Willow River Water Trail Initiative

The vision of the Willow River Trail Initiative is to make the Willow River a regional paddling destination, with adequate facilities to provide for a safe and enjoyable recreational experience for silent sport enthusiasts of all ages and abilities, while enhancing the environment and respecting riparian owners.

For many years, sections of the Willow River were blocked off by fallen trees and debris. These large obstacles made it nearly impossible to paddle the waterway. In 2016, passionate landowners, businesses, community groups, and local government representatives got together to share a new vision for the river: a place where everyone could safely enjoy the natural beauty and abundance of the scenic Willow River. Local leaders from the New Richmond Pathway Committee, Wisconsin DNR, Willow Kayaks, and the Wisconsin Conservation Corps led the charge to clear the river, paving the way for a new era of recreation in Western Wisconsin. Here’s a video of the 2016 WisCorp in action!

Since its inception, the WRWT Initiative has been a collaborative effort involving numerous stakeholders, for whom we are extremely thankful. In recent years, a public landing was constructed at the Nature Center in the City of New Richmond (2018). A gravel parking area with river access was constructed in the Town of Richmond near the 100th Street Bridge (2019). The Willow River will see continued improvements in 2020. Check out the Willow River Corridor Plan that we developed for more information about some of the things that we hope to accomplish.

While the river is now ‘open’ for recreation and most obstacles have been removed or cut back from the river, there is still a lot to be done to make the entire Willow River an easy and accessible waterway for everyone. Be sure to leave us a note with your comments and ideas for how to improve the Willow River Water Trail. Before paddling the Willow River, please read about safety and etiquette on the water trail.

The Willow River is near and dear to our hearts and we are excited to share it with you!