Spring flowers in Minnesota’s Wild River State Park

Last updated on August 23rd, 2023

Wild River State Park hugs the St. Croix River in eastern Minnesota. Most of the park consists of mixed hardwoods, wetlands, and meadows – and lots of spring wildflowers.

Spring flowers burst into bloom as the trees are just beginning to leaf out.

We enjoy visiting in spring to look for trilliums, spring beauty, and other woodland wildflowers. (But fall is also pretty spectacular here too.)

Searching for spring wildflowers in Wild River State Park

Our first stop is the overlook at the Old Nevers Dam site (PDF). It’s a good spot tow watch St. Croix River gently roll along.

A peaceful spot along the Saint Croix River.

It’s hard to believe that this quiet place was once the busy site of a huge dam constructed to manage the flow of logs down the river.

But now it’s time to get serious about flowers.

A floriferous hike in Wild River

The River Terrace Loop trail is a bit low and damp as it runs along the river.  And there aren’t any trilliums here. However, there are lots of violets, buttercups, and wild phlox to make up for it.

The River Terrace Loop offers a pleasant woodland ramble.

I have no idea what these plants are (they may not be native), but I love the way they catch the light.

Things start to pick up flower-wise as we reach the point where the trail loops around to head back along the base of the hill.

By summer these trails will be very shady.

Now there are lots of trilliums!

Large-flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) in full bloom.

The trilliums have to share the spotlight though, as the woodland floor has big beautiful pink splotches of Virginia Spring Beauty, a flower I have never seen before.

Virginia spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) carpeting the woodland floor.

There are lots of other flowers too, including a few Jack-in-the-pulpit, clumps of wild ginger, blue and yellow violets, a swath of buttery yellow marsh marigolds, and more.

But there are also ferns.

Lots and lots of ferns! Most of which are just beginning to unfurl.

A maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) unfolding.

There are more, including some very delicate ones that I had trouble photographing.

It was a great walk.

Taking in the view

We end our visit with a quick stop at the Visitor’s Center, which is surrounded by flowering trees.

It’s a little hard to see, but this tree is covered with white flowers.

The visitor center at Wild River State Park.

Wild River State Park has a very nice visitor center that hosts a lot of meetings and events. It also has a great view over the Saint Croix River Valley.

The Saint Croix River Valley in Spring.

Think of all the flowers that must be blooming down there!

Plan your trip to Minnesota’s Wild River State Park

Wild River State Park is located along the Saint Croix River north of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area. It makes a nice daytrip from the Twin Cities.

This is a long narrow park and can be entered either at the south end near Almelund (where the visitor center is located) or farther north at Sunrise. (We entered from Almelund.) The park has a full range of facilities, including campgrounds, camping cabins, trails, canoe rentals, and more. You will need a Minnesota State Park vehicle permit to enter. Buy your permit online before you arrive.

We’ve been to Wild River many times. This particular visit was in mid-June when the trilliums — and many other spring wildflowers — were in full bloom. But you’ll find flowers blooming from early spring through the summer and into fall. You just won’t see such a wide variety.

Find more information on Wild River State Park on the DNR website

Want even more flowers? Check out Floral Friday Fotos for great floral images from around the world.