Loved this park. Some short, moderate hikes to get a gorgeous view of the river. I do wish that the…read moretrails were a little better marked, however, It is worth visiting when heading down to Southern Minnesota. The driftless region is amazing. However, it was my second favorite park today. We headed into effigy national monument immediately after, and that was even more breathtaking. They are a great one-two punch if you're driving down from the Twin Cities.

This was a nice spot for a hike. There is a series of trails throughout the park. I did the King's…read moreBluff and North and South Overlooks. There is no shortage of beautiful views and there were plenty of spring wildflowers to make the walk even more stunning! Parking is available at the trailheads, there are some nice picnic spots, and the vault toilets were well kept.

It's an amazing view must bring spotting scope great for kids and puppies and you can see a lot of…read morestuff

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"!

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.

10/14/23 - we were in LaCrosse and saw that there was an overview of LaCrosse from the bluff. You…read moreneed to drive up a short distance to an overview that gives you a great panoramic view of the city below. In addition you can see the Mississippi River w/LaCrosse on one side & Minnesota on the other side. Such a beautiful overview of the town, trees, hills, Mississippi River, train tracks & an eagle soaring above the cities on the wind currents (so cool & majestic) Granddads Bluff is a short run uphill to an overlook going through a hairpin turn on the way to the overlook. Great way to spend a few minutes seeing the sights below w/the beginning of the fall colors. It would have been nicer coloration in a few more days

Pretty cool little excursion in LaCrosse. Easy drive up. Not a lot of signs alerting which…read moreparking lot is for the highest vantage point so my tip to you: drive through the open gates and drive until you see a parking lot with a gazebo-esque type outdoor building and that will be the highest point. Quick walk out to the edge. Some wild flowers added to the experience. It was a beautiful morning. Very clear and we were able to see the Mississippi river, Minnesota and of course Wisconsin. Worth taking the half hour to take in this view.

Totally loved this Wisconsin state park that is nestled right on the waterways of the Mississippi…read moreRiver overlooking the Minnesota bluffs and a great sunset. The town is super cute for a bite to eat but this park is just 15 minutes north of lacrosse and totally worth it. I wish we had more time to explore the trails but it is one of my favorite state parks with new paved roads and so much wildlife to see with trains passing by too. Great camping spot to go to once a year and worth the drive!

The highlight of this park is the hike up Brady's bluff. Not an easy climb but the views are worth…read moreit. We climbed from the north and descended to the south. This was a good choice on this sunny and hot day since there was shade going up the stairs from the north. We followed the river side path back to the nature center from where we started. Be warned there is a lot of poison ivy along the river path. If we had kayaks or canoes they also have a very nice route through the nearby bay. Camping is available as are some picnic areas. A solid state park experience.

Very disappointing. Expected a nice getaway, instead got an outdoor summer school. The food was…read moretolerable but not very nutritious. The classes were very long and rather dangerous in some aspects. 3 children left crying the first day, would not recommend.

Stayed here for a large group retreat and had a mixed experience. The accommodations were your…read morestandard bunk bed quad room setup with a shared bathroom. The center is quite large and can easily house a couple hundred guests. Lots of open common space for people to lounge, play games and meet. Great trails and extracurricular activities like ropes course and rock climbing wall. Here is the big downfall and why I can only give it 3 stars....the food is painfully awful. It's some of the worst cafeteria style food I've ever had. Bland, next to zero flavor and most things are over cooked so it's rubbery and tasteless. I packed my own snacks because I had heard about the negative food experiences from others and thankful I listened to them. While I wouldn't mind coming back to Eagle Bluff for a future to retreat, I would make sure to pack even more food next time to compensate for the abysmal dining.

Finally a saturday where I have time until my favorite college football game at 8 pm. I have a…read morefitness goal to hike the Manitou Incline soon and needed to experience real world hills and steps besides the stepper at the gym. Red Wing is a beautiful city on the Mississippi River and Lake Pepin. I've always wanted to hike this and went alone. I did find a spot in the parking lot so that was nice. There were 2 hiking entrances and I didn't want to follow a family in a stroller, so I took a weird short cut and ended up on North Trail. This is for advanced hikers as you walk along a narrow trail and you can hold onto these chain ropes. If you fall, you'll probably roll down a steep ravine to the Mississippi River. Meeting people coming down was interesting as I just squeezed closer to the chains. There were rock climbers scaling the cliffs too. I made it to the overlook and had to hike up 2 huge flights of stairs. The railings need to be secured better as they were wobbly. I made it to the flag and walked to the east overlook. I asked other people if this goes go the parking lot. They said no, so I backtracked to a trail that went south to the parking lot. The views were really awesome. I did take a photo afterwards of a trail map. So when I come next time, I may explore other trails. A beautiful fall day and the weather was great.

My top favorite hiking spot in Minnesota. So many different paths you can take and a partially…read moreaccessible route for all ages and disabilities. Rock climbing up here is like no other spot in MN and everyone is always incredibly nice on the trails. Lots of places to stop and I love doing photography up here, photoshoots, and timelapses. You will never regret having a hike here. Being water for the break at the top and you are golden.

Wonderful escape into nature! We were in town visiting family and looking for something fun to do,…read moreand were so happy to have found Quarry Hill. We got out of the heat exploring the nature center - lots of fish and reptiles, and other educational exhibits to explore with lots of opportunities for kids (and adults) to learn. Then we ventured out on the trails and were surprised by the diversity in gardens, terrains, and environments that you could enjoy in such a small area. This place has something for all ages and fitness levels. Depending on the season, this would be a lovely spot to enjoy blooming wild flowers or fall foliage. Unfortunately, we were not able to explore the quarry/cave. If that is something you want to do, make sure to call ahead - I was told the tours only happen on certain days and get booked weeks ahead.

Quarry Hill Nature Center has a nice assortment of picnic tables, trails, and local animals. It…read moreeven has a small nature center within. Tip: The signage here is sorely lacking, which is why I couldn't find the paved bike trail, and ended up totally on the wrong side of the park :-( Once I discovered that I was almost hopelessly lost, I wandered aimless in the woods for close to 40 minutes before I found a trail sign that set me back on the right path. Despite the major signage problems, this is a nice place - if you can figure out where to go....

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?

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