Upcoming Events
Free Nature Journaling
Weekly on Tuesdays in May from 1-3pm. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center.
Join us weekly for Nature Journaling, a relaxed program welcoming both beginners and experienced journalers. Explore guided prompts, practice observation skills, and capture the natural world on the page. All materials are provided, and each session stands on its own. Come once or return all summer.
This event is free to attend for participants of all ages, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Insects of the Prairie
Thursday, May 14 at 1pm. Meet at the Group Campground Parking lot.
Explore the prairie on this family‑friendly walk and discover the insects that call it home. We’ll look for pollinators, predators, camouflaged specialists, and all the tiny creatures that make the prairie buzz with life. This program focuses on observing insects where they live, with the possibility of catching a few for closer study if conditions allow.
This event is free to attend for participants of all ages, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Among the Grasses (Prairie Ecology)
Thursday, May 21 at 1pm. Meet at the Group Campground Parking lot.
Take a family‑friendly walk through a short‑grass prairie and explore what makes this ecosystem unique. We’ll talk about the animals that live here, the remarkable adaptations of prairie plants, and how fire helps keep the landscape healthy and thriving.
This event is free to attend for participants of all ages, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Discover The Willow 6-mile Hike
Saturday, May 23rd. Hike leaves at 9am sharp. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center.
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 hike costs $5/person or $10/family. Vehicle admission into the park is a separate and required fee. Both of these fees are paid upon arrival. Cash or card accepted. No pre-registration is required.
Natural Playground Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, May 23rd anytime from 1-3pm. Meet at the Willow River State Park Nature Center.
Drop into the nature center and pick up a scavenger hunt sheet before heading out into the beautiful, summer sun to explore the unique and natural stations that make up our natural playground area! Once you've checked off all stations, race back to the nature center to earn a small participation prize!
This event is free to attend, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Sunday Stroll
Sunday, May 24th. Hike leaves at 10am sharp. Meet outside the Willow River Nature Center.
Join the naturalist on a relaxing, easy 1.5 mile hike on the Trout Brook Trail. This trail is relatively flat and wanders along the lower Willow River through stands of red pine and prairie. This is a great hike for viewing wildlife such as eagles, heron, deer, and snapping turtles!
This event is free to attend but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Spring Scavenger Hunt
Sunday, May 24 at 1-3 pm. Meet at the Willow River State Park Nature Center.
Want to get outdoors this spring but not sure where to start? Pick up a scavenger hunt at the Willow River State Park Nature Center and get out on the trails to explore all the wonders of nature. This is a self-guided drop in hike with supplies/materials provided at the nature center with the ½ mile hidden ponds loop trail behind the nature center as a great place to spot local wildlife. Bring your completed scavenger hunt back to the nature center for a small participation prize!
This event is free to attend, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Waste-Free Walk Along The Willow
Tuesday, May 26th at 9am. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center.
Holiday weekends can be hard on this park we all know and love. Join us on the Tuesday following Memorial 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 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.
Vehicle admission into the park will be waived for participants helping with the clean up.
Getting Knotty
Tuesday, May 26 at 10am. Meet at the Beach Pavillion.
Try your hand at a few basic knots and see how quickly you can get the hang of them. Ropes and practice stations will be ready for anyone feeling a little knotty.
This event is free to attend for participants of all ages, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Insects of the Prairie
Thursday, May 28 at 1pm. Meet at the Group Campground Parking lot.
Explore the prairie on this family‑friendly walk and discover the insects that call it home. We’ll look for pollinators, predators, camouflaged specialists, and all the tiny creatures that make the prairie buzz with life. This program focuses on observing insects where they live, with the possibility of catching a few for closer study if conditions allow.
This event is free to attend for participants of all ages, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Let's Go Kayaking!
Saturday, May 30 or Sunday May 31st at 10 am sharp. Meet at the Willow River State Park boat launch.
Kayaks are limited!
Register here:
https://tinyurl.com/kayakwillow2026
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, waterproof shoes, drinking water, sunscreen, and bug spray!
This event costs $25/person.Vehicle admission into the park is a separate and required fee.
Among the Grasses (Prairie Ecology)
Thursday, June 4th at 1pm. Meet at the Group Campground Parking lot.
Take a family‑friendly walk through a short‑grass prairie and explore what makes this ecosystem unique. We’ll talk about the animals that live here, the remarkable adaptations of prairie plants, and how fire helps keep the landscape healthy and thriving.
This event is free to attend for participants of all ages, but vehicle admission into the park is required.