The Waterfall at Willow River State Park

I still can not believe this is in Wisconsin! What a fantastic waterfall! It is fairly easy to get to, and the bridge offers a great view. Plus, getting up close and walking in the spray is pretty easy. This place impresses me on every visit. Willow River State Park is in Hudson, Wisconsin, near the Minnesota border. You have to pay a small entrance fee if you don’t already have a Wisconsin State Park season pass.

Hiking to the Falls

Willow Falls Hill Trail is 0.4 miles and the quickest and shortest route to the falls but also the steepest. The trail itself is wide and easy to navigate. To get to the trailhead, drive past the park office and take an immediate right onto a gravel road leading to the Willow Falls parking lot. There is an even shorter off-route trail that you should only attempt if you are a mountain goat.

Pioneer Trail leaves from the same parking area as the Willow Falls Hill Trail and takes you to an overlook upstream of the falls. Another option for viewing the falls from the top is Burkhardt Trail. This leaves from the River Road parking lot at the northeast end of the park. It is between 2-4 miles, depending on the route, and brings you to an overlook from the top of the falls before bringing you to the bridge at the base of the falls.

If you want a more gentle grade to the base of the falls, you can take the Willow Falls Trail, a one-mile hike along the river. This gently rolling trail can be accessed via the 300 campground. It is mostly flat, and a rugged stroller would handle it well. It’s a beautiful trail with gorgeous views of the river.

A staircase near the base of the falls leads to an overview of the falls. It was closed in June of 2024. The stairs leave from the north side of the bridge.

What to Bring

To get the most out of the falls, wear appropriate shoes for the hike you plan to take. Consider bringing water shoes as many people walk at the waterfall’s base. If that is your plan, be sure to bring a towel too. Consider wearing a suit or quick-dry clothing. We always like to bring some snacks or a picnic. I recommend bug spray as well. Consider a life vest for non-swimmers if you aren’t sure you will have kids within arm’s reach at all times. There are several places to wade at the base of the falls, but if you get too far in and the water is running high, a small and non-confident swimmer could be swept downstream. The rocks can be slippery!

Don’t bother bringing toys. The water moves fast enough that water toys will likely be swept away. If the kids want to play in the sand or water, head to the beach on the park’s west side. If you want to paddleboard or kayak, there are lots of great places to explore at Willow River, but the waterfall is not one of them.

Other Park Activities

Check out the beach for some sunbathing or swimming. Take a paddle board or kayak out and explore Little Falls Lake and the inlets of Willow River. Launch your boat just east of the nature center and beach. Check out the nature center. Enjoy some of the many miles of hiking that are not focused on the waterfall. Reserve a campsite and spend the night.

Willow River State Park has a dedicated nature-based play trail for kids. The Nature Playground Trail leaves from the nature center. It includes a person-sized nest, teepees, logs to climb and balance on, and more. We love it in all seasons. There is a large traditional playground between the nature center and the beach. Finally, there is a playground in the 300 campground.

Here is the dedicated mountain bike trail map. The park has mostly green and blue level mountain bike trails. The only trail you can both bike, and hike on, is the Little Falls Trail.

Willow River State Park has 40 sport climbing routes adjacent to the falls. For more details about the routes at Willow River, check out The Mountain Project.

Winter at Willow River

The park is open in the winter too! While you wont be walking in the gentle spray of the falls in the colder seasons, seeing a frozen waterfall is a different kind of magical. There is also sledding and Nordic skiing to partake in.

Local Food Options

My favorite area to eat near Willow River State Park is historic downtown Hudson. It is only 10 minutes away and offers many restaurants with great food and high customer reviews. Most recently, we went to the Agave Kitchen, which was delicious and had a full bar. In addition, they were very friendly with our kids and had a dedicated kids’ menu. Walk across the street for ice cream at Lotus Creamery.

Keys Cafe and Bakery is a small family-owned business with several locations in and around the twin cities. For coffee, check out Ember and Bean Roasting company.

Nearby Activities

If you are a Wisconsin State Park connoisseur, Kinnickinic State Park is only 20 minutes south. It offers hiking, mountain biking, a beach, boat mooring where you can spend the night in your boat, camping, and beautiful views of the St Croix River.

Just 25 minutes west of Willow River State Park is Snake Discovery, where we had a great time. The entrance fees are reasonable, and plenty of reptiles can be seen. The staff was friendly, there were many educational signs, and the animals appeared well cared for. Pro tip: attend one of the frequent and free guided tours where you can touch different reptiles and learn cool facts.

Crummy weather? Check out GNG. An indoor playground with mini golf and arcade in Hudson.

If you don’t find enough playgrounds at Willow River, check out Grandview Park, a large wooden playground in Hudson.

You can head further into the twin cities to find plenty more fun things to do. There is the free como zoo or the Sustainable Safari, which has more animal interaction opportunities. Mall of America has plenty of ways to spend money on fun, including an aquarium, an indoor amusement park, go-karts, rock climbing, the Crayola Experience, and plenty of shopping. There is a children’s museum, science museum, art museum, and so many more museums in the cities.

Nearby Hotels

If you are looking for something unique, check out the Pink Castle. It is an Eclectic pink hotel with an outdoor pool specializing in “babe-cations.”

For more standard accommodations, there are plenty of chain hotel options right off Highway 94. Most recently we stayed in the Comfort Suites Hudson. It was budget-friendly, had a pool, included breakfast, and had clean rooms. Nearby, you will find many common chains including shopping, restaurants, and grocery stores.

In conclusion…

What are you waiting for? Plan a time to check out the waterfall at Willow River State Park. We have a great time every time we go. If you want more information on other state parks in Wisconsin, check out my other Wisconsin State Park reviews. We also spend a lot of time exploring Wisconsin Dells, so if you are looking for reviews, check us out.