Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
River Falls
The St. Croix River doesn't run through or even near River Falls, but WIS 35 does, and
you'll likely pass through if you're traveling the St. Croix Riverway or the Great River
Road. Ten miles southeast of Hudson along WIS 35, the town of 10,000-and-change got its
start when the first settler, a Connecticut Yankee, wrote back to the East, “I think I have
found the New England of the Northwest.” That part is debatable, but the settlers came in
droves, creating yet another sawmill town, with a few brick kilns and sauerkraut factories
thrown in for good measure.
It'sanattractivetown,andthe
other
riverintheseparts,theKinnickinnic,isblue-ribbon
trout-worthy all the way (look for all the rods). The Kinnickinnic River pathway passes
historical sites and developments on its traipse through the town. The stone buildings—the
bricks baked right here—have their original superficialities, down to glass transom win-
dows.Downtown,catchaflickatthequaint
Falls Theatre
(105S.MainSt.,715/425-2811)
where, the folks are proud to say, prices haven't changed (adjusted for inflation) since the
1960s.
The most Wisconsinesque local lodging is found not far from town at
Kinni Creek
Lodge and Outfitters
(545 N. Main St., 715/425-7378,
www.kinnicreek.com
,
$109), a
lodge with a B&B complex plunked along the Kinnickinnic River. There's log furniture
(smallish but clean rooms), class I trout fishing, and even fly-tying seminars—now that's
Wisconsin.
Unique is
UW-River Falls Falcon Foods
(410 S 3rd St., 715/425-3702, 1pm-5pm
Mon.-Fri.),astudent-operateddairyandmeatfacilitywith65flavorsofwonderfulWiscon-
sin ice cream, fresh cheese, and delicious smoked meats.
Along the route to Superior, U.S. 53 bypasses little “node” communities, each on its own
string of lakes dotted with rustic family and fishing resorts. Veer west off the highway and
you'll pass through the “Fishbowl,” an area with one of the highest concentrations of gla-
cial lakes in Wisconsin, full to the brim with panfish.
New Auburn
Nine miles east of New Auburn on Highway M, the
Chippewa Moraine Unit
is one of
the nine reserve chain links on the trans-state scientific reserve. And also a horribly under-
appreciated gem. Nearly six miles of nature trails wend through 4,000 acres; a blue heron
rookery is visible on an easy one-hour hike. The rest of the trails present you an obvious
