Discover Pierce: Rivers, Forests, and Nature

River landscapes, wooded lakes, and open prairies shape Pierce. Hiking trails, mountain biking singletrack, birdwatching, and fishing offer a variety of activities. The natural destinations differ in their landscapes and offerings: alongside rivers and floodplains, there are forests and prairies, as well as opportunities for hiking, biking, and fishing.

Hiking, Biking, and Wildlife Watching

Kinnickinnic State Park lies at the confluence of the St. Croix River and the Kinnickinnic River. About 9.2 miles of trails wind through hills, forests, and prairies. The park also offers more than 10 miles of mountain biking trails in a singletrack format. More than 140 bird species have been recorded as nesting in the Kinnickinnic River Valley during breeding season—a seasonal highlight for birdwatching enthusiasts.

Birdwatching, hiking, snowshoeing, and wildlife watching are available at Pierce County Islands Wildlife Area. Kinnickinnic River South Fork Fish and Wildlife Area encompasses grassland and floodplain habitats crossed by the South Fork of the Kinnickinnic River. Parking areas are located along State Highway 29 and 900th Street.

Kinnickinnic River Fishery Area offers several fishing options: at bridge crossings, from the bank, or by wading. Fourteen parking areas provide public access. This makes it possible to plan a fishing outing according to your preferred method.

Rivers, Lakes, and Water Destinations

Kinnickinnic River Gorge and Delta in Pierce County includes an undisturbed river gorge with diverse plant communities. The area includes Devil’s Mixing Bowl, where cascades flow from a deep box canyon into a small basin. Another defining feature is the large, partially open delta deposited by the Kinnickinnic River at its mouth on the St. Croix River.

Nugget Lake County Park encompasses a 116-acre lake completely surrounded by forest. Eau Galle Recreation Area includes a 139-acre reservoir. Only boats without gasoline-powered motors are allowed on Eau Galle Reservoir. Eau Galle Main Day Use Area is accessible from I-94 via Exit 24 and County Road B. It has a sandy swimming beach, a boat launch, and a fishing pier.

Other river mouths also reveal landscapes with distinctive features. Rush River Delta protects a floodplain forest on the floodplain where the Rush River meets the Mississippi River, or Lake Pepin. A sandbar extends into Lake Pepin, providing feeding and nesting areas for shorebirds.

Prairies, Floodplains, and the Great River Road

Morgan Coulee Prairie stretches for more than half a mile along a steep, south-facing bluff in a coulee opening into the Rush River Valley. Plum Creek Woods features a deeply incised gorge with sandstone outcrops and a prominent remnant of a southern mesic forest. The sandstone-lined drainage channel also contains a sculpted cove.

Trenton Bluff Prairie consists of two dry prairies on steep sandstone cliffs along the Mississippi River, topped by imposing limestone bluffs. Several Great Plains plant species occur there at the eastern edge of their range, including Plains Muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) and Prairie Larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum). These species offer a concrete glimpse of the distinctive plant life of this landscape.

The Bluff Walk in Freedom Park follows the Mississippi and provides information about a migratory bird route shaped by the movements of large birds such as trumpeter swans and eagles. The center in Freedom Park provides brochures and maps for trips along the Great River Road. Bay City in Pierce County is located on the Great River Road Scenic Byway, at the upper end of Lake Pepin—two specific points of reference for exploring this river landscape.

Discover more destinations: River Falls, Price County, Chippewa County, Wood County, Waukesha, Sheboygan County, Jefferson County, Kenosha County.

For the main travel overview: Wisconsin.