Walking to Wisconsin

Last October, I took a trip to Minnesota to check out the state parks and fall foliage. I didn’t realize at first how close Wisconsin is to Minneapolis, where I was staying.

When I made the connection, I had to make the journey to Wisconsin to check out another new state. I drove one day to Willow River State Park in Hudson, less than an hour away from Minneapolis.

The park in northwest Wisconsin has amazing views of Willow Falls and the Willow River Gorge with many trails. I hiked down to Willow Falls. It was only a mile roundtrip but fairly steep on the way back.

The falls were beautiful. I spent most of my time just enjoying the views and exploring the area around the falls.

After I worked up an appetite, I headed to Stillwater, a cute town on the Minnesota side of the border with Wisconsin, for lunch. Stillwater has been named one of the top 10 “Prettiest Towns in America” by Forbes Magazine. I enjoyed lunch on the rooftop of Leo’s Grill & Malt Shop.

Stillwater is on the Saint Croix River and the area is part of the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway. Boating is popular on the river and there are trails to hike as well as a walkway along the river in Stillwater.

After lunch, I walked across the Stillwater Bridge that crosses the Saint Croix River from Stillwater, Minnesota, to Houlton, Wisconsin. So I can say that I walked to Wisconsin!

Enjoy the views of Stillwater as you walk back across the river.

Which state parks in Wisconsin do you recommend visiting? Check out more to do near Minneapolis: Minneapolis, Minnesota state parks and apple orchards.