Self Guided Willow River State Park History Walk 

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Friday, July 4, Saturday, July 5 or Sunday, July 6 anytime from 1-3pm. Meet at the Willow River State Park Nature Center. 

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The Wisconsin State Park System is celebrating 125 years! Let's celebrate history all weekend long at Willow River State Park. Pick up a park tour packet from the Nature Center and take a walk  to learn about the history of Willow River State Park. Collect a participation goodie bag while supplies last. 

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

CANCELLED: Discover The Willow 6-mile Hike

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Saturday, July 5. 

This event is cancelled due to the forecasted rain/thunderstorms.

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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.

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

Sunday Stroll 

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Sunday, July 6 anytime from 10am-noon. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center. ​

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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!

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

A Waste Free Walk Along The Willow 

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Tuesday, July 8 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 4th of July 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. 

Wildflower Hike! 

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Saturday, July 12. Hike leaves at 10am. Meet at the Willow River State Park Nature Center. 

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Join the Naturalist on a colorful hike where we will identify several different types of wildflowers. We’ll also look at some edible, invasive and poisonous plants too. Feel free to bring your favorite field guide along with you! 

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

Raptors 101 

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Sunday, July 13 at 11am. Meet at the Willow River State Park Beach Pavillion. 

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Join us for an exciting, educational and interactive presentation from River Valley Raptors. Learn unique features of several different raptor species and how they have adapted to survive the habitats in which they live! Bring a camera and any questions you have about raptors along with you! River Valley Raptors is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to the conservation of raptors and other wildlife through education. 

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

Mindful Hike at Kinnickinnic State Park

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Saturday, July 19 at 9am. Meet at the St. Croix Picnic Area at the end of the Kinnickinnic State Park Road. 

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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.

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.

Let’s Go Paddling!

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Friday, July 25 at 10 am sharp. Meet at the Willow River State Park boat launch.​

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In honor of RiverFest week, join our park naturalists' on a scenic kayaking trip up to the beautiful Willow Falls, before peacefully floating back down the Willow River. This is a great activity to enjoy individually, with a friend, or as a family! Children who are ages 10 and up, accompanied by a parent/guardian and are 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 do not wish to wear one of ours) waterproof shoes, drinking water, sunscreen, and bug spray. This kayak trip takes roughly 2.5-3 hours to complete depending on the pace of the group. 

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Kayaks are limited! Registration is required, grab your spot here: 

https://tinyurl.com/LetsPaddleWillow 
This event costs $25/person. Vehicle admission into the park is a separate and required fee.