Whether you want an outdoor adventure or a relaxing walk in nature, La Crosse, Wisconsin, has a hiking trail for you. Learn about five of the best trails in the area.
1. Mississippi Valley Conservancy
The Mississippi Valley Conservancy is over 15,000 acres of Wisconsin prairies and wetland ecosystems. There are more than 10 trails that span across several preservation areas. These trails vary in difficulty, so if you are up for a more challenging hike, trails like the La Crosse Blufflands South Hass Tract are ideal. If you want to get exercise while enjoying the scenery, opt for flatter trails such as the Beck Tract and the La Cross River Conservancy.
2. La Crosse River Marsh Hiking Trails
The La Crosse River Marsh Hiking Trails loop through Riverside Park, Hixon Forest, Great River State Trail, and Myrick Park. The trails consist of paved and gravel walkways that are perfect for jogging, walking, or bike riding. As you embark on a hike on this network of trails, you can observe the surrounding wetland ecosystem and native wildlife such as painted turtles, great blue herons, Canada geese, and beavers.
3. Hixon Forest
Hixon Forest provides 10 miles of woodlands for hikers to explore. Trails are split into Upper Hixon Trails and Lower Hixon Trails, both of which offer hiking for all skill levels. In the Upper Hixon area, there are beginner trails, such as the Prairie Loop and Twister, for a relaxing stroll. If you want a challenge, try one of the several intermediate trails including Moonshine, Boulder, and Still Hill, while difficult trails include Vadar and Chicanery.
On the Lower Hixon Trails, there are beginner and intermediate hiking opportunities on the Birch and Hickory trails, while the Bicentennial trail offers a variety of beginner, intermediate, and advanced hiking terrain.
4. Prairie Walk
The Prairie Walk trail is located on Brice Prairie as part of the Upper Mississippi U.S. Fish & Wildlife Visitor Center. You can observe wildlife and admire native plant species as you go for a run or walk. This is a flat trail composed of pavement and gravel, making it an easy and relaxing 2.1-mile hike. Before your hike, stop by the visitor center to watch an informational video about the wildlife you can see during certain times of the year. You can also check out the River Walk exhibit to see what goes on underwater.
5. Greens Coulee Park
Greens Coulee Park has a network of trails that stretch through wetlands and surrounding ecosystems. These include the Clearwater Marsh Trail, Clearwater Trail, Garland Meadow Trail, Humfeld Summit Trail, Loggers Loop North and South Trails, Pierce Path, South Fork Trail, and the Whitetail Run Trail. Each trail is easy to moderate in difficulty, and each trail is under 1 mile long. The longest trail is the Clearwater Trail with 0.5 miles to explore.
The next time you need a place to spend time in nature and get some exercise, consider going to one of these hiking destinations in La Crosse.
Photo by Eric Sanman from Pexels
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