Activities & Attractions

Activites:
Anitquing -- Bicycling -- Bird watching -- Canoeing -- Cross country & downhill skiing -- Horseback riding -- Fly fishing -- Golfing -- Hiking -- Hunting -- Mississippi River boating & fishing -- Photography -- Snowmobiling -- Snow Shoeing

Attractions:
Abundant wildlife -- Amish produce and crafts -- Apple orchards -- Fresh dairy products -- Impressice naturescapes featuring distinctive hills, valleys, rock outcroppings, winding rivers and streams -- Organic foods -- Peaceful country living --Starlit evening skies

 

Trout fishing, canoeing and much more

The strikingly picturesque beauty of the Kickapoo Valley area is a priceless treasure that consistently draws nature lovers to Viroqua.  The area offers a variety of outdoor recreational activities, including:  bicycling, bird watching, camping, canoeing, cross country skiing, horseback riding, fishing, golfing, hiking, hunting, photography, snowmobileing and snowshoeing.  Located on the western edge of the Kickapoo watershed, well known for its keen devotion to the protection of natural resources, Viroqua stands out as a destination for “silent sports” enthusiasts.  Two very popular “silent sports” that rely on the area’s clean streams and rivers are trout fishing and canoeing.

Trout Fishing
You don't have to drive to Montana for great trout fishing. Try what some have dubbed the “Montana of the Midwest.''  Viroqua is in close proximity to dozens of miles of prime wild trout water, surging through the hills and dales of the surrounding area. Here the natural reproduction of trout is so good that state fisheries personnel transplant fish from Viroqua area streams to other places in the state. This wasn't always the case.  In the not too distant past, farming and grazing practices as well as general hard use of the land threatened to shut off the lifeblood of these trout streams - clean, cool, mineral-rich springs.  In recent years, the successful implementation of conservation practices has brought many of the vital springs back to life. And nature’s cleaner, cooler water has brought trout back to places where they haven't been in many years. In addition, trout friendly organizations continue to support local stream rejuvenation by participating in the shoring up of riverbanks and in various other trout habitat improvement efforts. You can experience the results of their good work on two of the area's most celebrated trout streams - the West Fork of the Kickapoo and Timber Coulee.  But don't confine yourself to these streams. Bring along the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Trout Fishing Regulations and Guide and explore the numerous other fine trout streams in the Viroqua area.  It will take quite some time to hit them all, so plan on visiting again and again.

Canoeing
The naturally scenic Kickapoo River is just a short drive from Viroqua and offers 125 miles of unique canoeing waters.  It is Wisconsin’s most meandering river.  Roughly translated from the Native American Algonquian language, the word “Kickapoo” means “crooked.”  Each year, from springtime through autumn, the slow flowing Kickapoo River attracts hundreds of canoeists of all ages and skill levels.  You can furnish your own canoe or rent one from one of the many canoe liveries located from Ontario to Readstown.  Most liveries offer a shuttle service, so arrangements can be made to be picked-up at designated locations along the river.  Some will even spot a car for you.  Canoe trips ranging from a few hours to several days are possible.  Canoeists can paddle past farmlands and along smooth, water-eroded limestone and sandstone bluffs.  Wildlife and wildflowers are abundant, especially near Ontario within Wildcat Mountain State Park and further south within the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, which extends all the way downriver to La Farge.

 

 

Additional Information:
Two excellent sources of area outdoor recreation information are:

• Wildcat Mountain State Park……………….(608) 337-4775
• Kickapoo Valley Reserve……………………(608) 625-2960