Eagles Bluff Park (MN)

Rock outcroppings
Red Apple Trail - Upper

I've always considered Eagles Bluff, a city of La Crescent Park, my "backyard" bluff. I live just a short 15 minute walk from one of its trailheads. If I get antsy for an aerobic hike, there she is! I've been waiting to share this hike since last summer because there have been some great changes going on.

La Crescent was awarded a MN SHIP  (Statewide Health Improvement Partnership) grant to create trail maps of Eagles Bluff Park. The trail mapping work was completed in 2023 and the GPS trail data converted into digital trail maps by Map the Xperience, thanks to the SHIP grant. The Lion's Club of La Crescent then generously donated $10,00 from the Club's Trails and Parks Project Fund as a Lion's Club activity supporting outdoor community activities to see the project to completion.

City of La Crescent Facebook post

But it takes more than money to make this kind of work happen. It takes vision from the city (provided by city Sustainability Coordinator Jason Ludwigson), city crews, and a lot sweat equity and planning from Lion's Club volunteers*.  The Lion's Club funds supported the creation of large trail maps. Then this fall, city public works crews and multiple Lion's Club volunteers installed the following to make wayfinding a snap:

• 5 large map signs and pedestal at trailheads and on top the bluff
• 30 color-coded, aluminum trail markers
• 20 directional aluminum trail signs on each of the bluff's six trails 

 

City of La Crescent Facebook post

Finally, much work was done to maintain the trails this year, with city crews and volunteers clearing brush, dead overhanging and fallen trees and an ongoing project to clear invasive red cedar from one of the dry bluff prairies at the top of the bluff. 

The most recent workday in November brought volunteers from the MN Driftless chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts, the La Crescent Natural Resources Advisory Group and other volunteers to join city staff in a work day that continued earlier work to bring the southeast prairie gem back to its glory.

All of this is to say, if you haven't been to this park yet - or recently - put it on your calendar for 2025

Eagles Bluff Trail map.
Click here to access a clear copy

There are five main trails inside this park, plus one spur access trail that connects nearby Veteran's Park to one of Eagles Bluff's trailheads on Mcintosh Rd. East. (green trail on the bottom of the map). There is ample parking at Veteran's Park and this trail begins just north of the baseball diamond. 

This short .42 mile ravine trail winds below two La Crescent neighborhoods. A trail sign directs hikers left and up a short hill, then across a residential street to the eastern trailhead of Eagle's Bluff park. 

Mcintosh Road East Trailhead and Yellow Trail

The Mcintosh trail (yellow trail) is just over 3/4 miles long. There is street parking along this quiet road by the trailhead. The trail has a few significant steep spots along the climb to the rim (approx. 500 ft elevation gain). At the beginning of the hike, you are right along the neighboring houses until you start gaining that elevation. This is a quieter and less used trailhead but it's my favorite.

Rocks along the Mcintosh Trail

You pass through a large hardwood forest. During early spring, late fall and winter you can also see some rock formations here and there as you climb to the rim. Looking south and east, you also get some great views of the Mississippi River almost all the way along the higher portions of this trail. 

View from Table Rock overlook
Image - Kris Lawson

There are a couple of fun spots along this trail. One is a marked spur trail to the right as you ascend that takes you down to an overlook on the edge of the bluff with a great view of the Mississippi. Continuing back on the main trail, you soon come to Table Rock, a significant rock formation which affords a view of the Mississippi's main channel and the historic Swing Bridge that crosses it.   You finish this trail at the junction of the red and blue trails on the rim. 

There is one permanent trail closure along the way that hikers may note - and are asked to honor. The old Boy Scout, trail created and developed by the local scouts, is a heart-poundingly steep trail with few switchbacks. This trail has badly eroded over the years. While the community appreciates what the scouts built, the decision was made to close it.

Red Apple Drive Trailhead and Red Trail/Orange Trails

Red Apple Trail - Lower (red trail)

The trailhead sign, located opposite Old Hickory Park, directs you up the grass and prairie hillside on a old grassy road. You will see a sign as you leave the wide grassy road for the Upper Red Apple Trail (orange) but let's stay on the main trail for now. 

Red Apple Trail Lower with trail marker

The .65 mile Lower Red Apple trail winds 350 feet slowly up and above the neighborhood through a hardwood forest. There are numerous rocks along the switchback trails as you near the top. This trailhead appears to be more used of the two main trailheads, with just slightly wider trails on some portions. You get fantastic views of the forest and sloping bluffsides as you ascend.

On your way up, near the end, you run into the trail junction for the Upper Red Apple Trail (orange) to your left, followed shortly by another junction that brings you to the Ridge Rocks trail loop (black), also to your left. You can continue on to the ridge top, though, to access the two trail loops on top the bluff described below.

Red Apple Trail - Upper (orange trail)

This very short .22 mile trail is what I like to think of as the escalator to get you quickly up or down from the bluff top. You can access it off the trailhead as you begin or from the blufftop, .1 miles down the Red Apple Trail-Lower. It is a must-hike from either direction for it's massive rock outcropping right next to the trail at its halfway point. This sandstone formation is a real treat! 

Ridge Trail Loops 

Ridge Rocks Trail (black trail)

You can access this trail from the Red Apple trail (red trail) or the Mcintosh trail (yellow trail).  This takes you on a .42 mile loop around the north rim of the bluff. There are some nice views from the trail and rock "sitting" shelf along the way. During summer months, this trail can have nettle overgrowth onto the path so consider long pants if the tail sides haven't been cleared back. At the end of this trail, you can join either the Mcintosh (yellow) or Red Apple Lower trail (red) which can take you back to the trail junctions.

Eagles Bluff Loop Trail (blue trail)

Southeast prairie overlook in summer

Again, this loop can be accessed from either the Red Apple Lower (red) or Mcintosh (yellow) trails. It is another .42 mile loop that takes you through a lovely maple forest along the rim to two dry bluff prairies at the top. The southwest facing overlook looks out over an old orchard area that has been developed into one of the city's newer neighborhoods along with parts of the rest of the community. You can also look across to Vetsch Park and Stoney Point from this vantage point. The southeast facing overlook provides views to the Mississippi, Blue Lake and the Wisconsin and Minnesota bluffs. This remnant prairie has been extensively worked on to restore it. Both overlooks have vibrant prairies with plenty of flowers and insect life in the summer.

THE HIKE

2.5 miles of shared, narrow, primarily dirt hiking /biking trails (although hikers and runners are more prevalent) lead up from two trailheads to ridge trails and some fine forests, views, prairies and rock formations. The elevation gain is 350-500 feet (the Red Apple Dr trailhead starts slightly higher up the bluff). This is a good aerobic bluff hike that makes up for overall short mileages. Well-marked and maintained trails make this attractive in all seasons. This can be fun as a through-hike or as an out-and-back from any trailhead.

The Location

Red Apple Trailhead is opposite La Crescent MN's Old Hickory Park (422 Red Apple Drive) on the park's east side. 

Mcintosh Trailhead can be accessed from La Crescent's Veteran's Park (595 Veterans Parkway) located behind the Best Western Plus Hotel OR by on McIntosh Road East opposite houses at 165 and 163 McIntosh Rd E.

New trail signage and markers along the trail

* A big shout out to the Lion's Club of La Crescent for their generous donations of funds, time, planning, installation and continued support of the project. Lion's involved in the project: Stephen Gund, Randy Rosenberg Patti Martell, Curt Murray, Heidi Kerska, Teresa O'Donnell Ebner. 

The community and trail users can't thank you enough!

Images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters

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 60 hike descriptions and lists of hikes to try!