What an amazing slice of nature. I love a water feature - always so calming and beautiful. The…read moretrials were pretty accessible and it was crowded with a diverse group of ages and physical abilities. Seriously a great park!

The falls at this park are beautiful!…read more It's a short hike from the parking area ($5 fee to park) to the falls. The trails aren't labeled, but I believe most of them lead to the falls. With the water so high this year, you can hear the falls from the parking lot, so you can literally follow the sound. The trails are unpaved, and not flat and easy. We didn't find many hiking trails other than what led to the falls, but we were on the south side, so perhaps there are more on the north side?

We did a quick walk down to the falls. It was impressive and pretty. There were a few people around…read moreso I didn't get the greatest nature only picture but it was worth the 100+ steps down and back and only took maybe about 15 minutes.

So beautiful. Worth the stop. You can either make a quick…read moretrip down the stairs or take the trails. The waterfall has a picnic area for family to hang out. Keep it clean cause it is so beautiful. You can get up behind the falls or play in it.

It is Probably the smallest pork I've ever seen, but I've been coming here since I was little, so I…read morehave a lot of Nostalgia for this park. Things are in generally good condition, But some things can be iffy. The park also has a creek, which is good fun for minnow fishing.

Two acres of nice park along Highway 63, built by volunteers 1987. It has a non-functional…read morerotating Dutch windmill, playground, bathrooms, picnic tables, trees for shade on sunny days, grassy field, a creek running through it. It appears CLEAN and well cared for-the flowers are cared for and the bathrooms clean. It's a welcome place to stop. Psst...there's a secret bench hidden in the trees, surrounded by hostas-be sure to check it out!

We wanted a spot that offered outdoor fun with a nearby city for lunch, and this park delivered!…read moreIt's huge.... offering hiking, camping, biking, swimming, and even skiing in the winter. There's always something to do no matter the season. Parking is $8, and on busy days you might wait a few minutes, but it's worth it. At the entrance, you'll get a helpful map (also available online) that shows all the trails and recreation options. We parked near the boat launch and took the 1.5-mile loop to the waterfall, a beautiful, family-friendly walk with no complaints from the kids! The waterfall itself is stunning. We kicked off our shoes, dipped our feet in the cool water, and climbed around the rocks above the falls. There are more challenging hikes if you're feeling adventurous, and it's only about 10 minutes to great Hudson riverfront dining afterward. We left smiling and saying, "That was so fun maybe we should get an annual pass!

Fantastic! A short drive from the Twin Cities, this is a lovely site to take a walk in nature or…read moreuse for camping. This is my secondary visit where we came for a short hike to the falls with our dogs. If you are not from WI, be prepared to pay a few extra dollars more as a non-resident. My family parked near the entrance and used the trail next to the parking lot. There is a giant hill leading down to the falls which means the hike back is tough and almost breathless. I personally feel like seeing the falls makes it all worth it. When arriving at the falls, there are such a wide variety of humans who are climbing, swimming, sitting in nature, enjoying picnics, taking pictures and even knitting. While we typically do the quick falls hike, know that multiple trails exist and that maps will be provided upon entry. Enjoy!!

I think it is great when there is a community park with so much to offer for free for families to…read moreenjoy. There are many trees, grills, tables available for shade, cooking, and eating. The office will even loan you a cart on wheels to haul the stuff you need from your car to the beach or picnic part. You can even change into your swim clothing on site as there is a men's and woman's bathroom. They also have water spigots available to wash off your feet or children after you come up from the lake.

After a few duds, we were exploring other area parks while visiting family in Hudson. This was the…read morewinner! Expansive play area with towers, sandbox, slides galore, climbing walls, covered picnic area, benches, swings, tire swing, etc. There are also baseball fields, bathrooms available, and a great view of the Hudson water tower. The area is pretty enclosed, with much of it fenced, so we played with confidence that our wanderer child would be contained. :-)

Really nice (I believe pretty new) park with a great location along the Eau Claire River…read more While parts are still under construction such as the splash pad, this park really brings a lot of free entertainment.... walking trails, some outdoor art (which includes this weird sculpture that plays sound when you touch it), and nights of concerts in summer. The best part is the restaurants, food trucks and other retail that surrounds the park. It's a great destination for food and entertainment in the Eau Claire Area. Although there is a lot of parking, spots can be tough to find during evening dining hours. There is overflow parking not too far away however.

Beautiful trails, very nice campsite and gorgeous bathroom/shower facilities! It was our first time…read morevisiting and we enjoyed the family-friendly atmosphere. A very easy and beautiful drive from Rochester, perfect for a weekend getaway!

We visited the electrical campsites for a weekend in August. We appreciated the proximity to the…read morecities/Mississippi River, and the number of trees surrounding the campsites. The sites were very close together in the first loop and not particularly spacious. There are several walking paths with lookouts close to the campgrounds. I would not consider those paths friendly to all - they are uneven, narrow, and there is no railing. Full disclosure, it was rainy during our stay so we didn't get to fully experience the park.

The Chippewa Valley Railroad operates on a loop in Carson Park, across the street from the historic…read morebaseball stadium. Appropriate for kids of all ages, especially those of us with grey hair that remember the real thing, the railroad operates passenger trains pulled by live steam or "diesel" power. The diesel, actually a model of GM's famous F series locomotives, runs on a Wisconsin internal combustion engine. It was built by the Miniature Train Company sometime between 1948 and 1956. It is one of at least 5 such trains operating in Wisconsin. (Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Green Bay, Wausau and here.) Chippewa Valley Railroad goes the typical MTC railroad one better with live steam. You can ride the MTC train or a live steam train. The loop is about a half mile and takes you along the bluff above the Chippewa River, past a picnic shelter, over the road that takes you to the depot, past a silent observer (keep your eyes peeled!) before returning to the station. When your train arrives, the next one departs. The trains were obviously built for little people but there is an open-air gondola that's a little more comfortable for larger folks. It's pulled behind the steam engine. Rides are reasonably priced, considering ticket sales are the only source of income for this rolling museum. It is manned by volunteers who love railroads, and you can tell when you speak with any of the staff. The Chippewa Valley Railroad only operates during the summer and only on Sundays and July 4. You might think it's only for kids. In that case, borrow a couple of kids from the neighbors and go ride the train.

My wife and I camped here for a weekend in mid-July. Weather wasn't too hot or humid luckily. We…read morehad heavy rain Friday evening but were prepared so actually enjoyed drifting off to sleep with it. Woke up to all our belongings still dry and the sun drying things up. We ended up hiking around 6 miles of the park. Tried our hand at fishing off the fishing pier but no luck, lots of algae bloom. The lake was a lot clearer but we didn't have a boat or canoe. The bathrooms were super clean and updated. Showers are free and well lit. Will definitely be back!

This is a nice sized state park. The friendly lady at the gate suggested that if we wanted a harder…read moretrail, to go all the way to the end of the drive and take the beaver trail. We did. It was a beautiful trail, unpaved (my preference), but kept up. Not all the trails were marked, so either get a map at the front gate or take a picture of one you find. We also took a couple other trails - all enjoyable. The bathrooms are pit toilets in a decent setting (I've definitely experienced worse). Because of the size, beauty, and diverse offerings, it would be easy to spend a day at this park. Day parking fee is $11.