Birding in the La Crosse Region
The La Crosse Region and the surrounding areas are home to some of the best birdwatching locales in the Upper Midwest. From Bald Eagles, Tundra Swans, and Great Egrets on down to bluebirds, warblers, and sparrows, the area hosts a wide range of species sure to satisfy birders of every stripe. Fall is an especially active time of year, with several migrating species spending time in the region, so be sure to visit these places to catch a glimpse of your favorite visiting birds.
Goose Island County Park
This popular campground and park, located just three miles south of La Crosse, is open year-round and is a great place to spot raptors, waterfowl, and songbirds, including the Prothonotary Warbler.
Norskedalen Heritage & Nature Center
With over 400 acres of forests, meadows, and ravines, this beloved historical and cultural site attracts many species of birds, including the Black-billed Cuckoo and White-eyed Vireo.
Myrick Park, Hixon Forest, and Riverside Park
The five-mile trail running from Riverside Park in downtown La Crosse through the river marshes and into Hixon Forest and the bluffs offers some of the area’s very best birding opportunities. Observe Great Egrets and terns from the marsh’s floating platforms, look for Pileated Woodpeckers in the forested hillsides, and spy soaring raptors from the lookout atop Grandad Bluff.
Friends of Trempealeau Refuge
Friends of Trempealeau Refuge invite you to explore the 6,000 acres Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge located six miles northwest of Trempealeau, WI. The Refuge, which is open from dawn to dusk, offers birding, biking, hiking, an observation deck, and an auto tour loop. It encompasses a variety of habitats that provide homes for a diverse array of wildlife. No entry fees.
Mississippi Valley Conservancy offers over 25 nature preserves to the public that cover over 5,000 acres in La Crosse and the surrounding counties. These nature preserves boast a variety of native habitats, including forests, savannas, prairies, wetlands, bluffs, and streams, that provide feeding, nesting, and stop-over habitat for over 250 species of both migratory and breeding bird species. Here in La Crosse, a number of nature preserves are available to the public for birding at all times of year. The La Crosse Blufflands, a series of forested trails across the bluffs above the City of La Crosse, provide fantastic opportunities to find migrating warblers and vireos in the canopies. The La Crosse River Conservancy is a great place to find owls, sandhill cranes, belted kingfishers, and green herons using the La Crosse River near the Stony Creek Hotel and State River Bike Trail in Onalaska. New Amsterdam Grasslands and Holland Sand Prairie are two open grasslands located north of La Crosse that offer great opportunities to observe grassland nesting birds such as eastern meadowlarks, Bell’s vireos, and Henslow’s sparrows. Trails on all Mississippi Valley Conservancy properties are open to the public year round. Visit the website to find year-round activities, and maps for all of the nature preserves that are open to the public. -Written from the MVC
Van Loon State Wildlife Area & McGilvray Bridges
The 4,000-acre Van Loon State Wildlife Area, located north of Onalaska off Hwy 53, is home to five historic rare bowstring arch truss bridges built in the late 19th century. The Black River Bottomlands is a globally significant floodplain forest which is notable for its wide variety of wildlife. The fall is a great time to hike the path across the bridges, offering opportunities to see all of the region’s native woodpecker species, as well as Bald Eagle, Red-Shouldered Hawks, and Indigo Bunting.
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge
Covering over 260 miles of river and 200,000 acres of land, the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge is one of the nation’s largest wildlife refuges. The La Crosse District boasts one of the area’s biggest birding attractions, receiving regular yearly visits from migrating Tundra Swans (more info here), plus over 250 other species of raptor, songbird, and waterfowl. The La Crosse Region and the surrounding areas are home to some of the best birdwatching locales in the Upper Midwest. From Bald Eagles, Tundra Swans, and Great Egrets on down to bluebirds, warblers, and sparrows, the area hosts a wide range of species sure to satisfy birders of every stripe. Fall is an especially active time of year, with several migrating species spending time in the region, so be sure to visit these places to catch a glimpse of your favorite visiting birds.
Great River State Trail
A 24-mile railbed trail running alongside the Mississippi River from Onalaska to Marshland, the Great River State Trail passes through the Mississippi River Bottomlands, Perrot State Park, and the Trempeleau National Wildlife Refuge, and features such species as Bobwhite Quail, Sandhill Crane, and Alder Flycatchers. ne bird watcher took a spring ride along the Great River State Trail and was not at all disappointed by the wealth of bird species she saw. The Great River State Trail is along the Mississippi Flyway an important migratory route for birds. Check out what she had to say about her trip here.
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Cover Photo Credit to Gavin McCue Photography