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 27, 2025 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.

2025-2026 Trail Trek Challenge Sponsors: J.F. Brennan Company, Organic Valley, Emplify Health at Gundersen,
Mayo Clinic Health System, Trust Point, People’s Food Cooperative, Altra Financial Advisors, Explore La Crosse, News 8 Now, 
Powered Printing-A Service of Dairyland Power Cooperative

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Learn to scout for deer AND manage invasive species, all in one morning...
 

Mississippi Valley Conservancy and the National Deer Association (NDA) invite landowners, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts to a unique and educational Linked to the Land event at the Conservancy’s Boscobel Bluffs State Natural Area property. This immersive Field to Fork field day will take place on Saturday, September 6 from 9:00 a.m. until noon, and offers a hands-on experience that blends the skills of ethical deer scouting with the practicalities of invasive species management.

The event includes a 3–4 hour guided hike through a stunning conservation property and is designed for participants of all experience levels—especially those from non-hunting backgrounds who want to learn more about sourcing their own sustainable food and being active stewards of the land.

Led by Levi Plath, Land Manager for Mississippi Valley Conservancy, and Brock Rosenkranz, Wisconsin Field to Fork Coordinator for the NDA, this interactive hike will focus on:
•    Scouting whitetail deer: identifying bedding areas, food sources, and travel corridors
•    Spotting invasive species that reduce habitat quality
•    Understanding the connection between habitat health and hunting success
A surprise guest expert, with decades of experience in both deer hunting and invasive species control, will also be on hand to share stories and strategies from the field.

Invasive plants like buckthorn, honeysuckle, and garlic mustard may seem harmless at first glance, but they significantly reduce the biodiversity that supports deer and other wildlife. They alter food availability, limit travel corridors, and outcompete native plants that form the foundation of a healthy ecosystem. Managing these species isn't just good conservation—it’s critical for long-term hunting success.

This event is part of the NDA’s Field to Fork initiative—a food-focused hunter recruitment program aimed at adults from non-hunting backgrounds. The program offers a welcoming, educational approach to learning about ethical hunting, sustainable food sourcing, and land stewardship. Whether you're hoping to harvest your first deer or deepen your relationship with the land, this program is designed to support your journey.

Advance registration is required for this free event by September 2. This special event is part of Mississippi Valley Conservancy’s 2025 Linked to the Land series, supported by Olson Solar Energy and WXOW News 19. 

                                    Map showing location on east side of Boscobel                                                                      Close-up of turn-off

Event Overview:

An interactive field day focused on:

• Scouting for whitetail deer
• Identifying invasive species
• Understanding how these affect deer habitat
• Learning how to positively impact hunting and recreation areas

Hike Details:

• Length: 3–4 hours
• Location: Boscobel Bluffs property

Instructors:

• Levi Plath – Land Manager, Mississippi Valley Conservancy
• Brock Rosenkranz – Wisconsin Field to Fork Coordinator, National Deer Association
• A special guest expert in deer hunting and invasive species

About Field to Fork:

• A food-focused hunter recruitment program by the National Deer Association
• Designed for adults from non-hunting backgrounds
• Teaches participants how to source their own protein and understand the environment

Topics covered:

• Bedding areas
• Food sources
• Travel corridors
• Invasive species identification
• Management strategies for invasives

What to bring and wear:

• Print out the property brochure and map ahead of time to be sure you know where to go.
• Wear long pants, good walking shoes or hiking boots, and consider spraying your shoes and pants for ticks ahead of time.
• There is a moderate incline, so if you like using a walking stick, feel free to bring it along.

We will meet at 8:45 a.m. at the entrance to the location on the day of the event. ANY UPDATES OR CANCELATIONS WILL SENT BY EMAIL THE DAY BEFORE OR OF THE EVENT. Please check your email before you get in the car to come to the event in case of changes.

Please register by September 2nd so we can plan for the event.

Just a reminder that NO DOGS ARE ALLOWED on the Conservancy's nature preserves in order to protect the wildlife that calls it home.

(Photo: Whitetail deer by Allen Blake Sheldon)

Register Below

Families, nature lovers, and stargazers are invited to a special evening of discovery and connection with nature at the popular Gardens and Gazing event hosted by Mississippi Valley Conservancy, in partnership with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA) and the La Crosse Area Astronomical Society.

Taking place on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m., this free event offers a rare opportunity to explore the serene gardens and protected farmland and woods at FSPA land, where food is grown for the sisters and the community. This Linked to the Land event is provided at no cost thanks to the support of Olson Solar Energy and WXOW News 19.

The evening begins with a walking tour of their beautiful gardens, led by FSPA guides, who will share the inspiring story of how the sisters care for the land and grow food that supports local communities, and how their green burial sites are providing a more natural approach at the end of life. Visitors will also learn about the long-standing stewardship values behind this 200-acre property, which the Franciscan Sisters purchased in 1895 and have protected ever since. 

In addition to the garden tour, a guided hike will lead guests along a scenic woodland trail to a ridgetop with sweeping views of the Driftless Area’s bluffs and valleys—just in time for sunset. As night falls, members of the La Crosse Area Astronomical Society will provide telescopes and expertise for viewing the stars and constellations in the late summer sky.

Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the grounds prior to the event starting at 5:30. To round out the evening, guests can enjoy light refreshments and snacks as they prepare to enjoy the night sky.

Advance registration is required by September 17. Details, directions, and registration for this FREE event are on the Events page at MississippiValleyConservancy.org/events. It will be held at FSPA Land, St. Joseph Ridge, W2658 State Hwy 33 Trunk, La Crosse, WI.

Don’t miss this chance to connect with the land, the sky, and a community that values both.

With questions, contact Karen Solverson at [email protected] or call 608-784-3606 ext. 8.
 

Sign-up at the bottom of this page prior to September 17 so we can plan for the event.

Proposed timeline:

5:00             Arrive, park, and gather at Quonset hut

5:30 - 5:45 Refreshments, and introduction to MVC & FSPA 

5:45 – 6:45, then 6:45 – 7:45

            Two one-hour station options for tours – people can pick one or do both

STATION 1: Garden/grounds tour and FSPA land history and natural burial cemetery 

STATION 2: Hike and habitat tour

6:30-7:45            Free time to relax and get situated for stargazing, enjoy cookies, lemonade, ice water, and some salty snacks in the Quonset hut

7:09                    Sunset

7:45 – 9pm         Stargazing with help from La Crosse Astronomical Society

(PHOTO: Participant enjoy the ridgetop view on a prior Gardens and Gazing hike. Photo by Karen Solverson.)