Wyalusing State Park: located 10 miles south of Prairie du Chien, this is one of Wisconsin’s largest state parks. It includes more than 2600 acres of valley and bluff land that borders both great rivers. There are more than 100 campsites, 22 miles of hiking trails, canoe and kayak rentals.

Effigy Mounds National Monument: Operated by the National Park Service, Effigy Mounds lies just across the Mississippi River and five miles north. It offers 2500 acres of land, splendid bluff top hiking trails, and a rich Native American history. More than 200 burial mounds have been identified here and the visitor center contains museum exhibits and a wonderful video detailing the history of the area’s earliest inhabitants. A unique boardwalk takes you almost one mile through backwaters of  the Yellow River that flows through the park on its way to the Mississippi.

Villa Louis: Prairie du Chien is Wisconsin’s second oldest city, founded in the 1600′s by Joliet and Marquette at the end of their pathfinding travels from Hudson Bay to the Mississippi River. The Villa Louis was home to Wisconsin’s first millionaire family, the Dousmans. Now owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society this house is beautifully restored and excellent educational tours are offered. Many great events happen throughout the year on the grounds of this estate.

Fort Crawford Museum:  This National Historic Landmark sits on the site of the second fort built at Prairie du Chien. Fort Crawford guarded America’s western frontier beginning in the 1700′s. A minor battle in the War of 1812 was fought there and is commemorated yet today.

To the above you must add Mississippi River cruises, orchards, cave tours, a marina, a Mississippi River lock and dam, a winery, a micro brewery, good lodging and dining options, and interesting shopping. This part of Wisconsin is definitely worth a few days of exploration.

View from Wyalusing State Park

Hiking opportunities in Southwest Wisconsin abound!

Five large parks (three state parks, one national monument, and one public reserve) are located between the Prairie du Chien area and the northern end of the Kickapoo River. As the proverbial crow flies, this is a distance of about 60 miles, but taking the crooked, winding roads of the Driftless Area would require about 80 miles and two hours of driving. The good news is that all of that driving will be along scenic rural roads with little traffic and with pleasant surprises along the entire route.

Just to the southwest of Prairie du Chien, in Iowa, lie Pike’s Peak State Park and Effigy Mounds National Monument. At Pike’s Peak you have easy access to the best overlook along the upper Mississippi River. This overlook stands 400 feet above the Mississippi and looks east at Wisconsin’s Wyalusing State Park and at the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. Seven miles north of Pikes Peak is Effigy Mounds National Monument. Along with great bluff trails Effigy Mounds offers a very informative Visitor’s Center that explains the history of Native Americans in the upper Mississippi Valley.

Wyalusing State Park on the Wisconsin side of the river boasts of twenty miles of hiking trails, great Mississippi River overlooks’ and even a gathering place for amateur astronomers to view the dark skies of the rural area.

Horseback Riding at Wildcat Mountain State Park

From Prairie du Chien find your way east to State Highway 131 and drive north through the Kickapoo Valley. You will not need to leave your car to enjoy constant rural beauty as the highway winds its way along the Kickapoo River and through a half dozen small river villages. Toward the north end of the Kickapoo Valley, just north of the Village of La Farge, you will find the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. The Reserve offers more than 8000 acres of public land that stretches along a 15 mile section of the Kickapoo River. The terrain is typical Driftless Area – a constant succession of wooded bluffs and small valleys. The Kickapoo Reserve is bordered to the north by Wisconsin’s Wildcat Mountain State Park. Together these park areas offer more than 50 miles of hiking, bicycling, mountain biking, and horse trails.

It would take the average person weeks to explore all of this area’s hiking trails. During your stay in the area you will find great food, unique shopping opportunities, and comfortable lodging. This is a great destination for a weekend or a week.

Continue on Hwy 171 to the Mississippi River, then turn south on Hwy 35. Enjoy beautiful vistas of the big river, see Lynxville Dam and the fishing boats gathered on the downstream side. Look for soaring eagles all along the river. Stop at Cabelas on the north side of Prairie du Chien if you need anything for the outdoors: items for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and canoeing are all featured. In Prairie du Chien visit Villa Louis, a restored Italianate mansion owned by Wisconsin’s first millionaire.

Cross the Hwy 18 bridge and visit the river towns of Marquette, Iowa and McGregor, Iowa. Marquette and McGregor both offer good dining and interesting antiquing. Try your luck at the Isle of Capri casino, or head south to Pikes Peak State Park where you can enjoy a fantastic overview of the Mississippi River and a unique boardwalk that takes you across the river bluffs and past two small waterfalls.

Go just three miles north of Marquette and stop for a hike and visit at Effigy Mounds National Monument. The Visitor’s Center will show you much about the Native Americans that made this area their home about 10,000 years ago.

If you have any energy left, return to Hwy 35 in Wisconsin and travel about five miles south of Prairie du Chien to Wyalusing State Park and again enjoy miles of hiking paths and beautiful overlooks from the bluffs above the Mississippi River. For your return trip to Lonesome Hollow, follow Hwy 27 north from Prairie du Chien and you will see lovely ridge top views and farmscapes.

There is so much to do on this trip that you might want to break it up into two separate days of exploring.

The taste of fall is biting into a crisp, freshly picked apple.

There are several interesting upcoming events in and near Prairie du Chien. The weekend of October 3rd and 4th you may choose to spend some time at Effigy Mounds National Monument, partaking in the Hawk Watch and benefiting from one of the best spots to view the fall migration in the state. Or you may head over to the Shihata Orchard Fest, just north of Prairie du Chien, for some apple picking, apple cider, and a pumpkin patch. If cruises are more your cup of tea, look into the Fall Foliage Cruises aboard the Mississippi Explorer Cruises. They depart every Saturday and Sunday in October at noon from the St. Feriole Island river front in Prairie du Chien.

There is a lovely circular route to and from our bed and breakfast Wisconsin and Prairie du Chien. One route takes you along the Mississippi River, and the other through lovely rural Southern Wisconsin. We are currently running a fall special to help entice you to extend your stay. See you soon!