Hike Willow Falls from the Nature Center at Willow River State Park

Rating	★★★★☆(4/5)
Overall Difficulty	Easy
Navigation Difficulty	Easy
Distance	4 miles roundtrip
Time	2 hours
Terrain	A few hills
Best Seasons	All
Family Friendly	Yes
Dog Friendly	Yes
Accessible	No

Highlights

Picturesque waterfall in a rocky gorge
Overlooks to escape the crowds
Swimming on hot days

Hike Summary

One thing I've learned about the Midwest is that there are plenty of waterfalls, and unlike the west these waterfalls always have water flowing. This hiking experience to Willow Falls reminded me of waterfall hikes I've done in Southern California (scenery aside): this hike had one of the most diverse crowds I've ever seen on a trail in the Midwest, the falls were swarming with people, and families with strollers were everywhere. I went on a hot Sunday afternoon, and I can guarantee you that this park is never empty on a nice day. If you're looking for a less crowded waterfall for a day hike, I suggest going to Wolf Creek Falls in Banning State Park (although it's not nearly as close to the Twin Cities as Willow Falls State Park).

Dogs are allowed on leash on the trail, but not in the picnic area. This hike is the definition of family friendly, and your kids will not pass up an opportunity to play in the falls. During the summer, I highly suggest bringing your bathing suit (wear it if you can bear hiking in it -- there isn't anywhere to change at the falls); swimming is essential to the experience here.

If you haven't been to the park recently, you'll notice one glaring difference: the lake is gone (one guy came up to me and said he was here 4 years ago and remembered a lake and asked me where to find it). The dam that created the lake needs replacement, so it has been removed (see picture below), leaving a sea of greenery and little river where the lake once was. If you're interested, the Nature Center has a timeline showing the history of the dam leading up to its destruction. It may take a while to procure funding to rebuild the dam, and one sign said 2020 is the earliest to expect the lake to return. If you would like to see the ruins of the dam and Little Falls, follow the paved trail north through the picnic area for a short distance.

Willow River running where the lake once was
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The remnants of the dam
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From the parking lot, follow the paved trail heading east. The trail is well marked and each intersection has color coded poles corresponding with trail colors on the park map to point you in the right direction. In addition, approximately 99.9% of the people you see on the trail are heading towards Willow Falls, so just follow the herd if you lose your way. In the first part of the hike, you will walk through a grassland restoration area with a sign stating the sad statistic that of the total area originally covered by grassland in Wisconsin, only 0.5% remains. After walking through the grassland, you enter the forest, then cross through the boat launch area and parking lot (closed now the lake is gone). Soon, you will turn right onto the road through the campground; be sure to take the paved road and not the unpaved use-trail -- this travels through someone's campsite!

Once through the campsite, take a left turn onto the unpaved trail. You will follow this meandering trail through the forest until you reach the falls. Take advantage of the breaks in the trees on the left side to enjoy views of the "lake" like shown in the image below. There are some downhill portions on this stretch that you will most likely forget about, then suddenly remember when you have to climb back up them on the return trip.

Viewing the empty lake from the trail
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At the falls, do some exploring! If you brought your bathing suit (or are willing to get soaking wet), you can walk underneath the falls. On the other side of the bridge, you can take the stairs up to an overlook on top of the cliffs surrounding the falls that gives you an aerial view of the river and a view extending far across the forest. These stairs are quite the workout and go much higher than you will expect, so take your time. If you desire an escape from the crowd, there is another set of wooden steps without railings once you reach the overlook; ascend these steps then turn right at the top to follow a trail to another separate overlook. The view from the second overlook isn't very good, but you are more likely to be alone here. Note that the mileage for this hike listed above does not include these overlooks, and this side trip will add another half mile and a significant stair climb to your journey.

To head back, follow the trail back the way you came. There will be a split in the trail not far from the falls that you might not have noticed on the way there. Veer to the right here, away from the paved trail that heads uphill. The remainder of the hike should be familiar.

After doing this hike, you will understand why the falls are so popular: this is the perfect summer destination close to the Twin Cities. Take advantage of the missing lake while you can and see the interesting grassland that grows in its place!

Directions

No matter how many times I drive to Wisconsin, it baffles me how close it is to the Twin Cities (and that many people commute from Wisconsin daily). From the Twin Cities, take Interstate 94 east towards Hudson. Take exit 4 for U.S. Highway 12, then follow this road straight for about 4 miles -- the name of this road changes from U.S. 12 to County U to County A but you don't have to turn or merge at all. Watch for the park entrance on the left, turn, then pay the fee at the park office (at least in the warmer months, they operate a drive up window so you don't have to leave your car). Follow the main park road, and eventually turn right to park in the lot by the Nature Center.

Google Maps Directions

Parking, Fees, and Facilities

If you have Wisconsin license plates on your vehicle, parking is $8 for the day or $28 for an annual pass. If you are from out of state, parking is $11 for the day or $38 for an annual pass. See details here. The parking lot by the Nature Center is large and paved, with many picnic tables and benches. There are flush toilets in the warmer months and pit toilets in the colder months. The Nature Center itself should have at least one staff member who can provide you information and maps, and there is an exhibit area with live animals (smaller ones like turtles, Monarch caterpillars, and frogs) and fake animals native to the area.