The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge La Crosse District Visitor Center will begin
Saturday operating hours on Saturday May 2, 2026, running through the end of October. The expanded hours
will be:
Open: Tuesday – Saturday: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Closed: Sundays and Mondays and on all federal holidays.
Stop in to enjoy FREE interactive exhibits for all ages! Discover native wildlife, habitats on the refuge, and
the natural and cultural history of the area. Walk on water as you step over a glass floor “river bed” to see
what’s going on in the water below. Relax and listen to oral histories about life on the river and enjoy a short
film illustrating the refuge through the seasons. Chat with a refuge volunteer or staff member to answer
questions about the refuge. Visit the non-profit Prairie Wind Nature Store, operated by the Friends of the
Refuge – Mississippi River Pools 7 & 8.
The Visitor Center is surrounded by about 180 acres of restored prairie with two miles of mostly flat trails
winding through native grasses and flowers. More than 40 species of flowers bloom by mid-summer. A
paved loop and paved trail guide visitors to the Lake Onalaska Overlook, offering views of the Mississippi
River backwaters where you can observe Bald Eagles and a variety of species of waterfowl.
Indoor and outdoor scavenger hunts are available at the front desk! Federal recreational lands passes and
Federal Duck Stamps may be purchased with cash or check. “Let’s Go Outside” backpacks containing nature
journaling activities and a pair of binoculars may also be checked out at the front desk for use on the prairie
trails.
We are very excited to offer a Junior Refuge Manager and BARK Ranger program available in-person at the
La Crosse District Visitor Center! Pick up a Junior Refuge Manager activity sheet at the front desk and
complete five of the nine activities to earn a free badge. Your canine companions can become a B.A.R.K
Ranger and earn a free bandana too. We hope to see you soon!
