Signature Sights

1

Grandad Bluff

Nicole Niski

Grandad Bluff has become a destination point for thousands and a symbol of the captivating Coulee Region. The 600-foot high bluff offers a bird's-eye view of the entire City of La Crosse. The view of the Mississippi River Valley includes the three states of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. Wisconsin Trails magazine readers voted this “the most scenic view in the state”. The park includes a shelter house, coinoperated binoculars, picnic areas and is the site of the annual Skyrocker’s New Year’s Eve Firework Show.

2

Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge

The Upper Mississippi Wildlife and Fish Refuge features a Visitor Center on Brice Prairie with many displays and exhibits, a bookstore, and over two miles of trails through a renovated sand prairie. The Refuge is 261 miles long, the longest in the nation and one of the most visited. The Refuge also offers 96 miles of marked canoe trails, including the Lake Onalaska Canoe Trail starting at Lytle’s Landing on Brice Prairie and traveling through the backwaters to Lake Onalaska.

signature sights

5

Sunny the Sunfish

The City of Onalaska is known for its abundance of sunfish, making Sunny the perfect mascot. A quick drive north of downtown Onalaska along the Great River Road (Hwy 35) brings you to the vibrant Sunny the Sunfish sculpture and a scenic overlook perched above Lake Onalaska. Take a quick picture with Sunny and soak in the sensational hues over this vista.

6

Wisconsin Great River Road

Up for a road trip? Give this National Scenic Byway and newly minted All American Road a try. Enjoy breathtaking scenery, access to excellent hiking, fishing, scenic overlooks, and, of course, the picturesque Mississippi River along the Wisconsin Great River Road. U.S. Highway 35 covers 250 miles in the State of Wisconsin, from Prescott in the north to Kieler in the south.

3

Apple Blossom Scenic Drive

Come late May, the natural beauty of blossoming apple trees on this 17-mile scenic drive abounds. Take the bluff-top roads that overlook the Mississippi River and descend into the Pine Creek Valley for your return trip back to La Crescent, Minnesota. Trees continue to blossom through spring and summer, but as you drive or bike in the fall, plan to stop and pick delectable apples, taste the local apple cider, and purchase your pumpkins. Winter is also an opportune time to visit the area as snow dusts the trees and birds of the river valley migrate above.

4

Wisconsin State Bike Trails

These four railbed trails span nearly 101 miles from Reedsburg, WI to Marshland, WI, and host some of the best hiking and biking in the region. The trails guide you through marshes and valleys, along rivers and offer access to several communities, parks, and recreation areas including Perrot State Park, Veteran’s Memorial Park, and the La Crosse River Prairies State Natural Area. In the winter the trails are occupied by those looking to cross country ski, snowshoe, hike or snowmobile.

7

McGilvray 7 Bridges Road & the Van Loon State Wildlife Area

The historic McGilvray “7 Bridges” Road trail is located in the Van Loon State Wildlife Area in Northwestern La Crosse County. The trail stretches 1.8 miles in length. It was formerly a County Road containing a unique combination of five rare bowstring arch truss bridges and one low truss bridge which was adopted from Pierce County. The seventh 250-ft steel bridge allowed travel to Trempealeau County for the first time and was dismantled in 1954. The Van Loon Wildlife area is a globally significant floodplain forest which is notable for its abundance of wildlife. It is listed under Wisconsin Important Bird Areas and is a great trail to snowshoe or cross country ski.

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@kalebschuster

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is cemented as a spiritual destination for visitors from all across the globe. The Shrine is nestled on over 100 acres of God’s Country in the Mississippi River Valley. In addition to the many awe-inspiring chapels, statutes, gardens, and devotional areas, the Shrine has a shuttle, full service café, and gift shop open daily.