Willow River State Park
Encyclopedia
Willow River State Park is a 2891 acres (1,169.9 ha) Wisconsin
state park located five miles (8 km) north of Hudson
. The centerpiece of the park is Willow Falls, a powerful cascade in a 200 feet (61 m) deep gorge. Another popular feature is Little Falls Lake, a shallow reservoir on the Willow River
. Because of its proximity to Minneapolis-St. Paul it is one of the most visited state parks in Wisconsin. Trilobite
fossils found in the lower layers of the gorge indicate the rock is around 600 million years old.
and Ojibwa
lived in the region and clashed over rights to wild rice lakes. European explorers witnessed one of their battles in 1795 at the mouth of the Willow River
.
Settlers moved in, and by 1830 logging and wheat farming were common in the Willow River Valley. The river was invaluable for the former, as logs were floated downstream to the St. Croix
. A German immigrant, Christian Burkhardt, realized the river could also be harnessed for the latter industry, and built a grist mill here in 1868. Burkhardt became a wealthy landowner and followed developments in water-powered industry. He traveled home to Germany
to examine hydroelectric power plants and returned in 1891 to build his own on the Willow River. Burkhardt eventually built four power plants and dams on the river, which provided electricity to Hudson
. Northern States Power
purchased Burkhardt's power company in 1945 and operated its sites until 1963, when damage to one of the plants from a lightning strike prompted the company to liquidate their Willow River holdings.
In 1967 Northern States Power sold the land to the Wisconsin Conservation Commission for a state park, and stabilized the dams at a financial loss. The state park opened in 1971. Some of the dams were removed in the 1990s to improve the scenery and trout fishery, and now only one remains. The land is still being restored from damming and farming.
exhibits. Naturalists offer public programs throughout the year.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
state park located five miles (8 km) north of Hudson
Hudson, Wisconsin
Hudson is a city in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 18,937, making it the principal and largest city of the Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area . The Hudson area however had a population of 39,713...
. The centerpiece of the park is Willow Falls, a powerful cascade in a 200 feet (61 m) deep gorge. Another popular feature is Little Falls Lake, a shallow reservoir on the Willow River
Willow River (St. Croix River)
Willow River is a river in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States and a tributary of the St. Croix River. Its headwaters are found near the village of Deer Park . The river at one time dumped into the lower St. Croix river in between Hudson and North Hudson...
. Because of its proximity to Minneapolis-St. Paul it is one of the most visited state parks in Wisconsin. Trilobite
Trilobite
Trilobites are a well-known fossil group of extinct marine arthropods that form the class Trilobita. The first appearance of trilobites in the fossil record defines the base of the Atdabanian stage of the Early Cambrian period , and they flourished throughout the lower Paleozoic era before...
fossils found in the lower layers of the gorge indicate the rock is around 600 million years old.
History
Santee SiouxSioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
and Ojibwa
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
lived in the region and clashed over rights to wild rice lakes. European explorers witnessed one of their battles in 1795 at the mouth of the Willow River
Willow River (St. Croix River)
Willow River is a river in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States and a tributary of the St. Croix River. Its headwaters are found near the village of Deer Park . The river at one time dumped into the lower St. Croix river in between Hudson and North Hudson...
.
Settlers moved in, and by 1830 logging and wheat farming were common in the Willow River Valley. The river was invaluable for the former, as logs were floated downstream to the St. Croix
St. Croix River (Wisconsin-Minnesota)
The St. Croix River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The lower of the river form the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The river is a National Scenic Riverway under the protection of the National Park Service. A...
. A German immigrant, Christian Burkhardt, realized the river could also be harnessed for the latter industry, and built a grist mill here in 1868. Burkhardt became a wealthy landowner and followed developments in water-powered industry. He traveled home to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to examine hydroelectric power plants and returned in 1891 to build his own on the Willow River. Burkhardt eventually built four power plants and dams on the river, which provided electricity to Hudson
Hudson, Wisconsin
Hudson is a city in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 18,937, making it the principal and largest city of the Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area . The Hudson area however had a population of 39,713...
. Northern States Power
Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy, Inc. is a public utility company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, serving customers in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. Primary services are electricity and natural gas...
purchased Burkhardt's power company in 1945 and operated its sites until 1963, when damage to one of the plants from a lightning strike prompted the company to liquidate their Willow River holdings.
In 1967 Northern States Power sold the land to the Wisconsin Conservation Commission for a state park, and stabilized the dams at a financial loss. The state park opened in 1971. Some of the dams were removed in the 1990s to improve the scenery and trout fishery, and now only one remains. The land is still being restored from damming and farming.
Recreation
- Boating: A boat ramp provides access to Little Falls Lake for non-motorized watercraft.
- Camping: There is a shaded campground with 72 sites (19 with electrical hookups). The park also has 50 new campsites in a natural prairie area 28 of which are electric and 6 of which are pull through sites for large RVs
- Fishing: Stocked and naturally reproducing trout are found throughout the Willow River.
- Rock climbing: There are several bolted sport climbs on the gorge walls, ranging from 5.9 to 5.14c in difficulty. The rock is a mixture of limestoneLimestoneLimestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and dolomiteDolomiteDolomite is a carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg2. The term is also used to describe the sedimentary carbonate rock dolostone....
. There are some restrictions on climbing; there's no climbing allowed on Saturday or after noon on Friday or Sunday. These are enforced year-round. Leaving fixed gear is prohibited, and rappelling from the top of the gorge is not allowed. - Swimming: There is a beach along the southern shore of Little Falls Lake with picnic tables, a beach house and extensive parking.
- Trails
- Hidden Ponds Nature Trail (hiking, accessible): Guides are available at the head of this paved loop around a wetland (0.6 mi).
- Little Falls Trail (hiking, biking, rollerblading): Follows the developed shoreline from the campground to the dam (0.9 mi).
- Willow Falls Trail (hiking): Follows the shoreline from the campground to Willow Falls (0.9 mi).
- Willow Falls Hill Trail (hiking): A steep shortcut to the falls from a separate parking lot (0.3 mi).
- Trout Brook Trail (hiking): A level out-and-back route along the river below the dam (1.1 mi).
- Oak Ridge Trail (hiking): A forested path between the lake parking and the campground (0.9 mi).
- White Tail Trail (hiking): A loop off the Oak Ridge Trail through forest meadows popular with white tail deer (1.6 mi).
- Knapweed Trail (hiking): Passes through fields being restored into prairie and forest (0.9 mi)
- Pioneer Trail (hiking): Leads past the gravesite of early European settlers to an overlook of Willow Falls (0.9 mi).
- Burkhardt Trail (hiking): A network of trails above the falls with several overlooks (3 mi)
- Mound Trail (hiking): Follows the Willow River in the undeveloped northeastern part of the park, past a glacial mound (1.1 mi).
Willow River Nature Center
The Willow River Nature Center is located near the main picnic area, and features natural historyNatural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
exhibits. Naturalists offer public programs throughout the year.