William O'Brien State Park hike
Mon, Oct 5, 2026, 9:30am
Please join the UMRA hiking club on Monday October 5th, 2026 when we enjoy fall colors at William O’Brien State Park.
There will be two hiking options, The 1.6 mile Riverside Trail starting at the lower parking lot, traverses woodlands, the shores of Lake Alice and the St. Croix River. Hikers can go around twice for a total of 3.2 miles. This trail is level, but an additional 0.5 mile hill can be added at either end, if starting from the upper parking lot.
Another option is the hilly hiking club trail that traverses woodlands, wetlands, and prairies for a total of about 5 miles.
William O’Brien State Park was established in 1947 when Alice O’Brien donated land from her father’s logging company. The first commercial lumber mill in Minnesota was established at nearby Marine-on-St. Croix. The St. Croix River was one of the first rivers to be protected under the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Senators Walter Mondale and Gaylord Nelson were instrumental in advancing this legislation. The St. Croix is one of the best canoeing rivers in the nation.
Depending on the weather, bring rain gear if you think you need it, good hiking shoes or boots, sunscreen, a snack, and a bottle of water. Bring hiking poles if you think you might need them.
Let's meet at the visitor center at 9:30 a.m. and start hiking at 9:40. A state park sticker or day pass is required to enter the park.
The address is 16821 O'Brien Trail North, Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047.
We will meet at an area restaurant after the hike.
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