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    Forestville State Park

    4.4 (12 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Forestville State Park Photos

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    Molly M.

    We didn't camp or do the Mystery Cave tour, we simply hiked around the historic village and wooded areas. That in itself, is worth 5 Elite Stars! We had stopped at the park office and was welcomed by staff there-it was our first time at this state park so he gave us some pointers and BIKE maps for the area! The historic village offers tours from the Minnesota Historical Society (fees range from $10 to free) which is sad for me since I let my MNHS membership lapse! They also offer events here, see the MNHS website or the friendly staff at the park office. This is an equestrian destination with lots of horse trails. The trails I hiked on were hiking only-no horses, and the trails were clearly marked. The Root River is a trout fishing gem...we viewed lots of trout from the bridge by the historic village. Well worth the stop, even if you just enjoy the scenery

    This place ROCKED! We did the Mystery Cave Tour and met up with a DNR Ranger the following day to have our dog Jaxson become a certified BARK Ranger! The same Ranger just so happened to give us the Cave tour as well and she made the experience wonderful! She was knowledgeable and passionate about her job. Awesome place to visit!!!

    Nick F.

    This was a really peaceful park; it reminded me of "Nestrand Big Woods" with all of the greenery, towering trees, solitude and silence (except for the welcomed bird singing). The main walk is really nice, though the "overlook" isn't much to look at, but you get a nice glimpse of the valley through a window in the foliage. As you hike the trail, it's a gradual incline towards the top, and the sun tries it's best to peek through the trees, so you get cool sun dappled views of the trees, leaves, and foliage on the ground (lots of ferns). Super peaceful, and not very busy at all (only saw a few hikers at the end of the trail on a Sunday afternoon). Definitely stop by the town of Lanesboro before or after visiting; it's a really cool town that sits below the bluffs, with good food choices, and the drive to get there is extremely cool and picturesque.

    Root river from the bridge December

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    3 years ago

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    15 years ago

    Loved the park! Great campsites with wood chips and a fire ring. Will go again.

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    Ask the Community - Forestville State Park

    Review Highlights - Forestville State Park

    We didn't camp or do the Mystery Cave tour, we simply hiked around the historic village and wooded areas.

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    Whitewater State Park - Visitor's Center

    Whitewater State Park

    4.4(23 reviews)
    31.1 mi

    My furry friend group chose this spot for our big annual camping trip! There were 86 of us total,…read moreand we utilized the Group Site that has several cabins available, plus a main cabin that serves as the place to gather and eat with a full kitchen and walk-in fridge. I really enjoyed the cozy feel to the cabins, which have wonderfully rustic wooden paneling and floors. Our cabin had two wings with four bunk beds each, plus a center room with a large bed (ideal, no doubt, for scouting purposes). The cabins are heated by thermostat and there are a few electrical outlets, but no other amenities that I was aware of. The main cabin had a large center fire pit that made the whole place wonderfully cozy. Also included are several long tables with benches to sit at, as well as additional chairs with backs to gather around the firepit. There are electrical outlets too. Flooring was a mix of wood and tile. There are also restrooms nearby, which include toilets, sinks, and showers. Separated by gender, male and female. The designated parking lot for the Group Site was able to accommodate around 40-45 cars, which served our purposes well. There is also a small roundabout that leads up to the main cabin for ease of unpacking/dropping off gear. All these amenities made the long-weekend very enjoyable! This isn't a huge park by any means, but even in the icy snow, I was able to enjoy a few of the trails while there. The alphabetical trail markings confused me a bit at first, but then I realized it was how the park was indicating "you are here" without customizing each sign. At the trailheads are large informational signs that give you the distance, difficulty, and features you'll see on said trail. The river that cuts through here is really gorgeous. It was partially frozen over during our visit, and we got some flurries while we were camping, which covered everything in a beautiful fresh coat of white powder. Got some great photos and great memories. I was a bit bummed that the Nature Store wasn't open (it's seasonal), because I am a sucker for souvenirs on sightseeing trips to parks and such.

    Whitewater is a gorgeous park with some varied scenery. There are a lot of neat formations to check…read moreout such as the bluffs, forests, rivers, and more. There are some easy to more challenging hikes available. There are also a lot of nice amenities and a beach area.

    Photos
    Whitewater State Park - Inspiration Point

    Inspiration Point

    Whitewater State Park - Inspiration Point

    Inspiration Point

    Whitewater State Park

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    McGilvray Seven Bridges Road - Van Loon Wildlife Area - The trail narrows...

    McGilvray Seven Bridges Road - Van Loon Wildlife Area

    4.0(2 reviews)
    53.5 mi

    Nice trail, but unfortunately flooded due to the rain so could only see 0.2 miles of it.read more

    Anyone who tackles this trail must be…read more.. A) A historic bridge enthusiast and fan of engineering design B) The second coming of Aldo Leopold C) Someone off their nut D) A&C E) B&C F) All of the above. Okay, seriously, this is a a fascinating area and quite a trail for nature lovers. Alexander McGilvray saw an opportunity in 1854 and launched a ferry across the Black River. In 1892, the county built a steel bridge across the river, ending the ferry service. Since McGilvray Road went through backwaters of the Black River and a slough, six wooden bridges were built. The moist environment wrecked wooden bridges quickly, so between 1905 and 1908, a series of five bowstring truss bridges were built with one wooden bridge left behind. The road was closed in 1948 due to flooding, and in 1954 the steel bridge was removed. The five bowstring truss bridges remain in place and a fifth pony truss bridge was relocated here to replace the wooden bridge. The maintenance of the old bridges is accomplished with volunteer labor, the Friends of McGilvray Road in partnership with the Wisconsin DNR. Bowstring trusses, one time plentiful, are now rare and only eight examples remain in Wisconsin - five of those eight are on McGilvray Road. As for the hiking, well, nature has pretty much consumed McGilvray Road, popularly known as Seven Bridges Road. It is a hiking trail, being slowly developed by the Friends of McGilvray Road. You can take the 1.8 mile hike to the Black River and experience a piece of La Crosse County history yourself. Dress appropriately and wear good hiking shoes.The day I visited McGilvray Road, I met a couple on the trail. He was wearing sandals. Not smart. She was wearing cross trainers, still not very smart. Both were wearing shorts - really not smart as the mosquitoes were matched in size and maneuverability to a P-38. No motorized vehicles, in fact, no vehicles at all, including no bicycles. As a hiking trail, two stars. As a great example of private and public sector cooperation, four stars, as an example of historic preservation, five stars. Net result - four stars. I'd go back - would you like to join me?

    Photos
    McGilvray Seven Bridges Road - Van Loon Wildlife Area - The further you get from the trailhead, the more coarse the course becomes.

    The further you get from the trailhead, the more coarse the course becomes.

    McGilvray Seven Bridges Road - Van Loon Wildlife Area - National Register of Historic Places and Wisconsin Historical Site plaques.

    National Register of Historic Places and Wisconsin Historical Site plaques.

    McGilvray Seven Bridges Road - Van Loon Wildlife Area - Bridge

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    Bridge

    Buena Vista Park

    Buena Vista Park

    4.7(12 reviews)
    49.9 mi

    As a previous campground host, this was THE # 1 place I recommended people check out while here…read more It's only a 5 minute drive up. It is SPECTACULAR. I cannot imagine why anyone would give it less than 5 stars. While there are only swings here ( marked down by a previous viewer for this reason) there is lots of grassy area for kids to run around far away from the cliffs. Be aware, there are no guardrails at the viewing point... so watch kiddos closely . Enjoy the views of the Minnesota bluffs across the water as you gaze upon the Mississippi river down below and the Alma dam to your right ! You might get lucky and see a barge coming through. There is a steep hiking trail @ the north end of 2nd St in Alma to start your way up. Otherwise, you drive up from the far South end of town. Well marked. Don't miss this "beautiful view"!

    Buena vista park is nice little place with a terrific view of the Mississippi, the Alma lock and…read moredam and a lot of interesting scenery in between. There are some nice stair and benches, plus a restroom (that I did not go into, so no idea if it is a flush one or not) by the parking lot. Not any barriers between you and the bluff, but it isnt too bad as far as the fear factor. We had a nice little visit and the photo ops are GREAT!! It was an easy enough drive up to the park from Alma as well. Nice little place

    Photos
    Buena Vista Park - Mississippi River looking towards the Minnesota side'

    Mississippi River looking towards the Minnesota side'

    Buena Vista Park - Power plant south of alma

    Power plant south of alma

    Buena Vista Park - Alma lock and dam on the Mississippi

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    Alma lock and dam on the Mississippi

    Forestville State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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