Friends of Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks, Inc.

Friends of Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks, Inc. Official nonprofit partner to our state parks. ❤️ We run rental programs and classes for snowshoes, canoes and kayaks.

Our non-profit organization supports the Wisconsin DNR’s interpretive, scientific, historical, recreational, and educational services at Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks. We pay the salary of the park Naturalist, who provides a variety of environmental education programs all year round. We have funded and assisted the construction of snowshoe and mountain biking trails, handicapped access

ible fishing piers, a woodshed, and various playgrounds through grants and volunteerism. We host large events such as the Trail Challenge, Halloween Bash, Candle Light Ski, OUTWIGO and more. We also staff the Nature Center and Gift Shop to provide park information and connect visitors to their next adventure! To donate to our mission, become a member or learn more about us, please visit our website at: www.willowkinnifriends.org

We thank you for your support!

Big things are rolling into the park... ✨🚲✨The crew at WIKI Mountain Bike Club has been working on TWO incredible new tr...
06/23/2026

Big things are rolling into the park... ✨🚲✨

The crew at WIKI Mountain Bike Club has been working on TWO incredible new trail projects, and the pros at Pathfinder Trail Building LLC are officially on-site making it a reality!

We can't wait to see these new trails come to life, but we'll leave the official details to them.

Keep your eyes on the WIKI Mountain Bike Club page (give them a follow!) for updates! In the meantime, enjoy a little sneak peek at the progress... 👇

It’s easy to look at a beautiful new launch and assume it was funded by the state or covered by standard park budgets—bu...
06/19/2026

It’s easy to look at a beautiful new launch and assume it was funded by the state or covered by standard park budgets—but as a NONPROFIT, our reality is very different. Every single dollar for this project came from donations and grants secured by our organization.

And those grants? They would not happen without THIS TEAM.

Meet our Grant Research Team! Every single week, they meet to:
🔍 Search out new funding opportunities
📝 Write detailed proposals
🔄 Review & revise every sentence
📩 Submit the massive requests required to keep our park a premier destination in Western Wisconsin!

We simply would not be what we are today without them. They are a true cornerstone of our organization, and a driving force behind this project. 💙

📸 From left to right: Bob Richardson, Mike Wilcox, Joey Filipiak, Rita Thofern, & Colleen O'Brien

(And a special shout-out to Steve Spetcher, whose early participation was instrumental in getting this project off the ground when the group first started!)

Thank you all for your incredible dedication and hard work. Our community is a better place because of you! 🙌

Looking for some family-friendly fun next week? 🦋 Join us for a whole week dedicated to our favorite, hard working polli...
06/18/2026

Looking for some family-friendly fun next week? 🦋 Join us for a whole week dedicated to our favorite, hard working pollinators! ✨🐝✨

We have a fantastic lineup of hands-on activities, crafts, and guided tours at Willow River State Park in Hudson, WI. 🌲📍🥾

All events are FREE to attend! (Must have valid WI State Park vehicle admission sticker 🚘).

Grab your pass, pack a picnic, and turn Pollinator Week into a local getaway! Hit the playground, cool off at the beach, attend an event, and enjoy everything our beautiful park has to offer! ☀️

Celebrating our accessible launch with a ribbon cutting was an incredible moment. We have so many people to thank for wo...
06/17/2026

Celebrating our accessible launch with a ribbon cutting was an incredible moment. We have so many people to thank for working behind the scenes to bring this vision to life, and are deeply grateful to everyone who showed up to support our nonprofit organization. Thank you for making it such a meaningful day. It was truly beautiful!

Nature thrives on diversity—and so does our community! 🌲🏳️‍🌈🌍 We’re dedicated to enhancing our local park experiences, ...
06/16/2026

Nature thrives on diversity—and so does our community! 🌲🏳️‍🌈🌍 We’re dedicated to enhancing our local park experiences, and ensuring they remain a safe, inclusive haven for EVERYONE in our community!

Stop by our booth to chat about our beautiful parks, upcoming events, and how we're working to keep our outdoor spaces welcoming for all. ✨🫶✨

Willow River State Park will hold a meeting open to the public to discuss the removal of Canada Geese from Little Falls ...
06/12/2026

Willow River State Park will hold a meeting open to the public to discuss the removal of Canada Geese from Little Falls Lake to improve conditions at the swimming beach.
The meeting will be held at the Nature Center on Wednesday, June 17th at 6pm.
Comments can also be emailed to [email protected] or dropped off at the park office.

Event prep is in full swing at the park today as our team gets everything ready to celebrate our brand-new, universally ...
06/12/2026

Event prep is in full swing at the park today as our team gets everything ready to celebrate our brand-new, universally accessible kayak launch at tomorrow's big event! 🎉

Come soak up the sun, grab some food 🌭 and enjoy the lake with us!

🎉 You're Invited: Community Picnic, Online Auction, and Ribbon Cutting
📍 Where: Willow River State Park Boat Launch
⏰ When: Saturday, June 13th from 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
🚗 Arrival Info: Follow the signs for event parking! Please note: WI State Park vehicle admission stickers are required for entry—we highly recommend carpooling with friends! 💚

📣 Bonus: We will have kayaks on-site so you can test out the brand new launch for yourself!

P.S. The weather is looking absolutely gorgeous for tomorrow! ☀️

See you there! 🥳

🚣 WIN THE ULTIMATE WATER UPGRADE: Pelican Kayak & Paddle Bundle from Fleet Farm of HudsonReady to own the water this sum...
06/11/2026

🚣 WIN THE ULTIMATE WATER UPGRADE: Pelican Kayak & Paddle Bundle from Fleet Farm of Hudson

Ready to own the water this summer? We are auctioning off a complete, high-performance Pelican Sweep 100X Kayak & Poseidon Paddle Bundle, packed with premium features and ready to launch! 🌲☀️🎣

Skip the retail lines (and support a great cause!) and bid to win this ultimate 10-foot recreational package:

💪 Ultra-Lightweight: It weighs only 39 lbs! Whether you're loading it onto your roof rack solo or carrying it down to the launch, this boat is designed for ultimate portability and effortless transport.
🧘 All-Day Comfort: Outfitted with an adjustable padded seat, footrests, and knee cushions so you can paddle for hours without fatigue.
🎣 Angler Ready: Loaded with two flush-mount rod holders and storage compartments for your gear.

❤️ Meet the Donor: Fleet Farm of Hudson, WI
Located right in the heart of the St. Croix Valley, Fleet Farm of Hudson is a hometown cornerstone for outdoor gear. 🌲💯 They are deeply committed to local community initiatives, and we are incredibly grateful for their generous donation to help neighbors experience Wisconsin's natural beauty!

🛶 Why Your Support Matters:
Your bid helps ensure that everyone gets to experience the water! 100% of the proceeds from the auction directly fund the newly installed, universally accessible kayak & canoe launch at Willow River State Park.

Secure this awesome setup, and you'll know exactly where to come to launch it! 😉🌊

🚨 Claim this premium kayak package before it's gone! 🔥https://givebutter.com/c/universally-accessible-kayak-launch-v8ncmq/auction

⏳ DON'T WAIT! Auction ends this Saturday, June 13th at 1:30 PM Central Time.

Address

1034 CR-A
Hudson, WI
54016

Telephone

+1 715-386-9340

Website

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