Luck – Lakes, Trails and Yo-Yo History

Luck combines a landscape of lakes, ponds and wetlands with an unusual local history: from 1946 to 1965, the city was home to the Duncan Yo-Yo Company. There are also trails, winter activities and opportunities to explore the city’s history. If you’re looking for a vacation rental in Luck, you can make your choice based on whether you’re especially interested in nature, outdoor activities or local history.

Lakes and glacial landscapes

Nearby Straight Lake State Park lies northeast of Luck. There, you can enjoy views of lakes and glacial landforms. The park has ten hike-in campsites, boat landings for carry-in boats and a section of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. This natural area offers a range of possibilities: you can focus on the landscape and hiking trails, or consider the option of launching a boat you’ve carried in yourself.

Big Butternut Lake in the Village of Luck also shapes the community’s character. It covers 384 acres and reaches a depth of up to 19 feet. This gives you a concrete sense of one of the lakes in the Village without confusing it with the nearby state park.

Trails through the landscape

The Chippewa Trail is a three-mile state Rustic Road. It winds around numerous ponds and wetlands in the Town of Luck. Along the trail, hikers, cyclists and drivers can spot wildlife such as turkeys and opossums. In winter, the trail offers opportunities for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. It appeals to a range of interests; which ones suit your trip depends on whether you’d like to experience the landscape on foot, by bike, by car or through winter activities.

The Gandydancer Trail in the Town of Luck has a different story. It follows a former railroad route and is now surfaced with limestone gravel. Its former railway character and current surface give the trail a distinct profile. Together with the Chippewa Trail, it offers a contrast between a former railroad bed and a road that winds around ponds and wetlands.

Yo-yos and local history

Luck’s connection to Duncan Yo-Yo goes beyond the company’s headquarters and is part of the city’s history. During the Duncan Yo-Yo Company’s time there, almost every family in the city was involved in making yo-yos. The company used abundant hard maple, and the yo-yos were sold nationwide and even worldwide. This history makes Luck a place with a special connection between a local resource, shared work and a product that became known far beyond the city.

The Luck Historical Museum contains information and artifacts about the city’s history and is home to the Polk County Genealogical Society. The society helps visitors interested in researching their family history. The local museum in the Village of Luck also has an extensive collection of Duncan yo-yos. Another outdoor museum exhibit is the Hanne Ravnholt Pavilion in Luck. Those interested in the city’s history will find several tangible ways to explore it, from historical objects to family research.

Active travel interests

The Gandy Marathon includes a 5K relay, as well as 13.1-mile and 26.2-mile races on a limestone trail. The three formats differ in distance and the relay option; no specific event date is implied. The Luck Golf Course in the community offers 18 holes of golf. If your travel group has varied interests, you can consider these activities when deciding whether Luck suits your planned stay.

Explore other places

You can also explore St. Croix Falls.

For the broader travel overview: Polk.