Mindful Hike

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Saturday, August 23rd at 9am. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center. 

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Join Certified Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher and Volunteer Wisconsin Master Naturalist Kelly Gillespie for a guided mindful hike designed to cultivate mindfulness, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being. This immersive experience includes a brief meditation and simple mindfulness practices to help you strengthen your ability to stay present. Along the way, Kelly will share fascinating insights into the powerful mental and physical benefits of spending time in nature.

August's hike will be from the nature center to Willow Falls and back, which is approximately four miles in total. Bring a backpack with water and a small blanket, mat, or towel to sit on. Dress appropriately for the weather, and be sure to have footwear suitable for walking on unpaved paths. Ages 10 and up are welcome. 

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This event is free to attend, but vehicle admission into the park is required.

Meet The Rangers & Wardens Of The Willow

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Saturday, August 23 anytime from 5-6:30pm. Meet at the Dam Pavilion at the very end of the park road.

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Have you ever had a natural resources question that you couldn’t find the answer to? 

Ever wondered what’s the difference between a Ranger and a Warden, or what it takes to become one? Come visit with the Park Rangers and Conservation Wardens of Willow River State Park and get the answers you’ve been looking for! We’ll roast hotdogs and marshmallows, while they share some of the work they do to protect and conserve wildlife and state parks, lands and trails.

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This event is free to attend but vehicle admission into the park is required.

Let's Go Kayaking!

 

Saturday, August 30,

or Sunday, August 31 at 10 am sharp. Meet at the Willow River State Park boat launch.

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Join the naturalist on a scenic kayaking trip across Little Falls Lake and up to the beautiful Willow Falls before peacefully floating back down the river. This is a great activity to enjoy individually, with a friend, or as a family! Children ages 10 and up, accompanied by a parent/guardian and capable of operating their own kayak for the entirety of the trip are welcome to join! Please dress for the weather and bring along a lifejacket (if you don't want to wear one of ours), waterproof shoes, drinking water, sunscreen, and bug spray!

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Kayaks are limited! Registration is required, grab your spot here: https://tinyurl.com/WillowKayak2025 

This event costs $25/person in support of our non-profit's mission. Vehicle admission into the park is a separate and required fee.

Nature Journaling Course 

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Class is held weekly on Wednesdays from 10 am to noon in September. Meet at the Willow River State Park Nature Center Classroom.

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Join us at the Willow River Nature Center and learn the art of nature journaling, guided by our park's naturalists. Deepen your appreciation for the natural world and create a personal journal filled with your observations and reflections. This course has been inspired by John Muir Laws and mirrors some of his remarkable work recorded and published in “The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling”.

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Registration Required: https://secure.givelively.org/event/friends-of-willow-river-and-kinnickinnic-state-parks-inc/fall-nature-journaling-4-week-course 

This 4-week course costs $10/person. Vehicle admission into the park is a separate and required fee.

A Waste Free-Walk Along The Willow 

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Tuesday, September 2nd at 9am. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center. 

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Holiday weekends can be tough on this park we all know and love. Join us on the Tuesday following Labor Day weekend for a parkwide trash-clean up day. We’ll provide trash bags, gloves, and/or litter pickers and head out on various trails, parking lots, and beach and picnic areas to gather trash and turn a negative into a positive. Please dress for the weather and bring along plenty of water, and good hiking boots. 

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Vehicle admission into the park will be waived for participants helping with the clean up.

Fungi In Our Forests!

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Saturday, September 6 at 10am. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center.

 

Some of the tastiest mushrooms can be found right here in St. Croix County; if you know where to look! Join us for a presentation, where you’ll learn when, where and how to pick them yourself. Then join the Naturalist on a short hike afterwards (weather permitting) if you wish and see how many we can find right here in the park. Be sure to wear closed hiking shoes and long pants if you plan to join the hike afterwards. 

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Register here: https://tinyurl.com/FallFungiWillow

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This event costs $5/person and vehicle admission into the park is required. 

Bonkers for Bugs!

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Sunday, September 7th from 1-3 at the gravel parking lot across from the group camp parking lot at Willow River State Park.  

 

Stop in anytime between 1 and 3 and say hi to Master Naturalist Jodi and share in some insect enthusiasm! There will be a few activities, lots of fun information and even an insect scavenger hunt!

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This event is free to attend, but vehicle admission into the park is required.

Discover The Willow 6-mile Hike

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Saturday, September 13. Hike leaves at 10am sharp. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center. 

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Join the naturalist on a 6-mile round trip hike and discover some of the most beautiful sights at Willow River State Park. This hike will take you along the Willow River, above Little Falls Lake and up close and personal to the Willow Falls. Along the way, we’ll venture through a variety of habitats including wetlands, prairie, river bottoms, and mature deciduous and coniferous forests. The terrain varies throughout the hike and includes very steep hills. The hike will take roughly 2 ½ -3 hours to complete. Please dress for the weather and bring along, water, good hiking boots, binoculars, a camera and a snack if you wish.

 

This event costs $5/person or $10/family. Vehicle admission into the park is a separate and required fee. 

"What Do You Spy With Your Eagle Eyes?"

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Saturday, September 20 at 10am - 11:00am. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center. 

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Join local author and photographer Jean Maher and learn about ways to make exploring nature fun for you and the young explorers in your life. In this quick hour, you'll see a slideshow of her photos and get some great tips on what you can do with the camera you always have with you: your cellphone. Learn of a few apps and websites to check out. Then head outside the Nature Center to try a few new-to-you techniques and get a little coaching from Jean. Come by yourself or with your young explorer! 

Adults and children ages 6 and up. Please dress for the weather and bring a water bottle along with you. Approx. finish time: 11:00 - 11:30pm. 

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This event costs $5 at the door per family/group (cash only). Vehicle admission into the park is a separate and required fee. 

Wings & Wilderness Walk (KSP Birding Walk)

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Sunday, September 21st. Hike leaves at 9 am sharp. Meet at the Kinnickinnic State Park gravel Red Trailhead parking lot on 770th avenue. 

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Join us for a relaxed, family-friendly birding hike! This short trek will lead us through some of the best local habitats for spotting winter birds. Whether you're a seasoned birder or just getting started, bring your binoculars (or borrow a pair of ours) and learn to identify a variety of feathered friends by sight and sound. Our guide will share tips on birdwatching and help you discover what makes our local species unique. Dress warmly, bring a water bottle, and get ready to experience the wonders of winter birdlife!

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This event is free to attend, but vehicle admission into the park is required.

Let’s Go Kayaking!

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Saturday, September 27 OR Sunday, September 28 10 am sharp. Meet at the Willow River State Park boat launch.

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Join the naturalist on a scenic kayaking trip across Little Falls Lake and up to the beautiful Willow Falls before peacefully floating back down the river. This is a great activity to enjoy individually, with a friend, or as a family! Children ages 10 and up, accompanied by a parent/guardian and capable of operating their own kayak for the entirety of the trip are welcome to join! Please dress for the weather and bring along a lifejacket (if you don't want to wear one of ours), waterproof shoes, drinking water, sunscreen, and bug spray!

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Kayaks are limited! Registration is required, grab your spot here: https://tinyurl.com/WillowKayak2025 

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This event costs $25/person in support of our nonprofit's mission. Vehicle admission into the park is a separate and required fee.

Fall Preschool Young Naturalist Classes! 

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Every Wednesday OR Thursday from 10-11am at the Willow River Nature Center. 

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Classes include hikes, games, crafts, story time and more! Always come dressed for the weather and with plenty of water. Please be sure to register your child for this event so we can plan for materials each week.

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Registration is required for this 3 month course! 

Learn More & Register Your Preschooler Here: https://tinyurl.com/fallnatpreschool2025