Great River State Trail
Notice: Great River ST Tank Creek Bridge Closed — details
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dnr.wisconsin.gov(608) 534-6409
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Fire restriction Great River ST Tank Creek Bridge ClosedThe bridge over Tank Creek (approximately 3 miles east of Trempeauleau) on the Great River State Trail is closed until further notice due to damage… (more)
The bridge over Tank Creek (approximately 3 miles east of Trempeauleau) on the Great River State Trail is closed until further notice due to damage from a fire on the bridge. Impact: High.
Posted by the park 2025-08-25. Official alert
Overview
In La Crosse County, about 3 miles southeast of Trempealeau, Great River State Trail covers about 285 acres.
Things to do include canoeing and kayaking, hunting in season, biking, and hiking. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites).
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| The park’s wording doesn’t give clock times — see the official wording below. | |||
Official wording
The trail is open year-round.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Pets
Pets allowed on a physical leash no longer than 8 feet at all times and under control; loose pets may be seized. Property-specific pet areas/restrictions appear on park pages.
Statewide rule from Wisconsin's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
Per vehicle, resident vs nonresident pricing: a vehicle admission pass is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas (daily $13 WI / $16 out-of-state; annual $28 / $50; rates effective Aug. 19, 2025). State trails use a per-person trail pass for certain uses. Heritage Hill SP charges a per-person admission instead.
Statewide fee rule from Wisconsin's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Wisconsin park passes
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (Wisconsin plates) — $28. All Wisconsin state parks, forests and recreation areas for 12 months Details
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (out-of-state plates) — $50. Same, nonresident vehicles Details
- 12-month pass, Wisconsin residents 65+ — $13. Resident senior vehicles Details
- 12-month reduced-rate pass (additional household vehicle) — $15.50 resident / $32.50 nonresident. Additional vehicles at the same household address; bought with a full-price pass Details
- Daily vehicle admission pass — $13 resident / $3 resident 65+ / $16 nonresident Details
From the Wisconsin state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Wisconsin State Park System reservations (Camis 'Going to Camp')
- Phone
- 1-888-947-2757
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
Near Trempealeau, there is direct access from the trail to Perrot State Park, where camping is available. In addition to camping, the park offers hiking trails, canoeing and fishing opportunities and a nature center. Perrot State Park was a natural landmark for the Hopewell Native American culture, which built many mounds along the Mississippi River Valley.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
CampingCanoeing and kayakingHuntingBikingHiking
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great River State Trail | 24 mi | — | Rail trail: YesCrushed limestone surface |
Trail descriptions from the park
- Rail trail: Yes
- Length: 24 miles
- Surface: Crushed limestone
- Counties: La Crosse, Trempealeau
- Communities: Onalaska, Midway, Trempealeau
Part of the Mississippi River Trail: The Great River State Trail is part of the Mississippi River Trail (MRT), a designated bicycle route that travels from the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca, Minnesota to the Delta at the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana. It is a 3000-mile system of bicycle-friendly roads and multi-use pathways. The MRT is a "string of pearls" that connects 10 states, the cities of Minneapolis, St. Louis, Memphis and New Orleans and hundreds of smaller towns along the way. The MRT is a unique way to experience the Mississippi River's natural wonders, transportation system, recreational facilities and cultural heritage. Most of the MRT in Wisconsin is routed along Highway 35, the Great River Road.
- Wisconsin's Great River Road
- Mississippi River Trail - Bicycle Map
Boating and paddling
Lytle's Landing is a primitive canoe launch area along the Black River. Parking, water and vault toilets are available. The Great River State Trail is ideal for a bike and paddle trip. Sections of this former rail corridor parallel the Mississippi River. You can paddle downstream and then bike back to your starting point or vice versa.
Amenities
Camping
- Tent camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Nearest town
- Trempealeau — about 3 mi southeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 43.9803, -91.3863 (from PAD-US)
- Phone
- (608) 534-6409
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Parking is available in the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, Perrot State Park, Lytle's Landing, Midway and Onalaska.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Wisconsin State Park System — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Wisconsin DNR 'Find a Park' directory (server-rendered Drupal view, ?page=0..5), filtered to /topic/parks/ property pages
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology