Stillwater, Minnesota has a lot of history, a lot of hills, and a paved trail that pleasantly surprised me. This trail was suggested to me more than once after describing my ideal walk: 5-10 miles through woods with water and rock outcroppings. I do not like to have to walk on a road, and I do not like to drive too far from the Minneapolis area these days. I think I shied away from Brown’s Creek Trail in the past because on a map it looks like just another paved bike trail through a residential area. You’d think that people would have had enough of paved bike trails. I looked around me and I see it isn’t so. It was a chilly and windy day and there was ice on the trail from recent snow. I did not see many bikes but I did see lots of walkers and joggers.
Brown’s Creek Trail connects the Gateway Trail with Stillwater. I walked half of it on this day. The St. Croix Loop Trail includes the old lift bridge and the new highway 36 bridge. I walked the old lift bridge and the hill up to Houlton, Wisconsin. Stillwater is an historic town with a fascinating variety of architectural styles. I walked from downtown up Laurel Street. I walked along McKusick Lake, but not all the way around it. This is a great route but does not check off any full trails.
Bridge over Brown’s Creek 
Brown’s Creek 
Stone Mile Marker 
Stone Arch Bridge
Oldest surviving stone arch bridge in Minnesota
Moss on the rock outcropping
The Lift Bridge was the main crossing in this area from 1931 -2017. 
Now it only carries bicycles and pedestrians. 
There’s the new Highway 36 bridge. The St. Croix Loop Trail includes the two bridges. 
1931 Steelwork 
Short trail on the Wisconsin side of the St. Croix River 
Looking at Stillwater, MN from Houlton, WI
Paint and Hike 