Trempealeau County in western Wisconsin is a great place to see fall colors, and there are many scenic hiking and biking trails throughout the county to explore. Here are a few excellent routes to explore, including state trails, parks, and refuges.
Buffalo River State Trail
The Buffalo River State Trail follows the Buffalo River for 36 miles between Mondovi in Buffalo County and Fairchild in Eau Claire County, passing through the communities of Eleva, Strum, and Osseo in northern Trempealeau County. The trail—constructed on a former railroad bed—offers amazing views of fall color along the Buffalo River and passes through woods and wetlands and over hills and farmlands and is open to hiking, biking, walking, and horseback riding (the graded portion of the trail is also open to ATVing and UTVing year-round).
Learn more about the Buffalo River State Trail.
Great River State Trail
This 24-mile trail along the Mississippi River in southern Trempealeau County follows the former Chicago-Northwestern railroad line from just west of Trempealeau to Onalaska in La Crosse County. The flat, crushed-limestone surface makes the trail a popular spot year-round, but it’s particularly nice in fall, as it gives users opportunities to see some amazing western Wisconsin scenery. The Great River State Trail passes through two wildlife refuges (the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge), and it’s a top spot for walking, jogging, and biking in the area. Bikers 16 years old and older must have a state trail pass to use the trail.
Learn more about the Great River State Trail.
Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge
This sprawling 6,800-acre refuge along the Mississippi River in southern Trempealeau County features rolling prairies, wetlands, and bottomland forests that attract hundreds of species of birds and animals throughout the year. It’s also a scenic spot for a hike or bike ride—there are more than a dozen hiking and cross-country skiing/snowshoeing trails in the refuge, and cyclists can ride a section of the Great River State Trail or follow a loop that follows the auto tour route. Hiking trails like the Lower Diversion Dike trail (2 miles) and the Woods Nature Trail (0.5 miles) are among some of the popular spots to observe fall colors and wildlife.
Learn more about the trails at the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge.
Perrot State Park
Situated just east of the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, Perrot State Park makes its home among 500-foot bluffs at the confluence of the Mississippi and Trempealeau rivers. The park is home to 12.5 miles of hiking trails, many of which lead hikers atop the bluffs, offering outstanding vistas of the Mississippi River Valley filled with fall color. The Riverview Trail (2.5 miles) traces the water’s edge along the Mississippi River and Trempealeau River, and the Perrot Ridge Trail (1.5) provides blufftop views of the river, Trempealeau Bay, and the surrounding landscape.
