Discover Washington County: Nature and History

Washington County brings together historic sites, river landscapes, trails through wetlands, and collections on regional history. Each destination has a different focus: you can view reconstructed fort buildings, observe birds in a wildlife refuge, or learn about 19th-century steamboating. This lets you plan your trip around the topics that interest you most.

Explore River Landscapes and Nature

Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge protects fish and wildlife habitats along the Missouri River. Nearly 8 miles of trails offer opportunities for hiking and birdwatching. If you prefer to travel by car, the refuge has a scenic driving loop with access points for exploring; there is also an observation platform at the Sauger Parking Lot. Hiking, wildlife watching, and driving the loop are different ways to experience the refuge.

At DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, the Green Heron Trail leads from the visitor center around a restored wetland. You can see and hear birds and frogs there. The trail is open from April 15 through October 14; during this period, DeSoto Lake is also open for fishing and low-speed boating. Check the seasonal dates before your trip if you plan to take part in these activities. The Bob Starr Wildlife Overlook has an observation blind for viewing migrating waterfowl and bald eagles. Wildlife-viewing conditions vary by season.

History Along the Missouri River and in Fort Calhoun

The DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge visitor center houses an archaeological collection of nearly 250,000 artifacts recovered from the wreck of the steamboat Bertrand. The Bertrand Steamboat Museum also focuses on steamboating, preserving thousands of 19th-century artifacts from the era of steamboating and westward expansion. The Bertrand Steamboat Excavation Site preserves the steamboat’s 178-foot-long hull, buried and submerged beneath the water.

In Fort Calhoun, the self-guided Washington County Heritage Trail offers another way to discover historic sites. Interpretive signs accompany the walk through town. Fort Calhoun Trail, Phase 1, is a separate, already-existing trail segment: its 0.63 miles of concrete pavement connect U.S. Highway 75 and downtown Fort Calhoun with the ball fields and Fort Atkinson State Historical Park. The segment includes a pedestrian bridge over a tributary of the Missouri River.

At Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, the buildings have been reconstructed based on the fort’s original layout. The Frahm House offers another way to explore history: listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it retains most of the family’s original furnishings. Tours are available by appointment and during special events; group tours are also available by appointment. The Frahm House has a wheelchair-accessible restroom and a ramp at the entrance.

Views, Trails, and Collections

Black Elk-Neihardt Park offers views over Blair and the Missouri River Valley. The Tower of the Four Winds is the park’s central landmark. The 80-acre hilly site has paved paths, wood-chip trails, and natural-surface trails. The different trail surfaces shape the character of the trail network, while the tower and the views provide distinctive points of reference in the park.

Blair is also home to the public River Wilds Golf Course, with 18 holes. For another perspective on local history, DAAL has historical and genealogical materials on Washington County residents and their ancestors. In Fort Calhoun, wine tastings feature wines from 14 different wineries, with 105 different wines in all. The selection may change; check current tasting information if you’re interested. These varied options give you several ways to plan your trip, from nature watching and golf to history and wine.

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