Willow Falls is a 50-foot tiered waterfall on the Willow River in Willow River State Park, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, near Hudson. The river steps down a series of broad ledges, and a viewing platform stands on the foundation of a former powerhouse.
The falls
The falls drops 50 feet in five drops, forming a stair-step series of tiered horsetails over wide ledges. For whitewater paddlers, the sequence is rated Class IV+, with the main drop falling 12 to 20 feet over shallow rock landings with a hard portage between the canyon walls.
Getting there
Willow River State Park is at 1034 County Highway A, Hudson, and is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. A vehicle admission pass is required: $13 a day or $28 a year for Wisconsin vehicles, $16 or $50 for out-of-state vehicles. The shortest approach is the 0.4-mile Willow Falls Hill Trail from the falls parking lot north of the main entrance on County Road A, which descends a very steep hill. The park's conditions page lists the hiking trails as open.
When to go
The park is open all year. The DNR runs guided hikes to the falls, which depend on the weather.
On site
Trails feature unprotected cliffs, surfaces made slippery by water or fallen leaves, loose gravel and exposed roots, and children should be closely supervised. On the water, lead-in ledges can sweep paddlers downstream into the falls.
History and name
A hydroelectric dam operated here until 1991, when the land passed to the state and the dam was removed. Some remnants remain, but the river has largely returned to a natural state.
Nearby
There are no other waterfalls within 5 miles. Apple River Falls is about 9.7 miles away. In Minnesota, Minnehaha Falls is about 27.2 miles away and Saint Anthony Falls about 28.5 miles.
Distances are straight-line.