Visiting Willow Falls in Wisconsin (+Photos)

Willow Falls in western Wisconsin is one of the most breathtaking waterfalls I’ve seen up to this day. And I’ve seen quite a lot of them over the years.

^{Last updated: January 7, 2026}

Willow Falls | Roads and Destinations — *Wisconsin waterfall trip*

A Journey to Willow Falls

Tell me that there is a waterfall worth visiting on my way to the next destination, and I’ll find a way to swing by. This was the exact story of our trip to Willow Falls. The only difference was that nobody informed me about the existence of the magnificent cascade in the western section of Wisconsin. I discovered it on a map while planning our Midwest road trip from Chicago to Minneapolis.

A Word… or Two about Willow Falls

Mind you, Willow Falls is neither the tallest nor the widest waterfall in the United States. It’s not even the tallest drop in the midwestern section of the country. At just 45 feet from the top tier to the bottom at the Willow River, it’s rather short. Even an urban waterfall in one of the older neighborhoods of Minneapolis, Minnehaha Falls, is 50 feet tall.

TIP: I’ve mentioned Minnehaha Falls here for a reason. With less than an hour drive away, Minneapolis with its rare natural attractions, including St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River, is another great place to explore in the Midwest for those who are fond of waterfalls.

The width of Willow Falls, however, deserves a separate discussion. About 100 feet may look decent in many parts of the U.S. In the Midwest, this number is quite staggering, placing Willow Falls at the top of the most beautiful waterfalls in the region.

And beautiful Willow Falls is indeed!

The multi-drop waterfall cascades down a series of large boulders and empties into a scenic gorge. The Willow River continues to carry the water under the wide footbridge and through a dense forested stretch until it empties into the St. Croix River, a tributary of the Mississippi River.

Willow River State Park

Formed as the Willow River carved its way though ancient sandstone, Willow Falls is a central attraction in Willow River State Park in Wisconsin. Yet it’s not the only one. The nearly 3,000-acre park is home to a vast prairie, dense forests, Little Falls Lake, a Nature Center, and about 13 miles of hiking trails.

Hiking in Willow River State Park

The trails vary in length and difficulty. The majority of them are approximately 1 mile long or less. Some of the paths you may want to explore in the park include the following.

Willow Falls Hill Trail (Gray Trail): 0.4 mile
Hidden Pond Nature Trail (Black Trail): 0.5 mile
Little Falls Trail (Green Trail): 0.7 mile
Whitetail Trail (Red Trail): 0.7 mile
Knapweed Trail (Orange Trail): 1 mile
Willow Falls Trail (Blue Trail): 1 mile
Oak Ridge Trail (Brown Trail): 1.1 miles
Mound Trail (White Trail): 1.1 miles
Pioneer Trail (Yellow Trail): 1.2 miles
Trout Brook Trail (Purple Trail): 1.4 miles

TIP: Trails can be slippery after rain. Make sure to exercise caution and stay away from cliffs that don’t have protective barricades.

How to Get to Willow River State Park

Willow River State Park is conveniently located roughly 6 miles northeast of Hudson, Wisconsin. The city, in its turn, is just a stone’s throw away from Minnesota. In fact, the North Star State owns the western bank and half of the St. Croix River Hudson is nestled on.

If you drive to Willow Falls from St. Paul or Minneapolis, both located in Minnesota, the trip takes approximately 40 or 60 minutes, respectively.

We approached Willow Falls from the opposite direction. After spending a day and night in Wisconsin Dells, we hit the road early in the morning to get to the waterfall before the sun would become unbearable. The afternoon heat is almost always a side effect of the summer road trip.

It took us about 3 hours to get to our destination. With empty roads and changing scenery, the time flew by quickly and we found ourselves gazing at the awe-inspiring Willow Falls before the majority of locals arrived.

Wisconsin | Roads and Destinations — *Willow River State Park*

Hiking to Willow Falls

Willow River State Park is a paid recreation area. Once you pay and reach the right parking lot (ask a ranger at the entrance gate if in doubt), it takes approximately 15 minutes to hike down a steep hill to Willow Falls.

The 0.4-mile trail is broad and well-marked. Some sections of the path are paved. Park rangers may drive along it from time to time. So keep an eye on any vehicles as they may emerge unexpectedly from the next turn on the winding trail-road.

The Best Time to Visit Willow Falls

You can visit Willow Falls year round. The flow of the waterfall is the strongest in spring, late April to early June, when the river is fed by snowmelt and heavy rains.

Come falls and Willow Falls lures with vibrant foliage and gorgeous autumnal displays.

Willow Falls freezes over in winter. A small section of the waterfall may still have flowing-through water. The rest of the site looks like a magical ice cave.