Trail Trek Challenge is a free year-round hike/walk program on the nature preserves you've helped protect in Wisconsin's Driftless Area. Challenge yourself to hike at least five of the 19 designated trails to discover nature's treasures and learn what makes these places so valuable for everyone who lives, works, and plays here.

COMPLETE THE CHALLENGE AND WE WILL SEND YOU A WATER BOTTLE STICKER to commemorate your accomplishment! Add the kids' names to your Trail Guide, and we will send one for each of the kids, too!

When you sign up, you'll receive a confirmation email with a link to your downloadable Trail Guide & Hike Log with hike descriptions and a place to record your hikes throughout the year. Downloadable trail maps, an interactive map, and driving directions to each hike location are available from the Nature Preserves section of our website. 

Registration kicks off at Earth Fair on April 26, 2026 with a guided marsh hike at Myrick part at 11am, and you can register at any time throughout the year.

Thank you to our sponsors, whose support helps us

• Protect trees, prairies, and clean water for plants, animals and YOU!
• Teach the value of nature through outdoor recreation and land restoration projects.
• Clear trails and provide free places for people to hike on over 7,000 acres in 9 counties.
• Inspire community members to unplug and spend more time outdoors.

2026-2025 Sponsors:

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Would you like to better understand how to assess the health of your forest and determine what habitat you have?

In the scenic bluffs of Wandering Rock State Natural Area, join us on a hike on June 11th from 5-7 pm to explore topics including forest health and habitat diversity in southwestern Wisconsin. Participants will learn how habitat typing helps identify natural communities and guides effective forest management decisions.

This hike will be on steep terrain and will be fairly strenuous, and will highlight practical techniques such as timber stand improvement and brush control, with on-site examples showing how these practices enhance forest resilience and wildlife habitat. Along the way, attendees will gain insight into applying these methods on their own properties. The experience also features sweeping views of the Mississippi River and the surrounding valley. 

The Conservancy's team of Mitchel Block, Michael Reitz, Payton Lott are excited to walk you through the process of determining the health of a woodlot. They are also offering a separate volunteer work party from 1-5 pm at this same location where even more information will be shared as the team works to improve the property for wildlife. You can sign up for both, or just one of these events.

Registration confirmation will be sent by email. Additional details are emailed two days prior to the event. Questions? Email payton@mississippivalleyconservancy.org or call 608-784-3606 ext. 6.

Let's remove invasive trees and brush together!

Would you like to start managing your forest but are not sure where to begin? If so, join us for a day of timber stand improvement at Wandering Rock State Natural Area, where we'll work to remove undesirable tree and brush species in order to enhance overall forest quality. Following this work party, there will be a presentation on habitat typing and understanding the health of your timber stand from 5-7pm. We hope to see you there!

All ages and skill levels are welcome – dress appropriately for the weather, bring a water bottle and sturdy footwear and clothing to protect from brush. Events may involve full body movement on uneven ground and sometimes steep slopes. Expert instruction, protective gear, tools, and snacks will be provided. Together, we can make a big difference in a short amount of time!

Terrain difficulty rating: STEEP

Work difficulty rating: STRENUOUS

Registration confirmation will be sent by email. Additional details are emailed two days prior to the event. Questions? Email payton@mississippivalleyconservancy.org or call 608-784-3606 ext. 6.

Did you know that Mississippi Valley Conservancy has a nature preserve along the Kickapoo river outside Wilton, Wisconsin? This nature preserve is a rarely visited site that hosts a hemlock grove alongside a fire-dependent sedge meadow. This meadow has so many different wildlife and plant species we are still finding new ones. We need your help on June 20th from 9am - noon to pull invasive wild parsnip to preserve this site and protect the downstream flows of the Kickapoo river. We will provide PPE as well as snacks. 

All ages and skill levels are welcome – dress appropriately for the weather, bring a water bottle and sturdy footwear, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt to protect against the parsnip

Events may involve full body movement on uneven ground and sometimes steep slopes. Expert instruction, protective gear, tools, and snacks will be provided. Together, we can make a big difference in a short amount of time!

Work difficulty rating: MODERATE

Terrain difficulty rating: FLAT

Registration confirmation will be sent by email. Additional details are emailed two days prior to the event. Questions? Email payton@mississippivalleyconservancy.org or call 608-784-3606 ext. 6

Join Krysten Zummo, Range Ecologist for the National Audubon Society, on Saturday, June 27th from 9 am - 11 am at Plum Creek Conservation Area to see the birds of the Conservancy's Plum Creek Conservation Area and learn about how cattle can be used as a management tool to create healthy grassland bird habitat!

Every year, grassland birds return to the Driftless Area in search of the perfect open grassland to nest in and raise their young. Over the last 50 years, grassland birds in North America have declined nearly 50%, with most of the decline due to conversion of grasslands to commodity crops, urbanization, and the removal of historical natural impacts (grazing and fire). One of the unsung heroes of creating healthy grassland habitats is rotational managed grazing that creates a mosaic of grassland vegetation for birds to use.

Michael Reitz, the Plum Creek Conservation Area manager and restoration ecologist will guide participants on a tour of a 210-acre field that, only a few years ago, was planted to corn, eroding at an alarming rate, and devoid of habitat. As part of restoration efforts to find overlap between conservation and agriculture, 170 acres were planted to pollinator prairie and 40 acres were planted to pasture that incorporates native prairie plants.

Krysten is a lifelong birder and bird nerd who grew up in New York and has lived in 7 different states across the U.S. to study and manage habitats for birds. She came to La Crosse in 2018 to work with Mississippi Valley Conservancy and joined the National Audubon Society in 2023 where she works with beef and bison graziers through Audubon's Conservation Ranching program. This certification program works alongside graziers to take a birds-eye-view of their grazing operation to improve grassland habitat for all!

Located in Crawford County near Wauzeka, Wisconsin, the Plum Creek Conservation Area's property includes over five and a half miles of frontage along the west bank of the Kickapoo River and over two miles along both banks of Plum Creek, a Class I trout stream. The property has transitioned away from row crops to perennial cover, and renters are grazing cattle on the property. It is located adjacent to the DNR's 1,927-acre Kickapoo Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit that includes the 635-acre Kickapoo Wild Woods State Natural Area, and it is known to be along a major migration route for birds.

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ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for this FREE event by June 25th on the events page. Questions? Contact Karen Solverson at karen@mississippivalleyconservancy.org or call 608-784-3606 ext. 8. 

This event is part of the Conservancy’s 2026 “Linked to the Land” series of outdoor experiences on the many nature preserves it protects for wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, outdoor learning and recreation in the Driftless Area. The program is supported by the generous donations of our members and the in-kind support of WXOW News19.

Learn more about grazing for birds in this article by Krysten Zummo: https://www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org/wild-reads/grazing-its-birds

(PHOTO: Landowner Jim Munsch has found a balance between raising cattle and still providing habitat for grassland nesting birds and will be on hand to talk about his experience.)

Along the winding Kickapoo River, Mississippi Valley Conservancy wants YOU to help pull invasive wild parsnip at Tunnelville Cliffs State Natural Area. By pulling this invasive weed, not only do you protect Mississippi Valley Conservancy nature preserves, but all downstream properties and wildlife habitat along the Kickapoo River. The Conservancy will provide protective gear, water, and snacks for you to enjoy. All you have to bring is a care for the Driftless Area and a great attitude!

All skill levels are welcome – dress appropriately for the weather, bring a water bottle, sturdy footwear. long pants and a long-sleeved shirt to protect from the parsnip. Events may involve full body movement on uneven ground and sometimes steep slopes. Expert instruction, protective gear, tools, and snacks will be provided. Together, we can make a big difference in a short amount of time!

Terrain difficulty rating: ROLLING

Work difficulty rating: MODERATE

Registration confirmation will be sent by email. Additional details are emailed two days prior to the event. Questions? Email payton@mississippivalleyconservancy.org or call 608-784-3606 ext. 6.

Tired of pulling garlic mustard, battling wild parsnip, or cutting brush? Join us at Boscobel Bluffs State Natural Area for a different kind of invasive species control project!

We'll be working in the prairie habitat beneath a powerline corridor, removing invasive spotted knapweed and sweet clover to help native plants thrive. These aggressive invaders can crowd out the diverse wildflowers and grasses that provide food and habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.

Boscobel Bluffs is one of the Driftless Area's hidden gems, featuring exceptional prairie and woodland habitats, remarkable biodiversity, and stunning views overlooking the Wisconsin River and the City of Boscobel. Every plant removed helps protect and restore this special landscape for future generations.

Bring a friend, enjoy the scenery, and make a tangible difference for native habitat. Whether you're a seasoned volunteer or joining us for the first time, we'd love to have you on the hillside with us! 

All ages and skill levels are welcome – dress appropriately for the weather, bring a water bottle and sturdy footwear and clothing to protect from brush. Events may involve full body movement on uneven ground and sometimes steep slopes. Expert instruction, protective gear, tools, and snacks will be provided. Together, we can make a big difference in a short amount of time!

What to Bring: Work gloves, sturdy footwear, water, sun protection, and a willingness to get your hands dirty while helping the land.

Terrain difficulty rating: ROLLING TERRAIN

Work difficulty rating: MODERATE DIFFICULTY

Registration confirmation will be sent by email. Additional details are emailed two days prior to the event. Questions? Email payton@mississippivalleyconservancy.org or call 608-784-3606 ext. 6.

Guided cave tours at Kickapoo Caverns are offered by Mississippi Valley Conservancy to share information about the beneficial role of bats and the importance of protecting their native habitat and Crawford County's karst geology. Kickapoo Caverns, an 83-acre nature preserve near Wauzeka, Wisconsin includes a large cave that serves as hibernation site for several bat species.

For protection of the cave and the safety of attendees, the tours will be limited in size and held at four scheduled times on July 11, 2026. The tours are part of the Conservancy’s Linked to the Land series of outdoor events sponsored by members with media support from WXOW / News 19.

Due to declining bat populations in North America in recent years, scientists have conducted research and helped to create public awareness of bats, their beneficial role in ecosystems around the world, and what can be done to protect them. Of particular concern is white-nose syndrome, a debilitating fungal infection that disrupts the hibernation of bats. Cave visitors at the scheduled tours will have an opportunity to learn more about bats and what can be done to protect them from Conservancy staff (Chris Kirkpatrick and Michael Reitz) and DNR Bat Ecologist Jennifer Redell.

Many generous supporters have made it possible for the Conservancy to protect this property and to guide visitors through the its huge limestone cave. Home to four bat species, the stunning limestone cave includes underground pools, a 40-foot-high cathedral-like chamber, and beautifully-colored stalactites. As winter home to several threatened bat species, the cave is available for tours only during a short period each summer when the bats are away from the cave.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: After sign-up (below), registrants will receive a confirmation email. The total time of each tour is just under an hour. 

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This is a rain or shine event, and temperatures can vary greatly from summer heat outdoors to 50 degrees inside the cave.

There is almost no cell phone reception at the Kickapoo Caverns property, so plan accordingly and consider printing out your directions ahead of time. 

PLEASE NOTE: Getting to the cave requires a 20-30 minute-long uphill hike that can be challenging on a hot summer day. Agility and stamina are also required for the cave tours that involve steep stairways and some passages with low overhead.

Further details regarding times, accessibility, and certain restrictions may be found in the FAQ section below. Please read them carefully.

FAQs

Can anyone tour the cave?

The minimum age for cave tours is 7. All attendees under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. 

Getting to the cave requires a 20-30 minute-long uphill hike that can be challenging on a hot summer day. Agility and stamina are also required for the cave tours that involve steep stairways and some passages with low overhead. The cave tour can last for up to an hour, and the inside temperature of the cave is 50 degrees. There are no bats in the cave during the summer months. The cave tour is not recommended for those with claustrophobia.

What can I bring and wear to the cave tour?

This is a rain or shine event. The temperature in the cave averages 58 degrees Fahrenheit and cave tours last almost an hour, so bring a jacket or sweatshirt. We recommend safe walking or hiking shoes and clothing appropriate for hiking in a wooded area that may be hot and buggy (sandals not recommended). A full refillable water bottle is highly recommended. Waterproof shoes are a good option, as there are sometimes puddles in the cave. Footwear, clothing, and items that have been in other caves are not allowed in the cave at Kickapoo Caverns unless they have been thoroughly decontaminated with bleach. Cameras are allowed.

PROHIBITED ITEMS: Backpacks, handbags, wheelchairs, walkers, hiking sticks, food and beverages are not allowed in the cave. If you bring those things, you may leave then in the cave entrance building while you are in the cave. Please put your name on personal belongings that you may want to leave in the cave entrance while on your tour.

Will there be bats in the cave?

There are no bats in the cave during summer months.

Are there bathrooms on the property?

There are men's and women's pit toilets in an outhouse at the top clearing where the tour will begin.

Curious about bat conservation above the ground and away from caverns? Join the Land Management team at Kickapoo Caverns nature preserve on Saturday, July 18th for a community work party celebrating bat conservation at this special nature preserve. We will enjoy refreshments, talk about the Conservancy's bat conservation projects, and remove invasive brush hindering bat habitat. Bring along your friends and family to learn about how bats, dead trees, prescribed fire, and leaf litter all impact the survival of bats in the Driftless Area. Explore the woods in search of unique woodland plants and state listed bird species as you work, as well! (We will not be going into the cave on this work day.)

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Carpooling is available from our office in La Crosse (with advance notification) – or you can meet us at the property. Please contact me if you'd like to carpool at 608-784-3606 ext.6. 

Can't make it? Consider making a DONATION to the Conservancy's land management efforts! Whether it be money, tools, equipment, or FOOD for the volunteer day, YOU can help us to save and care for the land and wildlife!

Please sign up ahead of time so that we can be sure to bring enough equipment for everyone!

Hope to see you out there!

Knotweed?! More like 'not-in-my-house-weed!'

Listed as one of the top 100 worst invasives on the planet, Japanese knotweed must not be tolerated on our most precious Plum Creek nature preserve. Bag 'em and tag 'em while learning how to forage for the invasive known for its popular lemony rhubarb flavor.

All ages and skill levels are welcome – dress appropriately for the weather, bring a water bottle and sturdy footwear and clothing to protect from brush. Events may involve full body movement on uneven ground and sometimes steep slopes. Expert instruction, protective gear, tools, and snacks will be provided. Together, we can make a big difference in a short amount of time!

Work difficulty rating: MODERATE DIFFICULTY

Terrain difficulty rating: ROLLING TERRAIN

Registration confirmation will be sent by email. Additional details are emailed two days prior to the event. Questions? Email payton@mississippivalleyconservancy.org or call 608-784-3606 ext. 6.

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Discover the fascinating world of Wisconsin’s native bumble bees during this guided field experience led by Steve and Susan Carpenter on their protected Driftless Area property. Wisconsin is home to 20 species of bumble bees, including the federally endangered rusty patched bumblebee. Participants will learn about bumble bee life history, conservation needs, and field identification while exploring blooming summer flowers and discussing practical monitoring techniques.

(PHOTO ABOVE: Rusty patched male bumblebee by Dan Jackson.)

The walk will take place on approximately 100 acres of prairie, stream, and bluff habitat protected through a conservation easement with Mississippi Valley Conservancy. Susan Carpenter, Wisconsin Native Plant Garden Curator at the UW Arboretum, and Steve Carpenter, professor emeritus and former director of the UW–Madison Center for Limnology, have dedicated years to understanding, restoring, and caring for natural systems. Their conservation work reflects a shared commitment to protecting the health and resilience of Wisconsin’s landscapes and wildlife.

Saturday, August 1, 2026 | 9:00–11:00 a.m.

As a regional land trust, the Conservancy works with landowners and communities to permanently protect the bluffs, prairies, forests, wetlands, streams, and farms that enrich the Driftless Area. We are deeply grateful to Steve and Susan Carpenter for generously opening their beautiful protected property for this educational event and for sharing their expertise and passion for conservation.

Event Details:
• Free program; registration required at MississippiValleyConservancy.org
• Participation limited to 20 people
• Specific directions will be sent after registration
• Please bring a camera and/or binoculars
• Wear weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes or boots; hat and sunscreen recommended
• No dogs, please
• No restroom facilities on site; a service station is located three miles south at Hwy 18 and Hwy I
• Walking route will follow mowed lanes and short vegetation over mostly level but occasionally uneven terrain; plan to walk 1–2 miles while visiting flower patches

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ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for this FREE event by July 25th on the events page. Questions? Contact Karen Solverson at karen@mississippivalleyconservancy.org or call 608-784-3606 ext. 8. 

This event is part of the Conservancy’s 2026 “Linked to the Land” series of outdoor experiences on the many nature preserves it protects for wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, outdoor learning and recreation in the Driftless Area. The program is supported by the generous donations of our members and the in-kind support of WXOW News19.