Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Let's Get Hiking and Learning - June 2026

For more information on the trips, where available, please click on the colored event titles for a link to the program or hike. 

I will be updating this post throughout the month as new events are announced - usually an additional 5-8 as the month goes on - so feel free to stop back for updated info.

Late May Events
 - Saturday, May 30         11:00am - 2:00 pm
 - Chatfield Center for the Arts, 405 Main St South, Chatfield MN
Join us for Trail Days — a celebration of community, nature, and the growing vision for the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail!  Come explore a recently designated section of the proposed trail with a self-guided or interpretive hike, enjoy outdoor crafts and activities, and enter to win raffle prizes from local and outdoor brands. It’s a fun, easygoing day for hikers, families, and anyone who loves the Driftless Area. Trail Days is also a great chance to learn more about the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail project, share your ideas, and connect with the volunteers and partners helping bring this new long-distance trail to life. We'll host our first ever annual meeting in the middle of trail days - at 12:45 PM - for those who are interested in learning more directly from those involved in building this trail!
What to Expect:
  • Self-guided hikes on recently designated MDHT route
  • Interpretive hike with Paint & Hike
  • Raffle prizes from outdoor + local companies
  • Outdoor crafts + activities for all ages
  • Opportunities to share feedback and learn about the trail project
The event is free and open to everyone, thanks to the generous support of our sponsor. Let’s celebrate the beauty of the Driftless region and imagine what’s possible together. We’ll see you on the trail! Sponsors: Garage Grown Gear/Abode Outside/Storm Sporting Events/Smooth Toe/MN Driftless Hiking Trail

June Events
 - Monday, June 1                  10:00am (repeats weekly on Thursdays-Mondays until October 31)
 - Effigy Mounds National Monument, 151 IA-76, Harpers Ferry, IA
Join us for a free ranger-guided hike to Fire Point overlook starting at 10:00 a.m. This hike is a 2-mile roundtrip that will take about 2 hours total. There is a 350ft elevation gain going up 5 switchbacks on the woodchipped trail. There will be frequent stops on this hike as the ranger will be providing information about the resources of the park. Please wear weather appropriate clothing and footwear. Bringing bug spray is recommended. Sponsor: Effigy Mounds National Monument

Bee House Workshop: Paving the Way for Pollinators with Heidi Bacon
 - Thursday, June 4                    6:00pm 
 - Houston Public Library, 202 E. Cedar St, Houston MN
Heidi will showcase her artwork pairing native Minnesota pollinators with the native plants they rely on, while discussing the importance of supporting pollinators in home landscapes. Participants will receive native Minnesota wildflower seeds and create bee houses using recycled materials. This event is geared to adults, but all ages are welcome. Kids might need some help from an adult. Sponsor: Houston Public Library

 - Friday, June 5                  1:00pm (repeats weekly on Fridays-Sundays until October 31)
 - Effigy Mounds National Monument, 151 IA-76, Harpers Ferry, IA
Join us for a free ranger-guided hike along the Yellow River Boardwalk trail. This hike is a 1-mile roundtrip that will take about 1 hour total. This is a wheelchair accessible trail along a recycled-plastic boardwalk to the Yellow River bridge. There will be frequent stops on this hike as the ranger will be providing information about the resources of the park. Please wear weather appropriate clothing and footwear. Bringing bug spray is recommended. Sponsor: Effigy Mounds National Monument

- Friday, June 5                  2:30pm (repeats weekly on Fridays-Sundays until October 31)
 - Effigy Mounds National Monument, 151 IA-76, Harpers Ferry, IA
Free “Pop-Up” programs are ranger-led activities or talks. These programs can be focused on a variety of topics and are ranger’s choice. Sponsor: Effigy Mounds National Monument

 - Saturday, June 6        9:30-11:30am
 - The Nature Place, 789 Myrick Park Dr, La Crosse WI
Join us for a free family event at The Nature Place on the first Saturday of each month. Each event provides a unique seasonal opportunity to learn about the critters and nature patterns found within our region's ecosystem. If you have a question about the event, please reach out to our Community Programs Manager, Steph Hanna at Steph.Hanna@natureplacelacrosse.org **Weather notices or immediate updates regarding one of these events will be shared on our FB stories the day of the event. Sponsor: The Nature Place

Outdoor Skills - Wilderness Weekends with Emily
- Saturday, June 6                   9:30am-11:30 am
- Holzinger Trails, 25 W. Lake BLVD, Winona MN
There are many different aspects to consider when analyzing survival scenarios such as food sources, shelter, first aid, navigation, and more. Bring your family out to the Holzinger Trails to learn about the basics of survival and enjoy the start of summer! This program is designed to be kid-friendly as we discuss the basic needs of survival and do some fun interactive activities to go along with each newly learned skill. Wilderness Weekends, led by Emily Gorman, is an environmental education program offering an immersive experience to explore the ecosystems and ecological treasures of Winona County. Join us to discover, appreciate, and protect the region's natural wonders. Free to Attend! Registration Required. Sponsor: Winona Outdoor Collaborative

Camouflage Walk
- Saturday, June 6                 1:00-2:00 pm
- Whitewater State Park Visitor Center, 19041 Hwy 74, Altura, MN
Can you find hidden creatures? How do animals "hide," and why is it important for their survival? Use your senses on an easy outdoor walk to discover why and how camouflage is an important adaptation for animals at Whitewater! This program is suitable for kids and adults of all ages. Sponsor: Whitewater State Park

Image - Whitewater State Park

 - Saturday, June 6          3:00-5:00 pm
 - Whitewater State Park beach,  19041 Hwy 74, Altura, MN
Whitewater State Park is home to a variety of mammals, both large and small, all of which have amazing creature features and contribute to our ecosystem in different ways. Check out pelts, skulls, and learn more about these animals firsthand with a park ranger. Drop in to our learning station anytime 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. near the Whitewater Beach restroom shelter. Sponsor: Whitewater State Park

Meet Live Raptors
- Saturday, June 6                7-8:00pm
- Wildcat Mountain State Park amphitheater, E13660 Hwy 33, Ontario, WI 54651
Join Abbey Krumrie, from River Valley Raptors, for a free interactive program about raptors. Meet some live raptors and learn about the differences between their adaptations. Please, no pets, because they may scare the raptors. Meet at the Amphitheater. This event is weather-dependent. Event Contact: Emily Alf, emily.alf@wisconsin.gov, 608-337-4775. Sponsor: Friends of Wildcat Mountain State Park

Driftless Eco-Explorers - Children's Program
- Monday, June 8              11:00am
- meet outside Holmen Public Library, 121 W. Legion St, Homen WI
Enjoy a nature walk, stroies and activities designed to foster eco-literacy and fun for youth and their grown-ups. Explore a local trail as summer marches along at this free, approximately 45 minute program. Weather permitting. For more information, call (608) 526-4198. Sponsor: La Crosse County Holmen Library

 - June 9-11                1:00-3:00pm                              Cost: $45/student
 - Register at La Crescent-Hokah Community Education           507 895-4484
Sponsor: La Crescent-Hokah Community Education/Driftless Drifters Hiking Club


Tom the Creature Teacher
- Wednesday, June 10              10:00 am
- Houston Public Library, 210 West Spruce St, Houston MN
Here’s your chance to meet several types of frogs, lizards, turtles, and snakes from around the world! You will even be allowed to touch many of the critters while they are being presented. Stick around for lunch with the Meet Up and Eat Up crew following the program! Sponsor: Houston Public Library

Preschool Nature Explorers - Wild About Wildflowers
 - Wednesday, June 10              10-11:00 am
 - Frontenac (MN) State Park,  - Frontenac (MN) State Park, 29223 County 28 Blvd, Frontenac, MN
Nature Explorers program for preschoolers (ages 3-6) with Project Get Outdoors interpretive naturalist Sara Holger and FSPA volunteers: Wild About Flowers. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the park’s main picnic shelter. Sponsors: Frontenac State Park Association/Project Get Outdoors

Music with Will Family Event
- Wedneday June 10
- 12:30-1:15 pm Holmen Public Library, 121 W. Legion St, Holmen WI
- 3:30-4:30 pm Campbell Library, 2548 Lakeshore Drive (French Island), La Crosse WI
- 6:30-7:30 pm West Salem Library, 702 Industrial Dr, West Salem WIA musician and naturalist from Minnesota, Will performs original music for kids with a focus on positivity, humor, and learning through curiousity. His environmentally-themed music is guaranteed to get kids moving, grooving, laughing and singing! No registration required. All ages welcome. Sponsor: La Crosse County Library

Nature Knowledge - Bountiful Butterflies
- Thursday, June 11              10:00-11:00 am
- Windom Park, 260 Harriet St, Winona, MN
Come learn about our amazing butterflies. We will take a short walk to catch butterflies so we can observe them up close. Bring your own net if you have one or use one of the park’s. We will also do a fun butterfly craft. Join Winona Public Library and naturalists from Whitewater State Park at Windom Park to interactively learn about the plants & animals in our beautiful driftless area. We’ll start with a brief nature education piece, followed by activities and crafts related to the topic. This is great for ages 6 and up. Children under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult.  Sponsor: Winona Public Library

Driftless Eco-Explorers - Children's Program
- Thursday, June 11                 11:00am
- meet at Great River Landing, 101 Irvin St, Onalaska WI
Enjoy a nature walk, stroies and activities designed to foster eco-literacy and fun for youth and their grown-ups. Explore a local trail as summer marches along at this free, approximately 45 minute program. Weather permitting. For more information, call (608) 781-9568. Sponsor: La Crosse County Onalaska Library

Animals on the Road
- Thursday, June 11              3:00pm
- La Crescent Community Building, 336 S. 1st St, La Crescent MN
Join us to meet a live animal ambassador and learn about wildlife with an Eagle Bluff professional educator! This interactive learning experience will spark curiosity, build environmental awareness, and inspire a meaningful connection with wildlife. Free and open to all ages. This program is sponsored by a Legacy grant through the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund, made possible through SELCO. Find more library events in the SELCO region at legacy.selco.info/calendar. Sponsors:La Crescent Public Library

Driftless Impacts: Factors That Influence Our Flora and Fauna
 - Friday, June 12               3:00-4:00pm
 - Iowisota Retreat and Ducation Center, 2472 IA-26, Lansing, Iowa
Geology, climate, soils, and land use history have impacted the occurrence and distribution of plants on our landscape. Join us for an informational presentation on the plants and animals that make our landscape special, and how they got there. Cost is a suggested free-will donation of $5/person. Register here. This presentation has been prepared specifically for the “Singles in Agriculture” tour, but it is open to the public. The talk will consist of a slide presentation that will include maps/historical photographs of the landscape and photographs of some of the flora and fauna that make this area special. After the 45-minute talk, there will be opportunity to either go for a short interpretive walk in the woods or sit and relax in the Gathering Room with a cup of tea/coffee. There should be ample opportunity for questions/discussion. The presentation is provided by Linda Haugen. Linda recently retired from a career as a forest health specialist with the US Forest Service. Linda grew up on the Iowisota property, moving here with her parents in 1968, but spent her career working away from here. Linda and Dennis built the new residence/retreat center and moved back to northeast Iowa in 2023. Both Linda and Dennis have a wealth of knowledge about natural resources in general, and about Iowisota woodlands specifically. Trees are their thing. Sponsor: Iowisota Retreat and Education Center

Free Minnesota Parks Day
- Saturday, June 13
Minnesota state parks are open year-round, and there's a state park within 30 miles of most Minnesotans. With a free day in each season, it's a great opportunity to get out there and explore someplace new - or visit an old favorite at a new time of year! Whether you stay for the whole weekend or just spend a few hours outside, you'll make memories that will last a lifetime. The entrance fee waiver for fee-free days does not cover amenity or user fees for activities like camping, rentals, or special tours. The goal is to encourage families and friends to spend time together in nature. Research shows many health and wellness benefits to spending time in nature. According to ParkRx, contact with nature improves one’s physical, mental, and spiritual health. Getting outdoors makes exercise more fun and can boost mood and immunity. The American Psychological Association shares that exposure to nature is linked to benefits including improved attention, lower stress, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders and even increases in empathy and cooperation. Additional date for free park days in 2026: Friday, November 27, 2025. Sponsor: MN DNR

 - Saturday, June 13           8:30 am 
 - Wagon Wheel Trail, meet at the pedestrian bridge.
Bring your headphones and your favorite walking shoes and spend some time with the audiobook of your choice as we hit the La Crescent trails together! We’ll meet at a local trailhead and walk together, then stop for refreshments at a local business afterward. Parking available in the lot next to the bridge, behind
the Wieser Professional Building, 33 S. Walnut St.  Refreshments and social at Groovy Grounds after the hike. Sponsor: La Crescent Public Library

Bats of Whitewater - Bat Count
 - Saturday, June 13            8:30-9:30 am
Whitewater State Park North Picnic Pavilion,  19041 Hwy 74, Altura, MN
Learn about Minnesota's bat population and the dreaded White Nose Syndrome that threatens their world. We will separate fact from fiction about these fascinating little animals. Program participants will aid in ongoing scientific research at the park by counting bats emerging from their daytime slumber. Sponsor: Whitewater State Park

Prairie Dreams - A Trail of Quilts
 - Saturday, June 13        10am - 5:00pm
 - Frontenac (MN) State Park, 29223 County 28 Blvd, Frontenac, MN
Experience the quilts of over 125 artists as inspired by their dreams of the prairie and displayed along a trail in Frontenac State Park. Incorporating a prairie’s elemental aspects of earth, wind, and fire, see quilts based on stories passed down through generations, evoking hope for the future, and representing daydreams of clouds scudding across the sky while listening to songbirds nearby.
  • Come and talk to quilters about their designs and inspirations.
  • Learn about how select quilts reveal facts or flights of fancy about the prairie environment that Frontenac State Park preserves for present and future generations.
  • Enjoy refreshments, vote for your favorite quilt, and enter a drawing for a free Minnesota State Park Pass.
​Quilts will be displayed along a mowed grass trail so you may encounter them at your leisure. See website regarding accessibility options. Rain date: June 20, 2026. Sponsor: Frontenac State Park Association

 - Saturday, June 13         10 am -11:30 am
 - Forestville Mystery Cave (MN) Park, William Morris’s Visitor Center
Caves, disappearing streams and sinkholes make up a landscape called karst. Cherry Grove Blind Valley Scientific and Natural Area is a hidden gem in the story of karst topography. Master Naturalist volunteer, Ann will reveal these unique geologic features up close on this 1 mile hike. Come prepared to cross over a shallow stream on stepping stones by wearing sturdy shoes. Bug spray is recommended too. Meet at the William Morrissey Visitor Center at Mystery Cave for a brief introduction and follow Ann in your own car about 6 miles to the Cherry Grove SNA. From State Hwy. 16, go 4 miles south on Co. Hwy. 5, then follow the signs to Mystery Cave. More Information: Call 507-352-5111.  Sponsor: MN DNR

Intro to Camping
- Saturday, June 13     11-:00am - noon
 - Prairie Island Nature Trails Winona, MN
Join us for a fun intro to camping event where we will have various stations set up to learn about all of the camping basics! We will discuss how to set up a tent, the process of starting (and keeping) a fire going, how to cook over an open fire, hiking tips, and more! If you are new to camping or looking to connect with others in the community who are passionate about camping and getting outdoors then this is the event for you! This is a great event to attend alone or bring the whole family — all are welcome to join in the fun. Free to Attend! Registration required. Sponsor: Winona Outdoor Collaborative

 - Saturday, June 13          6:00-7:00 pm
 - Whitewater (MN) State Park Chimney Rock Trailhead,  19041 Hwy 74, Altura, MN
On this hike, we will travel through time to learn about the geologic processes that formed the beautiful Whitewater River Valley. Find out how oceans, glaciers and raging rivers have shaped this landscape. Distance - 0.7 Miles, Elevation Gain 200 ft. Uneven surfaces. Sponsor: Whitewater State Park

Growing Sprouts: Nature-Based Early Literacy
Water Exploration with Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center
- Thursday, June 18                10:00-11:00am
 - Lake Lodge at Lake Winona, 113 Lake Park Dr, Winona, MN
Eagle Bluff educators will bring all the gear needed to look for macroinvertebrates, amphibians and other possible animals at Lake Winona on the beach behind Lake Lodge. Adults are required to be with children at all times and are responsible for any children attending with them.This program series from Winona Public Library for ages 3-6 and a caregiver is focused on using natural spaces to practice building blocks of early literacy: talk, write, read, and play! We’ll be outdoors for the whole program, so dress for the weather. Sturdy shoes are important, as we’ll spend part of the time on Holzinger Trail. Adults are required to be with children at all times. No pre-registration required. Sponsor: Winona Public Library
 -Thursday, June 18          4:00 pm
 - La Crescent Community Building, 336 S. 1st St, La Crescent MN
Buzz, flutter, and fly along with Happy Dancing Turtle as we explore the amazing world of pollinators. Discover why pollinators are so important and go on a pollinator hunt in your local park! Sponsor:La Crescent Public Library
 
What is Blooming at Kellogg Weaver Dunes 
 - Friday June 19           9:00 - 11:3 am
 - The Nature Conservancy’s Cox Unit, Kellogg MN
We will meet at the Kellogg MN Kwik Trip and caravan to this site on the Lower Sand Prairie.This will be an easy hike, no sand dunes, or hills, but the terrain may have long grass and other obstacles. We will stay away from the poison ivy area. We will focus on Milkweeds and their importance, Goat’s Rue, Puccoon, Thimbleweed, Spiderwort, Prairie Larkspur, White Wild Indigo, Blue-Eyed Grass, and Hoary Frost Weed. The public is welcome at this free event; registration is limited to ten participants. To register contact Nancy Falkum at 651-764-5605 or email guthrie55981@gmail.com

 - Saturday, June 20          9;00 - 11:00 am
 - Frontenac (MN) State Park Ranger Station, 29223 County 28 Blvd, Frontenac, MN
Walk the Prairie Trail looking and listening for breeding grassland birds including meadowlarks, dicksissels, bluebirds, raptors, and various sparrows. Bring binoculars. The trail is mowed grass without much elevation change. The walk is 1-2 miles long. Depending on group preferences and how many birds we're seeing, this can take a couple of hours, but you can leave whenever you would like. No need to register but if you have any questions, email janetmalotky@gmail.com. Meet at the Ranger Station parking lot. Sponsor: Frontenac State Park Association

 - Saturday, June 20        10:00 am - noon
Stry Prarie, Hixon Forest, La Crosse WI
We will meet experts from Coulee Region Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts at Stry Prairie in Hixon Forest Park in La Crosse, WI. All ages and skill levels are welcome to learn, observe, and explore with us! We use iNaturalist to identify and upload images to a community science database. Add your observations to iNaturalist and or to your own personal passport that we provide. Get a sticker and a button and help us add more community scientists to Driftless Area BioBlitz. Sponsors: The Nature Place and Coulee Region Chapter of the Prairie Enthusiasts

 - Saturday, June 20            10:00 am - noon
- Wildcat Mountain (WI) State Park, E13660 Hwy 33, Ontario, WI
Join Wildcat Mountain staff members as we learn all about nature journaling. What is nature journaling? Why do it? How do we journal nature? Get creative and make your own homemade journal. Take a short walk and find a place to make your first journal entry! Meet at the upper picnic shelter. This event will be held rain or shine. Sponsor: Wildcat Mountain State Park

Owls Around Us
- Saturday, June 20                     8:00-9:00pm
Whitewater State Park Visitor's Center, 19041 Hwy 74, Altura, MN
Learn about owls, dissect an owl pellet, and maybe even hear an owl in the twilight hours! You will leave knowing what to look for as an owl-tastic nature explorer at Whitewater! (and back home too). Sponsor: Whitewater State Park

 - Saturday, June 20                    8:30- 10:30pm
- Wyalusing State Park, Huser Observatory, , 13081 State Park Lane, Bagley, WI
Star Splitters host freee monthly programs with presentations and telescope viewings. Contact: www.starsplitters.org, starsplitterswsp@gmail.com Sponsors: Star Splitters of Wyalusing

Bee House Workshop: Paving the Way for Pollinators with Heidi Bacon
- Tuesday, June 23              11:00am
- Hokah Public Library, 211 Main St, Hokah MN
Heidi will showcase her artwork pairing native Minnesota pollinators with the native plants they rely on, while discussing the importance of supporting pollinators in home landscapes. Participants will receive native Minnesota wildflower seeds and create bee houses using recycled materials. This event is geared to adults, but all ages are welcome. Kids might need some help from an adult. Sponsor: Hokah Public Library

Exploring the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood Forest
- Saturday, June 23                 6:00pm
- Houston Nature Center, 215 West Plum St, Houston MN
This program highlights the life and legacy of Richard J. Dorer, who dedicated decades to protecting Minnesota’s wildlife and restoring trout streams and forests in southeast Minnesota. Project Get Outdoors Coordinator and Naturalist Sara Holger shares the history of the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest and explores its unique natural features and sites open to the public. Sponsors: Houston Public Library and Project Get Outdoors (GO).
   
Bird and Bug Brigade Nature Hike
- Thursday , June 25                 4:00 pm
- La Crescent Community Building, 336 S. 1st St, La Crescent MN
Have you ever listened to the chirping birds and wondered which ones they were? Imagine finding a caterpillar and knowing which butterfly or moth it would will become. The book "Small Hands Can Help - Minnesota" is all about nature and adventure! Join author and iNaturalist Teresa Veraguth as we start at the Community Building to listen to a poem about how the loons change their eye color, then we'll head over to Wagon Wheel Trail (starting at the pedestrian bridge) for the “Bird & Bug Brigade” nature hike. Grown-ups: Bring a smartphone to learn community science apps or have your kiddos just use their eyes and ears to find the items on scavenger hunt handouts. Sponsors: La Crescent Public Library and Friends,/Merchant Bank

 - Friday, June 26,             3:00-4:00pm
 - Winona Public Library, 151 W. 5th St, Winona MN
Join Will Sings Songs at Winona Public Library on a musical adventure through the Minnesotan outdoors! An experienced naturalist, Will performs original nature-themed songs, along with some songs that are just plain fun! Driven by audience participation, Will is guaranteed to get kids moving, grooving, laughing, and singing. This high energy performance focuses on positivity, joy, and learning through curiosity. This program is made possible by the people of Minnesota through Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Library Legacy fund, in cooperation with our regional library system, SELCO. Sponsor: Winona Public Library

- Saturday, June 27         10 am -11:30 am
 - Forestville Mystery Cave Park, William Morris’s Visitor Center
Caves, disappearing streams and sinkholes make up a landscape called karst. Cherry Grove Blind Valley Scientific and Natural Area is a hidden gem in the story of karst topography. Master Naturalist volunteer, Ann will reveal these unique geologic features up close on this 1 mile hike. Come prepared to cross over a shallow stream on stepping stones by wearing sturdy shoes. Bug spray is recommended too. Meet at the William Morrissey Visitor Center at Mystery Cave for a brief introduction and follow Ann in your own car about 6 miles to the Cherry Grove SNA. From State Hwy. 16, go 4 miles south on Co. Hwy. 5, then follow the signs to Mystery Cave. More Information: Call 507-352-5111.  Sponsor: MN DNR

- Sunday, June 28             1:30-2:30pm
 - Iowisota Retreat and Ducation Center, 2472 IA-26, Lansing, Iowa        
Historian Christine Wellman Hall will share insights on the human history of the Upper Mississippi River Valley, from first nations to present time. Light refreshments (tea/coffee and cookies). Optional short hike after session. Cost is by donation. Register here. We will have a free-will donation jar available. We are limiting participation to 30 due to size of room, so reservations are necessary. The program will be provided by Christine Wellman Hall. Christine is very familiar with this landscape; her family lived on the Iowisota property during her formative middle school years (her dad was the Kee High principal), and she did her college senior thesis about Fish Farm Mounds. Christine’s work experiences include the Delta Queen riverboat, Effigy Mounds National Monument, and Norskedalen Nature and Heritage Center. These prepared her well for her current job as a featured History speaker on Mississippi River Cruises by American Cruise Lines! We are excited to welcome Chris back to her childhood “home turf” to share her insights with us.


Do you know of other June hiking/learning events I should include? Just drop me a line in comments or the contact box on my web version of the blog.

You can read my quarterly column on seasonal hiking suggestions in Inspire(d) Driftless magazine available online or pick up a free copy at businesses and organizations around the Driftless areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin and IA.
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Saturday, May 16, 2026

I Spy on the Trail - May 1 -15, 2026

May is always such a lush and fast-moving month despite cold weather. Leaf-out, returning songbirds and flowers sprouting and blooming everywhere in the wild and in our gardens. It’s always a pleasure to see what’s on the May trails.

The first half of the month continued cool with frost warnings often during the first eight days. Once again, my warmer hiking clothes got a workout. It was also a dry start to the month through most of the Driftless with scattered showers but little prolonged moisture. We ended up with rain and nice warm temps the second week so that is a good sign. More rain and seasonably warmer temperatures are looking good for the second half of the month too. 

Jeweled shooting stars
Perrot Park's Brady's Bluff trail

The bird migration numbers exploded exponentially during the first two weeks with warblers, hummingbirds, grosbeaks, egrets, waterthrush, vireos and yellowthroat joining the fun. Trails and yards have been awash in activity and sound. But migration is far from over. Please remember to turn off outside lights and pull down shades between 11pm and 6 am, peak migration hours.

It has been an incredible year for jeweled shooting stars. Everywhere we found these limestone-loving cliff ephemerals, there were simply hillsides and cliffsides covered with them. Once pollinated, their drooping petals, straighen and become erect, soon revealing a lone seed head. It has made woods and cliffside hikes especially fun. For those checking out the prairies, prairie smoke is blooming like crazy!

We spent the final week in Ely MN hiking and stargazing. Being six hours north of La Crescent, the timing was right to re-experience early spring. It was a pleasure to spot the earliest blooming roundleaf hepatica and a rush of warbler migration and drumming of grouse during our time there. We also were able to enjoy the delicate first pastel leaves of spring up there. Pale yellow and pink leaves joined spring green in the leaf canopy.


What causes these early jewel leaf tones?  In meteorologist Paul Douglas’ April 30th Star Tribune column, he explains the phenomenon: “It’s finally “greening up” across Minnesota, but why do leaves on the trees look more yellow-green (chartreuse) than the dark greens of July and August? In spring, “carotenoids” (the same yellow and orange pigments from the fall) are still present when leaves unfold. Because chlorophyll levels are low in early May, we are seeing the yellow of the carotenoids blending with the light green of new chlorophyll. Leaves are still living off stored sugars from the trunk and roots. Photosynthesis, the biological process that converts sunlight into glucose (food) and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water, will kick in soon, turning deciduous leaves forest green by midsummer."

It’s scientific tidbits like this that open my eyes to what I am seeing and learning in nature each month. I wonder what the rest of May has in store for us?

Plant Observations
Flowering
  • anemone, false rue
    Rue anemone
  • anemone, rue
  • anemone, wood
  • bellwort, large-leaved
  • bishop’s cap (two-leaf miterwort)
  • buttercup, bristly
  • buttercup, early
  • buttercup, littleleaf
  • buttercup, prairie
  • columbine, red
  • Dutchman’s breeches
    Showy orchis
  • fern, brittle bladderfern 
  • fern, bulblet bladderfern
  • fern, interrupted 
  • fern, lady
  • fern, northern maidenhair
  • fern, ostrich
  • fern, rockcap
  • groundsel, prairie
  • Jack-in-the-pulpit
  • lupine, wild
  • plantain, Robin’s 
  • prairie smoke
  • puccoon, hoary
  • pussytoes, field
  • rockcress, lyreleaf
  • rockcress, tower
    Drooping trillium or wakerobin
  • sedge, clustered field
  • sedge, needleleaf
  • sand cherry
  • shooting star, jeweled
  • showy orchis
  • Solomon’s seal, starry false
  • spring beauty
  • squirrel corn
  • trillium, drooping (drooping wakerobin)
  • trillium, white
  • violet, birdfoot
  • violet, common blue
  • violet, downy yellow
  • waterleaf, great
  • waterleaf, Virginia
  • wild ginger
  • wild sarsaparilla
  • wild strawberry
  • wintercress
Sprouting/greened/budded
  • aster, western silver
    Wild lupine buds
  • Canada mayflower
  • candle anemone
  • cohosh, blue
  • goldenrods
  • meadow rue
  • puccoon, hairy
  • Solomon’s seal, smooth
  • spurge, cypress
  • toadflax, bastard
  • wild bergamot
  • yarrow
Past Bloom
  • bloodroot
  • Dutchman’s breeches
  • hepatica, sharplobe
  • Pasque flower

Fungi/Moss/Lichen
Great-scented liverwort

  • lichen, great-scented liverwort
  • moss, pincushion
  • moss, woodsy-thyme
  • mushroom, Dryad’s saddle
  • mushroom, morel

Wildlife (seen, heard, detected)
Birds
  • blackbird, red-winged
  • blue jay
  • cardinal, northern
  • chickadee, black-capped
  • cowbird, brown-headed
  • crow, American
  • eagle, bald
  • flicker, northern
  • flycatcher, least
  • gnat-catcher, blue-gray
  • goldfinch, American
  • grosbeak, red-breasted
  • indigo bunting
  • killdeer
  • kinglet, red-crowned
  • meadowlark, eastern
  • nuthatch, white-breasted
  • oriole,Baltimore
  • osprey
  • redstart, American
  • robin, American 
  • scarlet tanager
  • sparrow, clay-colored
  • sparrow, field
  • sparrow, house
  • sparrow, song
  • sparrow, swamp
  • sparrow, white-throated
  • swallow, barn
  • swallow, rough-winged
    Yellow-rumped warbler aka butter-butt
  • swallow, tree
  • thrush, wood
  • titmouse, tufted
  • towhee, eastern
  • turkey, wild
  • vireo, red-eyed
  • vireo, warbling
  • vireo, yellow-throated
  • vulture, turkey
  • warbler, blackpoll
  • warbler, cerulean
  • warbler, chestnut sided
  • warbler, Nashville
  • warbler, orange-crowned
  • warbler, palm
  • warbler, Tennessee 
  • warbler, yellow
  • warbler, yellow-rumped 
  • warbler, yellow-throated 
  • waterthrush, northern
  • woodpecker, downy
  • woodpecker, pileated
  • woodpecker, red-bellied
  • woodpecker, red-headed
  • wren, house
Waterfowl
  • cormorant, double-crested
  • duck, gadwell
  • duck, hooded merganser 
  • duck, mallard
  • duck, wood
  • egret, great
  • goose, Canada
  • grebe, pie-billed
  • heron, great blue
  • swan, trumpeter

Reptiles/Amphibians

  • turtle, painted
Insects
  • butterfly, blue azure
  • butterfly, pearl crescent
  • butterfly, tiger swallowtail
  • bumblebees, many queens!

Mammals

  • beaver
  • squirrel

Mollusks
  • snail shell, tiger flame tail
  • snail shell, broad-banded forest

Ely MN Hiking Observations
Plants:

Sprouted
Tiny jack pine pinecone

  • alumroot 
  • anemone, wood
  • aster, large-leaved
  • avens, white
  • bearberry
  • blueberry, low bush
  • buttercup, meadow
  • Canada mayflower
  • cinquefoil, rough
  • columbine
  • fern, rockcap
  • fern Spinulose wood
  • hawkweed, rattlesnake
  • hepatica, roundlobed (bloomed) 
  • lily, bluebead
  • oatgrass
  • pinecone, jack pine
  • pipsissewa
  • primrose, evening
  • pussytoe
  • rockcress, tower
  • wild strawberry 
  • wintergreen
  • wintergreen, liverleaf
  • wintergreen, pink
Fungi/moss/lichen
Witch's butter fungi

  • clubmoss, treelike
  • fungi, witch's butter
  • moss, broom forkmoss
  • moss, Juniper haircap
  • moss, red-stemmed feather
  • moss, rock spike

Wildlife:
  • blackbird, red-winged
  • blue jay
  • butterfly, mourning cloak
  • butterfly, northern azure
  • chickadee, black-capped
  • crow, American
  • eagle, bald
  • finch, purple
  • flicker, northern
  • flycatcher, least
  • frog, chorus
  • frog, spring peeper
  • goldfinch
  • grouse (drumming)
  • hawk, broad-winged
  • junco, dark-eyed
  • kinglet, gold-crowned
  • kinglet, ruby-crowned
  • loon
  • nuthatch, red-breasted
  • ovenbird
  • raven
  • robin
  • sapsucker, yellow-bellied
  • sparrow, chipping
  • sparrow, song
  • sparrow, swamp
  • sparrow, white-throated
  • thrush, hermit
  • thrush, Swainson's 
  • warbler, black-and-white
  • warbler, black-throated green
  • warbler, blackburnian 
  • warbler, Magnolia
  • warbler, Nashville
  • warbler, palm
  • warbler, pine
  • warbler, yellow
  • warbler, yellow-rumped
  • waterthrush, northern 
  • whip-poor-will, eastern
  • woodpecker, hairy
  • wren, winter
    What are YOU seeing on your hikes?

A month of hikes
Hikes below in colored, bold type or underlined have links to previous posts OR descriptions/location of the trails found online.

Holland Sand Prairie, Holman WI (2); Wyalusing State Park, Bridgeport, WI (2); Lytle’s Landing, Brice Prairie WI; Perrot State Park , Trempealeau WI; La Crosse Marsh Trail, La Crosse WI; Yellow River State Forest, Harpers Ferry IA; Laurentian Divide trails, Superior National Forest, MN; Secret/Blackstone Lakes Trail, Superior National Forest, Ely MN (2); Bass/Dry Lake Trail, Superior National Forest, Ely MN


                  Images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters

Essen Lake - a great spot to relax and enjoy along the trail

The "I Spy on the Trails" column is a phenology (the study of seasonal changes in plants and animals) journal to chronicle year-round the weather, plant life and wildlife I observe while hiking. It is very useful in helping me compare observations from year-to-year. The column is published monthly from September through April and then twice-a-month from May through August when warm weather brings the natural world back to vibrant life.

Capturing a shot of the rare showy orchis
Image - Lavon Court






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Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Lights Out Alert For Migrating Birds

I just received this email and am passing it on to all our Driftless friends, not just in Wisconsin but in Minnesota and Iowa as well. Please help our migrating songbirds as they arrive for nesting or pass through to nesting grounds further north.

Lights Out Alert issued statewide in Wisconsin for the night of Thursday, May 14 and next 2 weeks!


Another massive wave of migrating birds is on its way to Wisconsin, bringing calls from scientists to turn off non-essential outdoor lights on the night of May 14 and other nights over the next two weeks when Lights Out Alerts are forecast in some or all of the state.

Lights Out Wisconsin is urging everyone to turn off or dim non-essential outdoor lights and close window shades from 11 p.m.–6 a.m. to help birds safely migrate.

Most migratory birds fly at night, and artificial light can disorient them, drawing them into developed areas where they face greater risks, especially from window collisions. Even one night of darker skies can save thousands of birds.

How to help in coming days:

🪟 Put up a window treatment on your worst window(s) for birds (the window/s they hit).

🌙 Put exterior lights on motion sensors, timers, or dimmers so they’re only on when needed.

💡 If lights must be on, use warm/amber outdoor lights: aim for ~2200 K or lower when possible (lower Kelvin = less blue light).

✨ Choose fully shielded, downward-facing fixtures and aim light only where required to avoid trespass and skyglow.

Thank you very much for helping make migration safer for birds!


Lights Out Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin conservation groups and dark sky organizations working together to reduce the impacts of light pollution on people, wildlife and the night sky.
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Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Wyalusing (WI) State Park Bluff Trail

The beginning of the trail
Image - Kris Lawson
Wyalusing State Park has many amazing bluff and prairie trails to wander up and down on. If you don't mind heights and a few vertiginous spots on a narrow bluffside trail - and are down for finding absolute carpets of spring ephemerals and a rare geological wonder, the Bluff Trail is a particularly stunning one to hike.

This short 0.9 mile trail begins in the large parking lot leading to the Lookout Point viewshed (just past the junction of Long Valley Rd). From the parking lot, you walk down a paved path to a spectacular view overlooking the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers. Don't be surprised to get an eye level view of bald eagles circling on thermals on sunny days. There is also a marker commemorating Marquette and Joliet's landing in the 1670's.

So many wildflowers
Image - Kris Lawson

From the lookout, turn right and begin your descent to the trailhead. This hill is lush with ephemerals. Sharplobe hepatica, shooting stars, Jack-in-the-pulpit, bellworts, bishop's cap, anemones, trilliums and Solomon seal are just a few of the succession of forbs you’ll see in April through early June.

River views & steep slopes


At the trailhead, turn left onto a series of rock and wood/dirt steps that quickly descend over 170 feet to the fairly level but narrow dirt trail. On your left side are sharp drops but stunning views of the Wisconsin River and bluffs along the Mississippi River. On your right side, you will be treated to towering limestone cliffs and hillsides full of ephemerals.


Many of these limestone cliffs feature algific (cold air) talus (loose rock) slopes. They are a geological wonder. These rare, steep, north-facing slopes are found mostly in the Driftless region of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and especially in Iowa. The slopes vent out cool air during warm seasons. 

What causes these slopes and venting?

Outside temp
The habitat and ecosystem associated with algific talus slopes are the result of the limestone's slow erosion. That erosion creates porous fractures throughout the limestone. There is a slate or shale layer beneath the limestone that is impermeable.  So the water stays at that barrier and freezes during the winter. As it slowly melts in warmer weather, the water vapor and cooled air flow out of multiple fractures and vents in the rocks in the surrounding area. This cooler air results in a habitat supporting rare flowers and invertebrates that thrive in moist, cool environments and limestone soils.

Temp inside the cliff air vent

When I left a thermometer in one of the vents while we walked the trail on an out-and-back hike during a day in the low 80s, on our return to retrieve the thermometer, the air in the vent clocked in at 50F! That was a fun experiment.




Land snail shell

In my hikes on Bluff Trail in the last few weeks, these cool north-facing slopes were full of tiny mollusk shells, a profusion of bulblet bladderferns and shooting stars (which love limestone soils), great-scented liverwort and woodsy thyme moss among many other ephemerals including two-leaf miterwort, bellflowers, drooping trilliums, Jack-in-the-pulpits and smooth and false Solomon's seal.


Cool-air vents in the keyhole
Image - Kris Lawson

You can choose this out-and-back route for a pretty gorgeous 1.8 mile hike that affords spectacular river views on the way back. As you return, stand in the keyhole opening to the right of the initial first flight of stone steps.You will be blasted by cool air venting out as you stand there. From mid-May through October 1, you can pass through the keyhole to Treasure Cave down steep steps and then up steep steps into it. The cave is closed from October through mid-May. This is a bat hibernaculum for the little brown bat, a protected species.


You can also take advantage of other options to create a loop hikes from Bluff Trail if you prefer. These options include: 

  • taking your first right up a steep hill to the campground road and hiking the road past campers and views (.8 miles on that part of the loop)
  • continuing on to the second right on Old Wagon Road trail to make a loop to a parking area and following the road back (.8 miles on that part of the loop)
  • turning left on Immigrant Trail and descending to the river level before heading back up to return to the parking lot (for an additional 2.6 miles). Caution: as of May 2026, the trail is temporarily closed due to flooding

No matter which way you take, don't miss the Bluff trail portion.You'll be glad you took it.



The confluence of the Wisconsin (right) and Mississippi (left) rivers


THE HIKE
A spring beauty still thrives in cold vented air
A short 1.8 mile out-and-back hike descends 174 feet down stone and wood steps to a narrow dirt trail along steep algific talus limestone cliffs. This vented cool-air habitat is a spring ephemeral and rare species paradise of lush growth and some rare limestone-loving plants. Spectacular views of the rivers and surrounding bluffs and communities makes the campground 200 feet above the trail feel miles away. An out-and-back hike on this trail is worth any brief vertiginous moment you may experience (pro tip: keep your eyes to the flower and fern covered slope if you do experience dizziness). Moderate due to slope and descent.



The Location
Wyalusing State Park, 13081 State Park Road, Bagley WI
Past the entrance's Visitor Center,  stay on the main road. After Long Valley Rd, take the first left into the parking lot for Lookout Point. The trail begins to the right of the lookout.


Images, unless notes - Marge Loch-Wouters

Bulblet bladderfern loves limestone soils and cool air vents

Looking for more area hikes? Please stop by the web version of the blog and under the "Labels" tab on the right hand side of the blog, click on "find-a-hike". There are over 75 hike descriptions and lists of hikes to try!

You can read my quarterly column on seasonal hiking suggestions in Inspire(d) Driftless Magazine available online or pick up a free copy at businesses and organizations around the Driftless areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

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Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Nature School - Coulee Region Audubon Society

Dan Jackson locating birs by listening
The Coulee Region Audubon Society is a longtime organization serving Northeastern Iowa, Southeastern Minnesota and Southwestern Wisconsin. They are dedicated to protecting birds and conserving bird habitats and to the education of people of all ages through our meetings, events, field trips, and other programs.

It is this educational component that makes their guided field trips and efforts in the Driftless region perfect.  You can support their mission and learn a ton along the way at their "nature schools."

I have long been interested in their early spring migratory bird hikes in the La Crosse area. These crack-of-dawn-hikes (6:30-8:00am) are the perfect time to hear bird song and see active early birds.  I've thought, "I can't get up and about that early". Was I ever wrong! This year I made a commitment to go on some of the marsh hikes to increase my bird knowledge. Best time I've spent in bird learning in a long time.

These free hikes are scheduled annually for three consecutive weeks in late April to early May. On Tuesdays, everyone meets at La Crosse's Myrick Park The Nature Place and heads out on the marsh trails to catch songbird, shorebird and waterfowl action. On Thursdays, the focus shifts to the lower parking area at Hixon Forest for an amble along the edge of forestland. 

Spotting a bird
Led by Dan Jackson, the participants include seasoned society members, birders and newbies like me. The pace is slow and when one of the 35-40 birds is spotted or heard, the group stops to pinpoint the location. It's binoculars and cameras up as we scan the canopy. We follow Dan's unerring ear and green laser light to spot the smallest of the migrating songbirds or summer resident birds that have recently migrated to the area from wintering grounds.

Dan has an encyclopedic knowledge of bird song, behavior, preferred habitat, flight and wing patterns and I swear, he is a bird whisperer. Like all great birders, he has his eyes and ears attuned and can quickly point out a rare diving caspian tern or osprey, a hooded merganser in flight or a hopping northern waterthrush. And don't get me started on his warbler ID skills.

Warbling vireo
Image - Gwyn Calvetti from CRAS website


All along the walk he identifies birds by song and note as he stops and the group locates the bird in trees or shore. He patiently works with participants so we can all see a bird he has spotted. Other knowledgeable birders on these guided hike contribute as well. 


I can't recommend these nature school guided bird hikes enough. You will leave with much more knowledge than when you started and meet some great people too ! Here are the next three guided hikes as well as other guided birding hikes and events they sponsor.

 - Thursday, May 7                      6:30-8:00 am
 - Hixon Forest, lower parking lot, La Crosse WI
We will meet at the Hixon Forest parking lot at the end of Milson Court. We will walk a loop on the lower trails that follow the north edge of the golf course.

 - Tuesday, May 12                 6:30-8:00 am
 - The Nature Place, 789 Myrick Park , La Crosse WI
We will meet at head of main trail at the east side of the Nature Place parking lot. We will walk a loop on the marsh trails and be back at the parking lot around 8:00. All are welcome and it is free and open to the public. 

 - Thursday, May 14                    6:30-8:00 am
 - Hixon Forest, lower parking lot, La Crosse WI
We will meet at the Hixon Forest parking lot at the end of Milson Court. We will walk a loop on the lower trails that follow the north edge of the golf course. All are welcome and it is free and open to the public. 

Images, unless Noted - Marge Loch-Wouters


Nature School is what I like to call the guided hikes I go on when I’ve a mind to learn more about the natural world and to fulfill my required training hours to maintain my annual Master Naturalist volunteer certification. The Nature School series highlights parks, organizations and groups that provide free or low-cost guided learning experiences while hiking. The Driftless area of MN, WI and IA is rich in dedicated biologists, naturalists and citizen scientists who share their knowledge, passion and expertise. By doing so, they help hikers of all ages better understand our natural world. It’s always a delight to attend their “schools.”
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