Burnett County Forest
Nature preserve
9,642 acres29.9 mi of trail
Woods TrailSnowmobile/ATV TrailGlen's TrailSnowmobile/Winter ATV Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
–Not graded
Outdoors in Union
Few parks or trails are on the map in Union
The biggest trail networks: Burnett County Forest (29.9 mi), Governor Knowles State Forest (11.7 mi), Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (1.1 mi). 25% of Union’s land is conserved, about 5,420 acres. 1,217 acres are parks and preserves, 2,635 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
25%
5,420 acres · of 34.6 sq mi of land
Trails
43 mi
1.2 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,217 ac
2,635 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
20%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
0.3 mi
Highest peak
971 ft
Pease Hill
Lakes & rivers
10
2 boat launches
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Burnett County Forest, with 29.9 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Governor Knowles State Forest
Nature preserve
4,790 acres11.7 mi of trail
Sioux Portage RouteKohler Peet RouteKohler-Peet Barrens State Natural AreaWoods Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Managed by National Park Service
632 acres1.1 mi of trail
NPS Clam River Group Campsite RouteSioux Portage Route
Dogs usually limited
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Forts Folle Avoine Historical Park
Park
82 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
All 6 parks & preserves
Burnett County Forest9,642 acres · 29.9 mi of trail
DirectionsGovernor Knowles State Forest4,790 acres · 11.7 mi of trail
DirectionsSaint Croix National Scenic Riverway632 acres · 1.1 mi of trail · National Park Service
DirectionsForts Folle Avoine Historical Park82 acres
Saint Croix State Park55 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsYellow Lake Narrows Access1 acres
Who protects it
5,420 conserved acres
25% of Union’s land. Water is left out: Union has 34.6 square miles of land and 3.4 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Union’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State natural resources5,486 ac
National Park Service650 ac
Other or Unknown Federal Land30 ac
Private owners16 ac
State Resource Management Area · 4,354 acState Conservation Area · 658 acWild and Scenic River · 620 acState Recreation Area · 475 acConservation Easement · 59 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 10 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governor Knowles State Forest State Resource Management Area | State natural resources | 4,354 | Open |
| St. Croix National Scenic Riverway State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 658 | Open |
| Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway Wild and Scenic River | National Park Service | 620 | Open |
| Crex Meadows Wildlife Area State Recreation Area | State natural resources | 475 | Open |
Things to do
7 places to go in Union
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Boat launches in Union
Public Access RoadIn Burnett County Forest
DirectionsPlus 1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Peaks in Union
Pease Hill971 ft elevation · In Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
DirectionsCampgrounds in Union
Clam River Backpack SiteIn Governor Knowles State Forest · Governor Knowles State Forest
DirectionsClam River Group CampsiteIn Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway · National Park Service
DirectionsLost Creek Backpack SiteIn Governor Knowles State Forest · Governor Knowles State Forest
DirectionsSioux Portage Group CampgroundFee · In Governor Knowles State Forest · Governor Knowles State Forest
DirectionsTrails & water
9 named trails and 10 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 12.8 miUnpaved · 40.0 mi
Woods Trail15.7 mi
Snowmobile/ATV Trail7.8 mi
Sioux Portage Route3.9 mi
Kohler Peet Route2.1 mi
Snowmobile/Winter ATV Trail1.9 mi
Kohler-Peet Barrens State Natural Area1.7 mi
Glen's Trail1.5 mi
NPS Clam River Group Campsite Route0.8 mi
Clam River Backpack Site0.1 mi
Biking & sports
0.3 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
0.3 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
When to get out
The walking year in Union
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.0 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 13.5 | 14.9 | 15.7 | 15.4 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.4 | 8.7 |
| High (°F) | 21 | 27 | 40 | 54 | 67 | 76 | 81 | 79 | 70 | 56 | 39 | 26 |
| Rain (in) | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 1.2 |
January is the driest month (0.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 81 °F). 4.4 inches fall in July, the wettest month. The climate in Union →
Next door
Union and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Swiss58 miCrosby Township50 miWest Marshland49 miUnion43 miOgema Township21 miLincoln13 miOakland1.0 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Oakland | 4% | under 0.1 | 116 | 28% | B− |
| West Marshland | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Lincoln | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Swiss | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Union
Where can I hike in Union?
The longest trail networks: Burnett County Forest, 29.9 miles; Governor Knowles State Forest, 11.7 miles; Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, 1.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Union’s trails?
Burnett County Forest and Governor Knowles State Forest don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Union?
0.3 miles of bike routes are on the map: 0.3 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Union?
63,337 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Union or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 5,481 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Union neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →