Willow River State Park

Willow River State Park is a scenic and popular park in western Wisconsin near Hudson, just across the St. Croix River from the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, centered on the beautiful Willow Falls, where the Willow River tumbles in a powerful, multi-tiered cascade through a rugged limestone gorge. The falls, the gorge and the surrounding mix of forest, prairie and lake make the park a beloved natural escape close to the Twin Cities.

Willow Falls, reached by trails that descend into the gorge, pours over ledges of dolomite into a clear pool — a favorite spot for wading, photography and simply taking in the rushing water. Beyond the falls, the park offers Little Falls Lake, miles of hiking trails through restored prairie and oak woods, camping, swimming, fishing and a nature center, plus excellent birding. With its dramatic waterfall, gorge scenery and varied landscape so close to a major metro area, Willow River State Park is a treasured destination in western Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley.

Willow River State Park centers on Willow Falls, reached by trails descending into the limestone gorge for views and wading in the pool below the cascade, with miles of additional trails winding through restored prairie, oak woods and along Little Falls Lake. Hiking, photography, swimming and a beach, paddling, fishing, camping, birding and a nature center round out the recreation. The dramatic waterfall, the gorge, the lake and the varied landscape make the park a beloved and popular destination in western Wisconsin, close to the Twin Cities.

Spring brings the fullest, most powerful flow over Willow Falls from snowmelt and rain, plus wildflowers, while fall frames the gorge and prairie in color. Summer is popular for the falls along with the lake’s beach, swimming and camping, and winter brings quiet trails and ice. The falls are most powerful in spring high water and a refreshing draw in summer’s heat. Visit in spring for the fullest falls, summer for the lake and wading, or fall for color, with the park busy on warm-season weekends.

Willow Falls long powered mills and even a hydroelectric operation on the Willow River before the land became Willow River State Park, established to preserve the falls, gorge and surrounding landscape for recreation near the growing Twin Cities region. Dams once impounded the river, and the park has worked to restore more natural conditions and habitats, including prairies. Close to Hudson and the St. Croix Valley, the park has become a beloved and accessible natural destination, preserving the scenic falls and gorge for the public.

Willow Falls tumbles through a rugged gorge carved into ancient dolomite and sandstone, where the Willow River pours over resistant limestone ledges into the clear pool below, having cut the steep-walled gorge over long time. The layered sedimentary rock of western Wisconsin, part of the broader St. Croix Valley landscape, forms the falls’ tiers and the gorge walls. The interplay of the river and the hard, layered rock gives Willow Falls its powerful, multi-stepped cascade and its scenic limestone gorge.

The gorge, river, lake, prairies and woods of Willow River State Park host white-tailed deer, foxes, and a rich community of birds — the park is noted for excellent birding, with woodland, grassland and water birds, including migratory species — while the river and Little Falls Lake support fish and waterfowl. Restored prairies add grassland species. The varied habitats of gorge, river, lake, prairie and forest make the park an outstanding place for wildlife watching and birding in the St. Croix Valley of western Wisconsin.

Willow River State Park protects a rich mosaic of western Wisconsin habitats — the Willow River and its gorge, Little Falls Lake, restored tallgrass prairie, oak woodlands and wetlands — in the scenic St. Croix Valley. The park actively restores prairie and natural river conditions, supporting diverse plant and animal life and excellent birding. The combination of flowing water, lake, gorge, prairie and forest forms a varied and healthy ecosystem. Protecting the river’s water quality, the gorge and the restored habitats sustains both the ecology and the scenic beauty of the park.

Willow River State Park, with its powerful Willow Falls, rugged gorge and varied landscape so close to the Twin Cities, holds a beloved place as an accessible natural escape in western Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley. The scenic falls and gorge, long a local landmark and once a source of waterpower, draw generations of hikers, swimmers, photographers and birders, making the park a treasured destination that blends dramatic waterfall scenery with prairie, lake and woodland close to a major metropolitan area.

Willow River State Park is in western Wisconsin near Hudson, just off Interstate 94 and US-12 and a short drive across the St. Croix River from the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, in St. Croix County. A Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker is required. The park offers trails to Willow Falls and through the prairie and woods, a beach on Little Falls Lake, campgrounds, a nature center and picnic areas. The gorge trails to the falls are steep in places. Check the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for admission, conditions and access before visiting.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources protects Willow Falls, the gorge, the Willow River, Little Falls Lake and the restored prairies and woods of Willow River State Park, actively working to restore natural river conditions and grassland habitats. Visitors help by staying on trails to protect the fragile gorge and restored prairie, keeping back from cliff edges and the falls, packing out everything, protecting the river’s water quality, respecting wildlife, and following park rules. Protecting the falls, the gorge and the restored habitats sustains both the ecology and the scenery of the park.

The trails into the Willow Falls gorge are steep and the rocks around the falls slippery — stay on trails, keep back from the cliff edges and the tops of the falls, watch footing on the steep, sometimes slippery terrain, and supervise children closely. Wade only with care in the pool below the falls, mindful of slippery rocks and currents, especially in high water. Wear sturdy footwear, carry water, be mindful of ticks and poison ivy in summer, and take care in wet or icy conditions on the gorge trails.

A Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker is required. Stay on designated trails and back from cliff edges and the falls. Wade at your own risk in the pool. Swim at the designated Little Falls Lake beach. Camp only in designated campgrounds. Follow Wisconsin fishing regulations and licensing. Pets must be leashed and are restricted on beaches. Drones generally require authorization. Collecting is prohibited (protect the restored prairie). Pack out all trash. Check the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for current rules and conditions.

The historic river town of Hudson on the St. Croix lies near the park, with the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area just across the river in Minnesota, and the bluffs and valleys of the St. Croix Valley within reach. Interstate State Park and the St. Croix Dalles lie upriver. Willow River State Park anchors an accessible region of waterfalls, river scenery and recreation in western Wisconsin, an easy escape from the Twin Cities.

Hike the trails down into the gorge to see and wade beneath the powerful Willow Falls — visit in spring for the fullest flow or summer for a refreshing wade — and explore the prairie, woods and Little Falls Lake beyond. Keep back from the cliff edges and the slippery rocks at the falls, wear sturdy footwear for the steep gorge trails, and bring a park sticker. Just minutes from the Twin Cities, pair the park with the historic town of Hudson and the St. Croix River.