HIKING TRAILS & MAPS OF

City of Trails
St. Croix Falls, Wi

CITY OF TRAILS
ST. CROIX FALLS, WI

St. Croix Falls is known as the City of Trails for good reason.  There are more than 25 trails within the city designated for hiking and/or biking, and St. Croix Falls is proud to be the western start point of the 1,200 mile Ice Age Trail! Many spur and connector trails make traversing the city of trails easy and fun.

Find your favorite trail!

CITY OF ST. CROIX FALLS
POLK COUNTY TOURISM INFORMATION CENTER:

710 WI-35
St. Croix Falls, WI 54024
715-483-1410
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A WI State Park Pass is required for all trails within state parks.WI Residents: $28 annual/$8 daily fee. Non Residents: $38 annual/$11 daily fee. (2020 rates. Subject to change per the WI-DNR. For a full list of rates, go here.)

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: intermediate

lADDER TANK TRAIL

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING

WINTER: hIKING

Series of terraced stairs connecting the WI-Interstate State Park campground to Washington Street in St. Croix Falls.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC

TRAIL LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

SURFACE: STAIRS

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: .06 MILE LINEAR

NOTABLES: TERRACED STAIR TRAIL.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL:EASY

RIVER STREET TRAIL

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING

WINTER: HIKING

Trail linking the fish hatchery area to the Severson Memorial Overlook.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC

TRAIL LEVEL: EASY

SURFACE: NATURAL SURFACE

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: 0.3 MILES LINEAR

NOTABLES: VIEWS OF THE ST. CROIX RIVER

Gaylord Nelson Riverwalk
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:EASY

GAYLORD NELSON RIVERWALK

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING

WINTER: HIKING

Paved trail linking the Severson Memorial Overlook to the St. Croix River Visitor Center.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC

TRAIL LEVEL: EASY

SURFACE: PAVED

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: .25 MILES LINEAR

NOTABLES: VIEWS OF THE HYDROELECTRIC DAM

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: easy

GANDY DANCER STATE TRAIL

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING, BIKING

WINTER: FAT BIKING, HIKING, SNOWSHOEING, SNOWMOBILE AND FROZEN GROUND ATV/UTV USE.

Trailhead address in St. Croix Falls:

Polk County Information Center
710 Highway 35 S,
Saint Croix Falls, Wisconsin  54024
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Trailhead address in Centuria:

Gandy Dancer State Trail Parking
Corner of Polk Ave and 4th Street
Centuria, Wisconsin  54824
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The 98-mile recreation trail follows the railroad grade from St. Croix Falls north to Superior.  Recreational use on the Trail is divided by geographic location: south half and north half. Enjoy a short stroll or a longer bike ride.

The south trail segment extends 47 miles from St. Croix Falls to Danbury, paralleling Hwy. 35 most of the distance.  This segment was surfaced with crushed limestone in 1995 and offers a smooth, hard surfaced trail with use limited to biking and hiking from April through November. Spice up your adventure by stopping at the many small towns for a coffee or bite to eat along the way!

A State Trail pass is required of all bicyclists 16 years of age or older riding the Gandy Dancer Trail between St. Croix Falls and Danbury. Trail passes can be purchased at the Polk County Information Center, DNR stations,  various local businesses and certain gas stations. Pass purchases are also available at self-pay stations along the trail, or by calling the DNR at 888-936-7463 between the hours of 7 am – 10 am. Pass fees are  $25 annually/$5 daily.  A Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Conservation Patron license will be honored as a bike pass.

Visit the WI-DNR website for more trail information.

Distances

Mileage between southern towns along the Gandy Dancer Trail are as follows.

 St. Croix Falls to Centuria 4.5 Miles
 Centuria to Milltown 6.2 Miles
 Milltown to Luck 3.7 Miles
 Luck to Frederic 6.1 Miles
 Frederic to Lewis 5.4 Miles
 Lewis to Siren 5.7 Miles
 Siren to Webster 6.6 Miles
 Webster to Danbury 8.9 Miles

 

TRAIL TYPE: RAIL TO TRAIL

TRAIL LEVEL: EASY

SURFACE: FLAT, CRUSHED LIMESTONE

PASS REQUIRED: YES FOR BIKES

LENGTH: 98 MILES

NOTABLES: The official start of the Gandy Dancer Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail starts in Centuria at 160th Avenue.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: easy to intermediate

INTERLINK TRAIL

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING, BIKING, INLINE SKATING

WINTER: HIKING

Trailhead address:

Polk County Information Center
710 Highway 35 S,
Saint Croix Falls, Wisconsin  54024
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The Interlink Trail connects the southern end of the Gandy Dancer State Trail with Interstate Park in St. Croix Falls. The trailhead is located at the Polk County Tourism Center.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC, BIKE TRAFFIC

TRAIL LEVEL: EASY TO INTERMEDIATE, ACCESSIBLE, HILL CLIMB AND DESCENT.

SURFACE: PAVED

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: 1.9 MILES

NOTABLES: YOU WILL NEED A BIKE PASS IF YOU CONTINUE ON TO THE GANDY DANCER STATE TRAIL. CONNECTING ROUTE FOR THE ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL.

Mother Daughter Hike
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:easy

INDIANHEAD FLOWAGE TRAIL

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING

WINTER: hIKING, SNOWSHOEING

Trailhead Address:
809 N Hamilton St,

St Croix Falls, WI 54024
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The trailhead for this park is located at Lions Park in St. Croix Falls. This trail is mostly level, family friendly and crosses over several bridged streams as it tranverses through the woods. It runs north along the St. Croix River and opens up to an access point along the river. Trail becomes narrow and rustic toward the end as it terminates at River Road.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC

TRAIL LEVEL: EASY

SURFACE: FLAT, PACKED DIRT, NATURAL SURFACE

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: 1.8 MILE LINEAR

NOTABLES: CURVES NORTH ALONG THE ST. CROIX RIVER. OFFICIAL ICE AGE SEGMENT TRAIL.

Huff It Trail
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:INTERMEDIATE

COMMUNITY FITNESS TRAIL (HUFF-IT TRAIL)

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING

WINTER: HIKING

Trailhead Address:

740 Maple Drive,
St. Croix Falls, WI
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Crushed traprock trail through the woods. Multiple inclines and declines. Trail starts to the right of the sign. The packed dirt trail to the left of the sign is the Woolly MTB trail.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC

TRAIL LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

SURFACE: CRUSHED TRAP ROCK

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: 0.8 MILES LOOP

NOTABLES: SPUR TRAIL FOR THE ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: EASY

NORMAL SCHOOL TRAIL

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING

WINTER: HIKING

Trailhead Address:

ACCESS AT EAST MARYLAND STREET

Short, mostly flat trail.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC

TRAIL LEVEL: EASY

SURFACE: NATURAL SURFACE

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: 0.1 MILE LINEAR

NOTABLES: Originally constructed in 1905, The Normal School in St. Croix Falls was a training center for teachers.

Mindy Creek Trail
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: intermediate

MINDY CREEK SEGMENT

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING

WINTER: HIKING

Trailhead Address:

689 N Day Rd,
St Croix Falls, WI 54024

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The trail entrance from  Day Road will start you with a 26 foot long footbridge and lead you down to a boulder-strewn creek bed.The trail climbs back to the bluff’s edge where a meadow vista gives a open view before it tucks back into the woods and follows an old logging road toward WI-87.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC

TRAIL LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

SURFACE: NATURAL, ROCK, DIRT, CREEK BED

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: 1.3 MILE LINEAR

NOTABLES: STEEP BOULDER RAVINE, BLUFF VISTA, OFFICIAL ICE AGE SEGMENT TRAIL.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: intermediate

cHALET TRAIL

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING

WINTER: hIKING

Short, natural surface, wooded trail that leads to an abandoned ski chalet.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC

TRAIL LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

SURFACE: NATURAL SURFACE

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: .04 MILE LINEAR

NOTABLES: ACCESS VIA MINDY CREEK TRAIL OR A SHORT SPUR TRAIL OFF NORTH ADAMS STREET. REMAINS OF FORMER SKI CHALET CAN BE FOUND ON THIS TRAIL.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL:INTERMEDIATE

REIGEL PARK TRAIL

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING

WINTER: HIKING

Trailhead Address:

Fairgrounds Road,
St. Croix Falls, WI
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The Florence Reigel Memorial Park is home to 76 acre park preserve is home to trails of rock ledges and trap rock meadows. Trailhead parking available on Blanding Woods Drive near Jerusalem Pond (follow paved Interlink trail east into woods, then take a left), or off Fairgrounds Road near the St. Croix Falls Dog Park. Watch for white blazes that indicate a spur trail. Join trail sections together to make a 1.7 mile loop.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC

TRAIL LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

SURFACE: NATURAL, ROCK, BOULDER STAIRS, BOARDWALK

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: .6 MILE LINEAR

NOTABLES: YELLOW BLAZES MARK THE ICE AGE TRAIL PATH, OFFICIAL ICE AGE SEGMENT TRAIL.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: EASY TO INTERMEDIATE

WERT PRESERVE

official Trails in the Wert Preserve include Tall Tale Trail & Trail of Myths.

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING

WINTER: HIKING, SNOWSHOEING, FAT BIKES AND XC SKIING ALLOWED, BUT NOT GROOMED.

Trailhead Address:
HWY 87/240th St
St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin 54024
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Within the City of Trails lies 450 acres of protected woodland. Offering ski trails, hiking trails, and wildlife viewing/sanctuary. This land was preserved by the community of Saint Croix Falls, the Wert family, the West Wisconsin Land Trust, the Conservation Fund, the Ice Age Trail Foundation, and the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Fund. Located across the highway from the St. Croix Falls Lions Park.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC

TRAIL LEVEL: EASY TO INTERMEDIATE

SURFACE: NATURAL, VARIED

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: 450 ACRES

NOTABLES: TRAIL OF MYTHS IS A SPUR TRAIL FOR THE ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL THAT RUNS THROUGH THE WERT PRESERVE. WATCH FOR SPUR AND CONNECTOR TRAILS TO LEAD YOU TO OTHER TRAILS IN THE AREA.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL:EASY TO INTERMEDIATE

TRAIL OF MYTHS

Located in the Wert Preserve

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING

WINTER: HIKING, SNOWSHOEING

Trailhead Address:
HWY 87/240th St
St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin 54024
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Wooded trail through the woods over natural surface. Trail is lies within the Wert Preserve, which is 450 acres of protected woodland within the City of St. Croix Falls. Located across the highway from St. Croix Falls Lions Park.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC

TRAIL LEVEL: EASY TO INTERMEDIATE

SURFACE: NATURAL, PACKED DIRT

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: 2 MILE LOOP

NOTABLES: SPUR TRAIL FOR THE ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL. WATCH FOR SPUR AND CONNECTOR TRAILS IN THE WERT PRESERVE TO LEAD YOU TO OTHER TRAILS IN THE AREA.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL:EASY TO INTERMEDIATE

TALL TALE TRAIL

Located in the Wert Preserve

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING

WINTER: HIKING, SNOWSHOEING

Trailhead Address:
HWY 87/240th St
St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin 54024
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ACCESS THIS TRAIL VIA A SPUR TRAIL OFF THE ZILLMER TRAIL, VIA TRAIL OF MYTHS, OR A SPUR TRAIL AT THE CORNER OF DAY ROAD AND HILLTOP ROAD.

Wooded trail through the woods over natural surface. Trail is lies within the Wert Preserve, which is 450 acres of protected woodland within the City of St. Croix Falls. Located across the highway from St. Croix Falls Lions Park.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC

TRAIL LEVEL: EASY TO INTERMEDIATE

SURFACE: NATURAL, PACKED DIRT

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: 1,7  MILE LINEAR

NOTABLES:  WATCH FOR SPUR AND CONNECTOR TRAILS IN THE WERT PRESERVE TO LEAD YOU TO OTHER TRAILS IN THE AREA.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL:EASY TO INTERMEDIATE

ZILLMER TRAIL

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING

WINTER: hIKING, SNOWSHOEING

Trailhead Address:

689 N Day Rd,
St Croix Falls, WI 54024

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Trail winds through woods, meadows, and over streams. Hike straight through, or take the Zillmer Loop spur trail marked by white blazes to create a loop.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC,

TRAIL LEVEL: EASY TO INTERMEDIATE

SURFACE: NATURAL SURFACE, DIRT, BOULDERS BOARDWALK, GRASS

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: 1.5 MILE LINEAR

NOTABLES: OFFICIAL ICE AGE SEGMENT TRAIL.

Hospital Esker Trail
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE TO advanced

hOSPITAL ESKER TRAIL

TRAIL USES:

SUMMER: HIKING

WINTER: HIKING

Trailhead address:

Corner of Georgia & Vincent St.
St Croix Falls, WI 54024
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A glacial treasure lies in the heart of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. The Hospital Esker is one of the highest eskers in the state of Wisconsin. At almost 40 meters (~130 feet), it towers above the city below, creating a breathtaking view of the St. Croix River valley, the surrounding bluffs, and across the state border into Minnesota.

TRAIL TYPE: FOOT TRAFFIC

TRAIL LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED

SURFACE: NATURAL SURFACE, STEEP HILL

PASS REQUIRED: NO

LENGTH: .4 MILE LINEAR

NOTABLES: THE HILL ASCENT AT THE START OF THE TRAIL CLIMBS TO 130 FEET, OFFICIAL ICE AGE SEGMENT TRAIL.

A WI STATE PARK in st. croix falls, wi

INTERSTATE PARK-WI

There are over 9 miles of summer trails as well as additional winter recreation trails at WI-Interstate State Park in St. Croix Falls, WI. Find your trail!