Kraemer Lake-Wildwood County Park

29709 Kipper Rd.
St. Joseph, MN  56374

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PLEASE NOTE:  This park is now open to the public for hiking as well as for Cross Country Skiing.  For skiing, a State Ski Pass is required!  State ski passes can be obtained at the Stearns County West Service Center, or all locations where hunting and fishing licenses are sold, and online at the DNR web site.  There are no fees for walking/parking.  Check out the video of the park.         

Winter Map

The Kraemer Lake park site provides needed outdoor recreation opportunities for the major population of Stearns County. 

  • The site preserves remnant undeveloped lake frontage on a high water-quality lake. 
  • The site contains diverse native vegetation for public outdoor recreation. 
  • The site compliments efforts of St. John’s University and the State Scientific & Natural Area 12/5/2007 to preserve a major landscape of unique value to Central Minnesota.  
  • The area is identified in the Stearns County Comprehensive Plan, 1998. 
  • The site is in an area that was proposed for a State Park in the ‘60’s.  (There are no State Parks in Stearns County.)

Maple Syrup Operation

The park features a maple-syup operation.  The syrup is produced during the month of March.  Group tours are available by appointment only as the maple syrup operation is not open to the public. 

Sugar Shack

Shelly speaks to a group about maple syruping.

To schedule a tour, and for more information, or email parkinfo@co.stearns.mn.us.  You may buy the syrup at the  St. Joseph Farmer's Market  View an informative video about the operation.

Maple Syrup operation tourMaple syrup operation in production

Group learns about Maple syruping                           Maple syrup lines seen by tour group. 


Location:  2 miles east of St. Joseph, just off the I-94 interchange

Directions:  Take the St. Joseph exit off I-94, turn left (south) onto County Rd. 2.  Take a right onto County Rd. 51.  Go approximately 2 miles on 51, the park entrance is on the left. 

Acreage: 265

MN County Biological Survey:  most of the site is contained in the survey with landscape similar to St. Johns University; part of the 1.6% natural communities remaining in Stearns County
Lake Frontage:  about one-half mile (the remaining undeveloped lake frontage) on 194-acre lake; water clarity 12’,

Potential beach frontage:  about 800 feet (there are only 5 public swimming beaches in the 1,400 sq.mi. area of Stearns County.)

Proximity to St. John’s campus:  one-half mile       

Ski Trail: Ski Pass Required

The trail includes an excellent 2.25 mile beginner trail in addition to a 2.25 mile expert trail.  There is also a one mile double diamond expert loop with some very challenging hills.  By utilizing a series of crossovers a skier can extend the expert trail to 3.25 miles.  The trail is open in November after hunting season.  There is no rest room or warming house.  The State Ski pass is required to ski at Wildwood. 

Attention All Skiers!  Skiers at Wildwood

Cross Country Skiing continues at Quarry Park, Warner Lake Park, Mississippi River County Park, or Kraemer Lake/Wildwood Park.  We will continue grooming until the temperatures are prohibitive or there is a lack of snow.  Please check the Winter Ski Trails page for current ski trail conditions and the latest grooming dates.

Additional Info: 

  • Contains 262 acres
  • On 195-acre Kraemer Lake
  • One-half of site is identified in the MN County Biological Survey as significant remnant natural community
  • Only 2% of the land area in Stearns County remains in a natural state
  • Some trees 300 years old
  • The site contains ½ mile of lake frontage with some firm bottom conducive to a swimming beach
  • The site is ½ mile from the St. John’s University/Abbey campus
  • The site is a 10-minute drive from County Park headquarters
  • The site is about 1 mile from an I-94 interchange
  • The site is 2 miles from the City of St. Joseph, and 2.5 miles from the Lake Wobegon Trail
  • The site fits the Stearns County Comprehensive Plan
  • A 1997 Stearns County  Public Opinion Survey showed “Water Recreation” sites as being the second most requested outdoor recreation facility type residents wanted more of; second only to bicycle trails.  The survey indicated that a majority of residents would support a bond “to build a park in the Hills & Lakes region."