of the lot and heads north from the road.

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Day hikers can enjoy a walk alongside a lake and through the woods on the Silver Birch Park Trail. The 0.6-mile round trip trail runs through Silver Birch Park to Holden Park Campground. As if it were a mirror, Silver Birch Lake impressively reflects the blue sky and clouds on days when the wind is low. The reflection seems to stretch forever – not surprisingly as the lake’s surface area covers 145 acres. A tree canopy covers the walking path, which makes for a nice autumn stroll when leaves change color. From Durand, head west on Wis. Hwy. 25 then turn left/south onto County Road P. Go left/south onto Silver Birch Road. At County Road NN/Round Hill Road, turn right/west. The next left/south is the park entry road.

Buffalo County
Day hikers can see ancient fossils on a spectacular vista that one time sat at the bottom of the sea. The 0.22-miles round trip Buena Vista Overlook Trail marks a must-see for anyone traveling the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River. Located in Alma’s Buena Vista County Park, it’s an easy walk and a spectacular one in autumn. From the vista, a rainbow of leaf colors lead downhill to large swaths of gold around the Mississippi River. From Wis. Hwy. 35 in Alma, turn east onto County Road E; known as North Street in town, it curves and becomes Second Street then curls again as ascending the bluff. Near the top, turn left/north onto Buena Vista Road. The road dead ends at the park entrance.

Trempealeau County
Great views of the Mississippi River await at Perrot State Park. The 2.4-miles round trip Brady’s Bluff West and East trails are particularly impressive in autumn. Start up Brady’s Bluff West Trail and pause at the hill’s summit, which offers impressive views of the Mississippi River Valley, a brilliant blue ribbon through a forest of golden leaves. Descending the summit via the Brady’s Bluff East Trail heads through a woods of russet-leaved oaks. From Wis. Hwy. 35 in Trempealeau, take 10th Street west. Turn right/north onto Park Road, which becomes South Park Road. Park in the lot before the boat launch; the trailhead is on the opposite side of the road.

La Crosse County
Hikers can head through an oak woodland to the top of a bluff at Wisconsin’s Hixon Forest Nature Center. The 3-mile round-trip Lookout Trail, reached via a segment of the Sumac Trail, sits at the edge of the La Crosse metro area. The trail is exceptional during autumn when acorns and leaves cover the trail beneath a harvest-hued canopy. Fall leaves in their expansive canopy range from brown and wine-red to orange-red on the white oaks and the golden leaves, which are far richer than the yellows of the sugar maple, of the shagbark hickory. Also look for the hickory’s fragrant, edible nut; it has a sweet flavor. From U.S. Hwy. 53 in La Crosse, go east on La Crosse Street. Turn left/north onto Wis. Hwy. 16/Losey Boulevard North then right/east onto Bluff Pass Road and right/south onto Milson Court. The road ends at a gravel parking lot.

***

Autumn colors and great views await in the Greens Coulee-Savanna Oaks site in Onalaska. The Mississippi River Valley Conservancy's 81 acres includes a scenic bluff that rises 400 feet above the valley floor adjacent to the city’s Greens Coulee Park. A 1.4-mile lollipop-plus route heads to the bluff's peak, where reds, oranges and yellows fill much of the fall canopy along the way. From the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 53 and East Main Street in Onalaska, take the latter east. Turn left/northeast onto Green Coulee Road then right onto Clifford Drive. Look for the kiosk at the of the cul-de-sac, where parking is available.

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Hikers can walk alongside and cross a stream via five different bridges on the Halfway Creek Trail. The 3.4-mile trail connects Holmen to the Great River State Trail in Midway. Maple, aspen, oak and the occasional pine line the creek, making for a colorful autumn walk. Start at Halfway Creek Park in Holmen; the trailhead is on the park’s southwest side. One good turnaround spot to avoid crossing under U.S. Hwy. 53 is the connector trail to Judith Court for a 1.13-mile round trip and three bridge crossings.

Vernon County
Hikers can step back in time and walk through the woods as in the days of old at Wildcat Mountain State Park. The rugged 2.5-mile Old Settlers’ Trail includes 390-feet of elevation change as heading through a forest of sugar maple, basswood and oak, all very colorful in autumn. An additional 0.8-mile round trip spur goes to the Taylor Hollow Overlook, which offers a fantastic view of the village of Ontario in the coulee below. From Westby, take Wis. Hwy. 27 north. In Cashton, turn right/east onto Wis. Hwy. 33. Once in the park, go left/east past the park office and at the split turn left/northwest to the Upper Picnic Area. Park there; a connector trail goes north to the Old Settlers’ Trail.

Top fall hikes in westcentral Wisconsin, Pt. II

Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area

There’s no better way

to experience autumn colors in west-central Wisconsin than a hike.

The brilliant yellows, oranges and red of maples to the scarlet

and russets of oaks...

the crisp, fresh autumn air and the last warm

rays of sunlight before winter arrives...the

crunch of fallen leaves and acorns beneath your boots...stopping to enjoy a warm mug of apple cider or a caramel apple pulled from your backpack – it all calls for an afternoon on the trail.

Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails across west-central Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Barron County
A walk through pleasant wooded areas and scenic farmland await users of the Wild Rivers Trail near Rice Lake. The first half mile north of the Tuscobia Trail heads through a typical deciduous forest that Wisconsin is famous for. In autumn, the trail’s varied trees amaze in an array of red, yellow and orange leaves. Upon reaching 29th Avenue, the woods gives way to pretty farm fields that look best when green in August, so turn around there. Park north of the Rice Lake city limits at the Tuscobia Trail junction on County Road SS, near its intersection with U.S. Hwy. 53. The parking lot sits east of County SS, and you’ll need to take the Tuscobia Trail west across the highway to reach the Wild Rivers Trail then go north through Haugen.

***

An array of autumn colors await in the Barron County Forest-Silver Creek Unit southwest of Barron. A roughly two-mile trail runs through the forest’s heart, which is dominated by tan- and russet-leaved oak, amber, orange and red sugar maple, and amber-colored yellow birch, accented with some evergreen hemlock. From Barron, take U.S. Hwy. 8 west. Turn left/south onto County Road P/Sixth Street. Go left/west on County Road D/Seventh Street then left/south on Fifth Street. At the junction with Sixth Avenue, park off the side of the road. The forest road going east enters the Silver Creek Unit. Several miles of other trails in the county forest are used by mountain bikers.

Dunn County
Day hikers can see a dozen major trees that dominate Wisconsin forests while heading to a 60-foot observation tower in Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area. The roughly two-mile Tower Nature Trail heads up then downhill though a stand of birch and maple with an understory of ferns. During autumn, the yellow birch and red maple leaves make a splendid display. At the top is the 60-foot Greg Schubert Memorial Tower. From the observation tower’s top platform, you can see about six miles on a clear day. A pretty quilt of farm fields and woodlands stretch below the hill in all directions. From Exit 45 on Interstate 94 east of Menomonie, take County Road B north. Turn right/east onto 650th Avenue, which eventually becomes County Road E. Follow County Road E/730th Street as it goes north. The highway zigzags to the park entrance, which is a little more than a mile north of 690th Avenue. Follow the park entrance road to the main parking lot.

***

Beautiful fall colors line the northern end of the Red Cedar Trail in Menomonie. Running 14.5 miles alongside the Red Cedar River, among its most scenic portions is the 1.6-mile (3.2-miles round trip) section from Riverside Park to a creek flowing out of the Devil’s Punchbowl. Amber-, orange, and crimson-colored maples, yellow-leaved aspen and birch, and russet-hued oak can be found alongside the trail. From downtown Menomonie take Wis. Hwy. 29 west. Upon crossing the Red Cedar River bridge, turn at the second left (or south) into Riverside Park. A parking lot sits next to an old train depot turned visitor center, with the trail leaving from the lot’s south end.

***

For more Dunn County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley.

Pepin County
Day hikers can explore a bluff steeped in majestic white oaks and legend high above Lake Pepin. The Maiden Rock Bluff Trail runs 1.4-miles round trip in west-central Wisconsin overlooking beautiful Lake Pepin. It’s located in the Maiden Rock State Natural Area, which preserves a blufftop prairie that turns golden in autumn. From Stockholm, take County Road J north. Turn left/northwest onto County Road E then go left/west into Long Lane. The road dead ends at a grassy parking lot on the blufftop. A trailhead is a few yards east of the lot and heads north from the road.

***

Day hikers can enjoy a walk alongside a lake and through the woods on the Silver Birch Park Trail. The 0.6-mile round trip trail runs through Silver Birch Park to Holden Park Campground. As if it were a mirror, Silver Birch Lake impressively reflects the blue sky and clouds on days when the wind is low. The reflection seems to stretch forever – not surprisingly as the lake’s surface area covers 145 acres. A tree canopy covers the walking path, which makes for a nice autumn stroll when leaves change color. From Durand, head west on Wis. Hwy. 25 then turn left/south onto County Road P. Go left/south onto Silver Birch Road. At County Road NN/Round Hill Road, turn right/west. The next left/south is the park entry road.

Pierce County
Hikers can walk through a rare old growth oak forest on the Purple Trail at Kinnickinnic State Park. The 1.2-mile loop sits near the confluence of the St. Croix and Kinnickinnic rivers. Pioneers and 19th century logging companies cut most of the trees in this part of Wisconsin, but the trail passes through one of the few woodlands to escape the ax. The oaks are majestic, especially when their leaves turn tan, orange and brown in autumn. The trail includes a deck overlooking the confluence where eagles can be spotted. From Prescott, take Wis. Hwy. 29 east then turn left/north County Road F north. Turn left/west onto 820th Avenue then left/south into the park; follow the entry road west all of the way to its end and park in the St. Croix Picnic Area Lot.

***

Amber, orange and crimson leaves surround and reflect off of the blue waters at Nugget Lake County Park east of Ellsworth. The Nook Trail and the Lake Overlook combine for a mile-long round trip that gets you up close to 117-acre Nugget Lake and to a great vista of it. From Ellsworth, take U.S. Hwy. 10 east. Turn left/north onto County Road CC then right/east onto County Road HH, which curves south. The park entry is on the road’s right/west side. Park in the lot where the road runs out.

St. Croix County
Tucked within Wisconsin’s dairy country is a hilly, wooded region that gives day hikers the chance to get back to nature. Glen Hills County Park offers a plethora of trails amid 700 acres of maple and oak trees. The 2-mile round trip Glen Lake East Trail goes downhill to a campground. Before hitting the trail, though, head to a scenic overlook of Glen Lake, ringed by red pines and hardwoods. From U.S. Hwy. 12 in Wilson, take County Road W north. Turn left/north onto Rustic Road 4 then go left/northwest onto Thompson Lane, which dead ends at the parking lot.

Fall color hikes abound in Hastings MN area

Spring Lake Park Reserve

There’s no better way to experience autumn colors in the Hastings area

than a hike.

The brilliant yellows, oranges and

red of maples to the scarlet and russets of oaks...the crisp, fresh autumn air and the last warm rays of sunlight before winter arrives...the crunch of fallen leaves and acorns beneath your boots...stopping to enjoy a warm

 mug of apple cider or a caramel apple pulled from your backpack – it all calls for an afternoon on the trail.

Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around Hastings to hike. Some are right out your back door,

while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Spring Lake Park Reserve (Hastings)
Maple and ash trees along with some quite large oaks await hikers at Spring Lake Park Reserve. A 3-mile trail loops through a woods atop a bluff on the Mississippi River. Moss-covered rocks and birch accent the mostly maple forest. From Hastings, take Second Street west. When the street splits, go right/northwest onto Niniger Road, which naturally becomes 132nd Street East. Turn right/north onto Idell Avenue, which becomes 127th Street East when it curves west. Head right/north onto the park entry road and leave your vehicle in the lot for the playground. The connector trail heads east from the parking lot.

Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center (Hastings)
Day hikers can enjoy a walk down a bluff to the St. Croix River shrouded in colorful hardwoods and then through an apple orchard at the Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center. The South River Bluff Trail and a paved trail connecting it to the visitor center runs about 0.95-miles round trip to the shores of the St. Croix. Thirteen types of apples grow at the center; you’ll be able to purchase most of them in mid-September. From U.S. Hwy. 10 between Hastings and Prescott, take Minn. Hwy. 21 (aka as St. Croix Trail) north and watch for the signs; the center is on the right/east in about two miles. Once on the center entry road, park in the northern lot.

Kinnickinnic State Park (Prescott, Wis.)
Hikers can walk through a rare old growth oak forest on the Purple Trail at Kinnickinnic State Park. The 1.2-mile loop sits near the confluence of the St. Croix and Kinnickinnic rivers. Pioneers and 19th century logging companies cut most of the trees in this part of Wisconsin, but the trail passes through one of the few woodlands to escape the ax. The oaks are majestic, especially when their leaves turn tan, orange and brown in autumn. The trail includes a deck overlooking the confluence where eagles can be spotted. From Prescott, take Wis. Hwy. 29 east then turn left/north County Road F north. Turn left/west onto 820th Avenue then left/south into the park; follow the entry road west all of the way to its end and park in the St. Croix Picnic Area Lot.

Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park (Cottage Grove)
Day hikers can explore wooded gorges that run near the Mississippi River in Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park. Because of the varied hardwood trees – ash, aspen, birch and maple – the 2-mile packed turf Ravine Trail makes for a pretty autumn walk. From U.S. Hwy. 61 in Cottage Grove, go northeast on County Road 19 then right/southeast onto E. Point Douglas Road. The park service road is a left/northeast turn. Head to the second parking lot located where the entry road loops back on itself then walk northeast on the far-right trail.

Vermillion Highlands Wildlife Management Area (Rosemount)
Gold aspen and russet oak leaves await hikers at Vermillion Highlands Wildlife Management Area. The 4.6-mile Wetland and Pine Loop largely stays in the woods while circling a wetlands that drains into the Vermillion River. The wildlife area covers more than 2800 acres. From County Road 42 and Minn. Hwy. 3 in Rosemount, take the latter south. Turn left/east onto County Road 46 then right/south onto Clayton Avenue. A parking lot for the trailhead is on the right/west.

Fort Snelling State Park (St. Paul)
Two rivers reflect fall colors as you pass beneath a harvest-hued canopy at Fort Snelling State Park. The 3-mile Pike Island Trail loops around the isle at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers with historic Fort Snelling on the bluff above. Cottonwood, silver maple, ash, and willow trees all thrive on the island. From the junction of Minn. Hwy. 5 and Post Road near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, take the latter southeast. Turn left/northeast onto Snelling Lake Road. Park in the lot when the road runs out. Head northeast on Snelling Lake Trail and at the first junction go right/southeast onto Pike Island Trail.

Barn Bluff (Red Wing)
Yellow, orange and red maples with tan and russet oaks await hikers on Barn Bluff, a Red Wing icon. The 1.66-mile round trip South Trail heads through the wooded portion of the sandstone bluff and via the Kiwanis Stairway takes you to the top. The East Scenic Overlook offers a view of the surrounding river valley from 30 stories up. From U.S. Hwy. 61 in downtown Red Wing, go southeast onto Plum Street. Next, head left/northeast onto Fifth Street. When the road crosses under Hwy. 61, find a parking spot along the street. The trailhead is on the road’s left/northwest side.

Two-for-1 lighthouse deal awaits on walk

The Milwaukee Pierhead Light dates to 1906.

Milwaukee Pierhead Light trail map. Click for larger version.

Day hikers can see two lighthouses in one short walk along Lake Michigan.

The Milwaukee Pierhead Light – built in 1906 – sits on Milwaukee River’s mouth with Lake Michigan. It is near where the Kinnickinnic River flows into the Milwaukee in Milwaukee’s historic Third Ward. The walk runs 0.11 miles round trip.

To reach the lighthouse, from the intersection of Interstate 794 and Wis. Hwy. 32, head south on the latter. Turn left/east onto East Erie Street. The street ends at a parking lot just before the pier leading to the lighthouse. Head out onto to the concrete pier to the lighthouse.

Ruby red, lake blue
The 42-foot round steel tower, consisting of eight circular rungs that “telescope” up, sits at the end of the pier. Painted ruby red, on sunny days it contrasts beautifully with the lake’s blue waters.

It’s often called a twin to the Kenosha North Point Light, as they are similar in style.

The lighthouse with its round parapet and 10-sided lantern, both painted black, replaced another light that was erected at the site in 1872. Neither light sat at the natural mouth of the Milwaukee River but at the “North Cut,” an entrance developed in 1852 to improve the harbor. Prior to the project, the river flowed into Lake Michigan a half-mile south of the cut.

Pierhead Light had a keeper until 1926 when the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse was built across the harbor from it. Today the light is automated and operated by solar power.

Hank Aaron Trail
Directly east from the Pierhead Light and several hundred yards into the lake is the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse. Built in 1926, it sits at the end of a breakwater to mark the harbor entrance. The 53-foot tower sits atop a concrete pier that rises 20 feet above the water. Atop the pier is a keeper’s dwelling with the tower rising 14 feet from its roof. The Breakwater Light can’t be reached by foot.

Hikers aren’t allowed inside the Pierhead Light but can walk up to it. Despite that, it’s a popular destination, as it sits on the popular Hank Aaron Trail. Named for the Milwaukee Braves baseball great, the trail runs 12 miles from west of the State Fair Park to Discovery World north of the lighthouse.

If extending the hike via the Hank Aaron Trail, don’t go west but north along Lake Michigan. The western route heads toward and under I-794, a visually and sonically unappealing sight.

Going north, however, the trail is quite scenic as it heads through Lakeshore State Park and connects to the Milwaukee Art Museum and Discovery World campus as well as the Henry W. Maier Festival Park where Summerfest is held.

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.

Pierce County offers variety of great trails

Glen Park Trail waterfall beneath the swinging bridge in River Falls, Wis. 

For travelers to Wisconsin’s St. Croix County, several great trails await just across the border in neighboring Pierce County. A river delta, famous trout streams, and even the state’s largest cave are just a few miles from Interstate 94.

Kinnickinnic State Park
Among the trails at the state park (going from east to west):
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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).
• Purple Trail – The 1.2-mile loop features a vista overlooking the Kinnickinnic’s confluence with the St. Croix River. The Kinnickinnic dumps much sediment in the St. Croix that the latter’s riverway narrows, forming a lake to the north.

River Falls
• Glen Park Trail – A swinging bridge and a cascades cuts through 500-million-year-old rock await day hikers in River Falls. The 0.25-mile round trip set of trails – christened here after the park they run through – sits close to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus.
• Manion Wildlife Area walkabout – If you enjoy bushwhacking or primitive trails, try this 158-acre property that includes restored grasslands. A parking lot sits on the south side of County Road FF east of 1130th Street.
• Jackson Preserve walkabout – Ditto for the adjacent Jackson Preserve, a 46-acre Kinnickinnic River Land Trust property on the north side of County FF. Use the wildlife area’s parking lot.

Spring Valley
• Crystal Cave Tour – Day hikers can explore Wisconsin’s longest cave just west of the village. The tour runs about 0.5-miles round trip through 1,300 feet of passageways, heading seven stories underground. Several deeper passages are closed to the public. The cave is a commercial venture, so a fee is charged to be part of a tour.
• Sinkhole Nature Trail – The free trail half-mile path on the Crystal Cave property passes two sinkholes, gooseberry brambles, and mossy banks. Trailhead is immediately north of the parking lot.
• Wildwood Trail – Among the most accessible and pleasurable parts of the trail runs 1.7 miles round-trip from near downtown alongside a small stream through a pleasant woods. The trailhead is off of Herb Avenue, north of County Road B (N. Second St.).

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

Pierce Co. trails a quick drive from freeway

Waterfalls on the Kinnickinnic River below the Glen Park swinging bridge.

For those visiting Wisconsin's St. Croix County, Pierce County offers several great day hikes that explore riverways and pretty woodlands. All are an easy drive from Interstate 94, which cuts through southern St. Croix County.

No trip to Pierce County would be complete without a stop at Kinnickinnic State Park. A number of trails crosscross the diverse park. Most notable among them is the Purple Trail, a 1.2-mile loop with a vista overlooking the Kinnickinnic’s confluence with the St. Croix River.

A swinging bridge and a cascades that cuts through 500-million-year-old rock await day hikers on the Glen Park Trail in River Falls. The 0.25-mile round trip set of trails – christened here after the park they run through – sits close to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus.

Day hikers can explore Wisconsin’s longest cave near the village of Spring Valley. The Crystal Cave Tour runs about 0.5-miles round trip through 1,300 feet of passageways, heading seven stories underground. Several deeper passages are closed to the public. The cave is a commercial venture, so a fee is charged to be part of a tour.

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

Great trails also surround St. Croix County

Cascade Falls in Osceola, Wis.

Wisconsin’s St. Croix County sits at the center of a hiking mecca, neighboring several counties that boast great day trails within a few miles of the border.

To the west on the other side of the St. Croix River, is Washington County, Minnesota. Among its great day hikes are the Kettlekamp Prairie Trail, which runs through a restored prairie at the Belwin Conservancy. Afton State Park’s North River Trail is a tranquil dirt path running next to the St. Croix River’s widest section. In the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway are the four-story Fairy Falls and the historic Boom Site with its sandstone formations, both just north of Stillwater. Hikers can learn about the power of floods on the St. Croix River via the Riverside Trail at William O’Brien State Park.

Polk County, where Wisconsin’s farmland begins to give way to the Northwoods, sits to the north. Some of the best scenery along the St. Croix River can be found there. Nearby hikes include: the Cascade Falls Trail, which heads to a 25-foot waterfall in Osceola; the Stower Seven Lakes State Trail, which runs west of Amery through peaceful woodland, serene ponds, and picturesque farms; and the Clear Lake-Clayton Trail, an old rail line turned hiking trail that connects its namesake cities.

Heading deeper into central Wisconsin is Dunn County, which is similar in terrain and feel to eastern St. Croix County. Mainly farm country, there are a few good trails at the Bjornson Education-Recreation Center, most notably a loop that passes a bubbling creek.

To the south is Pierce County, where the St. Croix River ultimately flows into the Mississippi. The Purple Trail takes hikers to that confluence at Kinnickinnic State Park. A little upstream, the Glen Park Trail heads over 500 million-year-old rock in River Falls. On the county’s east side, hikers can explore Wisconsin’s largest cave via the Crystal Cave Tour.

St. Croix County also shares a tangential boundary with Barron County.

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

Day hikes abound in central St. Croix Co.

Trail leading to bridge crossing Paperjack Creek in New Richmond, Wis.

Several great day hiking trails – ranging from primitive, grass paths near rookeries to paved, wide routes alongside urban lakes – can be found in the central portion of Wisconsin’s St. Croix County.

The trails generally are located in or close to the four communities making up the region. Trails by community include:

Baldwin-Hammond
• Casey Lake Trail – Day hikers can sight great blue herons on the 0.2 miles-round trip Casey Lake Trail in the Casey Lake Wildlife Management Area. From 130th Avenue east of U.S. Hwy. 63 north, look for a gravel parking lot on the left/south side of the road between 200th and 190th streets.
• Wintergreen Park trails – Several unnamed walking paths wind through the 32-acre pine and hardwood forest on the town’s southwest side. Use the lot in the park’s northwest corner off of 60th Avenue west of U.S. Hwy. 63.

New Richmond
• Doar Park Trail – About 0.7 miles of trails ramble about the 14.6-acre park, which is being restored to native prairie grasses. The trailhead is on a private road east of 115th Street, just south of Sixth Street West.
• Doughboy Trail – The 0.33-mile paved trail runs from the Mill Pond Walk along the Willow River to North Pierce Street south of High Street. Park in the lot west of the New Richmond depot off of High Street.
• ELC Trail – The 0.2-mile paved trail links East Sixth Street to Paperjack Elementary School. Park at the northwest end of the elementary school, off of East 11th Street on weekends or during school vacations.
• Richmond Way Trail – The 1.7-mile trail parallels East Richmond Way and briefly West Richmond Way from 140th Street west to County Road A with connector trails. Park along the street.
• Freedom Park Trail Loop – Formerly the Hatfield Lake Trail Loop, the 2.4-mile trail circles the park with a long side hugging the shore of Hatfield Lake. Park then pick up the trail at the end of Liberty Drive north of Industrial Boulevard.
• Hatfield Lake Trail – The 1-mile trail runs along the south side of Hatfield Lake into Hatfield Park with a spur heading southeast to North Knowles Avenue and Johnson Drive. Parking is in the southeast corner of the Hatfield Park lot.
• Mary Park Trail – Day hikers can enjoy a 0.6-mile round trip walk alongside a placid lake in Mary Park at the southwest end of Mary Park Lake. To reach the trailhead, on Wis. Hwy. 65 in downtown turn east onto County Road K/East First Street; next, turn left/north onto North Green Avenue.
• Mill Pond Trail – The 0.1-mile trail runs across the Willow River dam then partially alongside the small reservoir. Access the trail from West First Street just west of South Knowles Avenue.
• Monette Park Trail – A 0.1-mile paved path sits in the neighborhood park and connects to Marshall Road. Park and start the trail at the end of Fifth Street South just west of South Washington Street.
• Nature Center Trail – A 0.5-mile trail rambles through woodlands at the 16.5-acre nature along the Willow River. The park is at the corner of Wis. Hwy. 64 and County Road A.
• New Richmond Heritage Center and Paperjack Creek Trail – Hikers can combine a walk near a stream with a loop through a historical village and farm that show what life was like in western Wisconsin decades ago; they combine for a roughly mile-long stroll. The trailhead is on Heritage Drive east of Wis. Hwy. 64; when the drive curves south, turn left/east into the Heritage Center’s parking lot.
• North Shore Trail – The 0.3-mile trail links two ends of North Shore Drive. Use street parking.
• Rail Bridge Trail – This 1.7-mile paved trail runs between West Richmond Way and West Sixth Street. Four short connectors link the trail to residential areas and to Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College.
• Somerset Road Trail – The paved 0.5-mile trail runs between Nature Center Park and Victoria Park. The regional hospital is along the trail between the parks.
• Willowind Trail – The paved 0.4-mile trail runs alongside West Eighth Street next to the hospital and then south with spurs. A connector trail links it to Somerset Road Trail.
• Woodland Creek Trail – The 0.5-mile trail heads from County Road A north of Woodland Creek Park to the street Pinewood Trail. The trail is in a residential area.

Roberts
• Clapp Waterfowl Production Area – A 0.36-mile round trip grass path crosses part of the production area to a woodline. A parking lot and the trailhead sit off Kinney Road south of Highlander Trail.
• Kinnickinnic Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area and Trumpeter Swan Preserve walkabout – Day hikers with a taste for bushwhacking can explore the headwaters of a Class 1 trout stream at the Kinnickinnic Headwaters Fish and Wildlife Area and Trumpeter Swan Preserve. From 70th Avenue, go right/south onto 150th Street; a parking lot is on the road's right/west side.
• Kinnickinnic River State Fishery Area Trail – A 0.3-mile round trip path runs to the center of the fishery. On 140th Street, once south of 70th Avenue, take the first gravel road heading west; look for the fishery area sign and turn left/south.

Star Prairie/Deer Park
• Prairie Flats North Waterfowl Area – For a primitive hiking experience, grass paths leave from the parking lot toward and around a pond and the surrounding wetlands. Park in the gravel lot on the north side of County Road H between 90th Street and Thrush Drive.
• Stanton County Forest trails – Trails stacked in two columns run through the 40-acre forest east of South Prairie. Park in the lot off of 185th Street about a mile north of the County Roads H and T intersection.

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

Hiking trails abound in central St. Croix Co.

New Richmond Heritage Center

Rising out of the St. Croix River Valley is the largely flat farmland of the county’s central area. There are fewer trails here – while pretty countryside, the lack of variety in terrain and the nearness of excellent trails and outdoors recreation at Willow River State Park and around Somerset have squelched interest in marking out walking paths. That's changing, though.

The city of New Richmond in particular has developed a variety of parks and trails to create an outdoors-friendly community. Both the Heritage Center and Paperjack Creek Trail and the Mary Park Trail are a couple of great options for day hikes.

Conservation efforts to preserve the Kinnickinnic River has led to the Kinnickinnic Headwaters Trail near Roberts and preservation of native flora and fauna, especially of wetlands such as the Cylon State Wildlife Area Trail east of Deer Park and the Casey Lake Trail outside of Baldwin also have provided some hiking paths.

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

Great trails run through west St. Croix Co.

Willow River on the Trout Brook (Purple) Trail

Among the most scenic areas of St. Croix County is the Great River Road region. Here the St. Croix River forms the county’s eastern boundary with three tributaries – the Apple, the Willow and the Kinnickinnic rivers – flowing to it. The region is so named because Wis. Hwy. 35 – the Great River Road – parallels the St. Croix and connects its three main cities – River Falls, Hudson and Somerset, each of which sport several great trails.

Hudson and Willow Falls State Park sit on the St. Croix at the region’s center. Among the great trails here are the 45-foot high and 100-foot wide Willow Falls on the Willow Falls Hill (Gray) Trail. A restored prairie can be explored on the Knapweed (Orange) Trail and the Willow River, a popular trout stream, via the Trout Brook (Purple) Trail.

River Falls sits south of Hudson and spreads into neighboring Pierce County. A great hike here is the Glen Park Trail, which cuts over 500 million-year-old rock on the Kinnickinnic; note that the trail is in Pierce County just across the county line.

Somerset is to the north of Hudson. One great trail there is the Parnell Prairie Reserve Loop, which traipses through an area being restored to its mid-1800s appearance.

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

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 Cnty.’s geography

Willow Falls on the Burkhardt (Pink) Trail east of Hudson.

A number of great day hiking trails explore St. Croix County’s diverse geography.

The west-central Wisconsin county largely can be broken into three distinct geographical areas: the St. Croix Valley, the central plain, and the western uplands.

The western third of the county consists of a thin slice where the St. Croix River runs while the area overlooking it is moderately hilly as creeks drain into it and the tributaries of the Apple, Willow and Kinnickinnic rivers. Collectively is known as the St. Croix Valley, this area actually stretches south into Pierce and north into Polk counties. Willow River State Park near Hudson offers several excellent trails that are representative of the river valley, including the Whitetail (Red) Trail, the Burkhardt (Pink) Trail, and the Knapweed (Orange) Trail.

The central and eastern thirds of the county are largely a flat plain with slightly rolling hills. This region once was an outwash plain at the end of a previous ice age. With such little change in elevation, much of it today is prime farmland rather, but there are a few trails here, most notably the Wildwood Trail, a former rail line turned into a bicycling/walking path.

A third area consists of high-relief hills and valleys that mark the northwestern edges of Wisconsin’s western uplands. This hilly terrain is particularly noticeable around Glenwood City, east of Wilson, and north of Spring Valley. A day hike that gives a good sense of this landscape is the Glen Lake East Trail at Glen Hills County Park.

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

St. Croix Valley’s best birdwatching trails

A number of day hiking trails in Minnesota and Wisconsin’s St. Croix River Valley offer great birdwatching opportunities.

As the river valley stretches directly north from the Mississippi River almost to Lake Superior, during spring and autumn several migratory birds stop off to feed and rest. Many even stay for the summer.

Here’s a sampling of the best river valley trails to spot birds.

Purple Trail (Kinnickinnic State Park)
An overlook of where the Kinnickinnic and St. Croix rivers merge is ice-free year around, making it prime feeding ground for American bald eagles during winter. Prairie restoration along a segment of the trail has created homes for partridge and ringneck pheasants.

North River Trail (Afton State Park)
Birds of prey, particularly red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures, find excellent feeding grounds atop the blufftop prairies and in the valley below where the St. Croix River reaches its widest span.

Hidden Ponds Nature (Black) Trail (Willow River State Park)
Three ponds amid woodlands is a favored nesting and feeding grounds for a variety of songbirds. The bright red scarlet tanager is among them.

Riverside Trail (William O’Brien State Park)
Traditional waterfowl, including geese and wood ducks, frequent Lake Alice and the St. Croix River along the trail. Bring some bread crumbs to feed them, which will delight any toddlers or preschoolers hiking with you.

Ridge View (Osceola and Chisago) Trails (St. Croix National Scenic Riverway)
Game birds including turkey and grouse, songbirds such as the scarlet tanager, and raptors like bald eagles, can be spotted in the diverse ecosystems the trail passes through.

Summit Rock Trail (Wisconsin Interstate State Park)
Atop the hill overlooking the river, sit and enjoy juvenile bald eagles gliding past you on the thermals. Often they fly within a few feet of you.

Redhorse Creek Northern Loop (Chengwatana State Forest)
A wide range of birds call this vast preserved area home. Among them are bald eagles, northern harriers, osprey, sandhill cranes, and warblers.

Hay Creek Trail (Crex Meadows Wildlife Area)
An internationally recognized bird area, just about any bird that frequents the Upper Midwest can be spotted at Crex Meadows. Most famous among them are giant sandhill cranes.

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