Kinnickinnic River Land Trust

Working with the community to conserve and protect the beauty and health of the Kinnickinnic River and its watershed.

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  • The Kinni
    • About the Watershed
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  • Visit Our Preserves
    • Indigenous Lands
    • Kinni River Recreation Map
    • The Community Forest
    • The Drewiske Family Preserve
    • Headwaters Preserve
    • Kelly Creek Preserve
  • Publications
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    • Latest News
  • Monthly Phenology Report
    • July Phenology Report
    • June Phenology Report
    • May Phenology Report
    • Past Phenology Reports
  • Outdoors For All!
    • Outdoors for All! A Community Conversation about Nature, Health, and Equity.
    • TRAILS FOR ALL PEOPLE: Creating & Managing Universally Accessible Trails

Recreation

River Safety

As you spend time enjoying the Kinni, please remember safety first. The Kinni has many remote areas that, while beautiful to visit, are not easily accessible by emergency personnel. Please consider the following notes as you enjoy your outing:

  • Study the recreation map to know available entry/exit points. The lower Kinni is a canyon with very few access points.
  • Check river levels by using the U.S. Geological Survey water gauge data found at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/
  • Plan sufficient time for your activities. Areas of the river can get dark earlier than expected. Be sure to plan enough time to enjoy your visit during daylight hours.
  • Share your plan for the day with family or friends.
  • Cell phone reception can be difficult in remote areas of the watershed.
  • If canoeing/kayaking, wear a personal flotation device (PFD).

Kinnickinnic River Land Trust Preserves

As part of KRLT’s conservation efforts within the Kinnickinnic River watershed, it owns and manages properties known as preserves. These areas help reduce erosion, clean and protect surface and groundwater, reduce flooding, protect wildlife habitat and rare plant communities, and provide scenic areas.

KRLT also uses the preserves for environmental education activities and for public recreational uses including hiking, fishing, hunting, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, trapping, and wildlife observation.

Each preserve has limits on the recreational activities that are allowed there, so please determine which uses are allowed on the preserve you wish to visit.

Locations:

  • Drewiske Preserve
  • Kelly Creek Preserve
  • Headwaters Preserve
  • The Community Forest 

KRLT – River Access on Private Land

As part of KRLT’s conservation efforts along the Kinnickinnic River, it has secured easements that provide the public use of a portion of the streambank on privately owned properties for fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and wildlife observation. It is extremely important for people using these areas to respect that they are on private property and understand the limitations of public use on each property, especially boundaries.

Locations:

  • See the recreation map

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Waterfowl Production Areas

WPAs provide habitat for a wide variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, grasslands birds, plants, insects, and wildlife. They also help reduce erosion, clean and protect groundwater, and reduce flooding. WPAs managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also provide ample opportunities for public access and wildlife-dependent recreation such as hiking, hunting, cross country skiing, wildlife observation, and photography.

Locations:

  • www.fws.gov/refuge/St_Croix_WMD/

City, County, and Regional Lands

Within the Kinnickinnic River Watershed, there are various properties owned and managed by town, village, city, and county agencies that allow public recreational opportunities. Most of these properties are parks. Some of the recreational opportunities on these properties include fishing, hiking, picnicking, cross country skiing, hunting, swimming, camping, and biking. Each property has limitations on the recreational activities that are allowed there, so please determine which activities are allowed on the property you wish to visit.

Locations:

  • See the recreation map

Kinnickinnic State Park

The state park was established in 1972. The park is located at the downstream end of the Kinnickinnic River and includes the delta where it flows into the St. Croix River. The delta at the mouth of the Kinnickinnic River constricts the St. Croix River to about one-quarter of its normal width. This constriction causes a substantial increase in the amount of current and keeps this area free from ice. Bald eagles fish in this open water during the winter. Large numbers of waterfowl and other migratory birds use the marshy bottomlands during their fall and spring migrations.

More information:

  • Park website

State Natural Areas (SNA)

State natural areas (SNAs) protect outstanding examples of Wisconsin’s native landscape of natural communities, significant geological formations, and archeological sites. They harbor natural features essentially unaltered by human-caused disturbances or that have recovered substantially from disturbance. Public use of SNAs is available for scientific research and compatible recreation. A permit issued by the DNR is required to conduct studies or collect specimens on SNAs. Natural areas are not appropriate for intensive recreation, but they can accommodate low-impact activities such as hiking, bird watching, and nature study.

More information:

  • http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Lands/naturalareas/

DNR Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)

Wildlife Management Areas, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, provide opportunities and public spaces to hunt, fish, trap, hike, canoe, pick berries, or watch and photograph wildlife. All WMAs are managed to sustain wildlife and natural communities found on the properties and to provide a range of recreational uses. Dog training or trialing (hunting dog competitions) may be allowed by permit. Prohibited activities include: mountain biking, off-road vehicles, and target shooting.

Locations

  • See the recreation map

DNR Fishery Area (FA)

Areas along the Kinnickinnic River and its tributaries are within the DNR’s Kinnickinnic State Fishery Area. Fishery Areas protect, manage, and preserve the river and watershed through land and easement acquisitions. The areas enhance fishing and the production of trout, and provide other compatible recreational and educational activities including hunting, hiking, and cross-country skiing. Prohibited activities include: mountain biking, off-road vehicles, and target shooting.

Locations

  • See the recreation map

DNR – River Access on Private Land

As part of the Kinnickinnic Fishery Area, the DNR has acquired easements along the Kinnickinnic River and its tributaries that provide the public access to a portion of the streambank on privately-owned properties for uses including fishing, hiking, hunting, and cross country skiing. Each easement has specific allowed uses, so be sure to identify which uses are allowed on the easement you plan to visit. It is extremely important for people using these areas to respect that they are on private property and understand the boundaries and limitations of public use on each property.

Locations

  • See the recreation map

Protect the Kinni

2013©Robert W. Chambers

Your contribution helps us keep the Kinni cold, clean, and free ... forever!

Click Here To Donate!

Kinni River Recreation Map

2013©Robert W. Chambers

See Our  Preserves  »

What’s New

Annual Meeting 2023

THOUGH IT CAN’T LAST – A Dialogue between a poet and a photographer.

Land Trust Days

Kinni Kurrents

Latest river conditions:

Click here to view the current Kinnickinnic River gage information!

Stream:

Clarity:

Gage/camera location is upstream of Highway F. Source: USGS National Water Information System

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Get to know staff member, Steve Leonard! Steve i Get to know staff member, Steve Leonard! 

Steve is the Executive Director at Kinnickinnic River Land Trust. Steve has many responsibilities within the Trust and stated, "I listen to people who already have a sense of connection with the Kinni River; it helps me understand their personal passions of why they love the river so much, their concerns of keeping it clean, and what the future might look like. For others who might not have a personal connection to the river, I hope to develop a sense of place, so they too can develop a passion to help us protect the Kinni River, for many generations to come". 

 #wisconsin #phenology #earth #riverfalls #nature #conservation #prairie #landtrust #mothernature #green
Take a walk through the Community Forest 🌲 The Take a walk through the Community Forest 🌲 The Community Forest is a wonderful place to take a walk as the forest is alive with beautiful plants and animals this time of year!
It's Phenology Friday! 🐝 You may have noticed It's Phenology Friday! 🐝

You may have noticed that a buzz has filled the air as our pollinator friends are active again after a long, cold winter. Bee's rely on flowers for nectar and pollen, and these tiny insects pollinate a majority of the crops we, as humans, rely on for food. Native prairie on KRLT preserves host a variety of wildflowers, making the preserves a wonderful haven for the bees, and a great spot for us to catch them in action!

 #bee #wisconsin #riverfalls #conservation #flowers #earth #nature #prairie #landtrust #phenology
Join us tomorrow from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm for Get O Join us tomorrow from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm for Get Outside and Leave No Trace hike at The Community Forest and neighboring City of River Falls trails! 

There are two locations where you can chat with KRLT, @kinnicorridorcollaborative , and the @leavenotraceorg team about ways to leave no trace when enjoying the great outdoors! 1st location is at The Community Forest parking lot off of HWY FF the 2nd location is Trailhead #11 off of River Ridge Road (see map). 

This is a self-guided hike. There will be a light cleanup and nature scavenger hunt for the kiddos! Gloves and garbage bags will be provided. Hope to see you there!
Get to know KRLT staff member, Marty Engel! Marty Get to know KRLT staff member, Marty Engel!

Marty is the Land Stewardship Manager at Kinnickinnic River Land Trust. Marty works with landowners to protect conservation values on their property and helps to facilitate fish, wildlife, and habitat improvement on conservation easements. 

KRLT appreciates all the hard work that Marty does to protect the Kinni!
Let's talk about Kelly Creek! Kelly Creek was pu Let's talk about Kelly Creek! 

Kelly Creek was purchased by the KRLT in 1998 and consists of 70 acres of restored prairie and oak savanna. The Kelly Creek Preserve is a great place to visit to enjoy activities such as hiking, fishing, foraging, and observing wildlife. Make sure to check out the preserve this month as wildflowers begin to bloom! 🌸

 #kinniriver #riverfalls #earth #nature #flowers #discoverwisconsin #wisconsin #conservation #mothernature #green
It's Phenology Friday! 🌸 The May Phenology Rep It's Phenology Friday! 🌸

The May Phenology Report is out now on the KRLT Website. Read through this month's phenology report to discover what ecological changes are occurring during this time of year. Click the link in the bio to check it out!

 #phenology #greenspaces #nature #grow #kinniriver #earth #landtrust #riverfalls #prairie #flowers
Due to the weather, this morning's highway cleanup Due to the weather, this morning's highway cleanup has been canceled. Here's a little sunshine from last summer at Kelly Creek Preserve!
Get to know KRLT staff member, Molly Barritt! Mo Get to know KRLT staff member, Molly Barritt! 

Molly is the Donor and Community Relations Manager at Kinnickinnic River Land Trust. Molly is passionate about conservation and educating our youth on the importance of spending time in nature. 

Pictured is the first trout that Molly caught next to the Community Forest!
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