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| Quarry walls beneath Grandads |
I always love to encourage people who are looking for shorter, less challenging hikes to check out some of the blufftops in the areas. There are often trails with a bit of elevation gain or loss that still give you spectacular vistas and interesting rock formations. So rather than starting at the bottom of a bluff and climbing 500 feet up to experience the top side views, you can access them more easily.
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| One of the overlook views |
The parking lot for the Gateway Trails is on the left hand side of the road just before you enter the main parking lot for Grandad blufftop views. Head over to the Pink Wilder Way trailhead (59) for a 1-2 mile hike just below the blufftop.
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| La Crosse Park and Rec Gateway Trails Map |
Wilder Way descends about 75 feet over .34 miles via switchbacks to the quarry floor. Once there you will see a map kiosk at (58). Head towards the right to follow the Green .37 mile Ni Tani trail loop that explores the west quarry. You follow a flat surface along quarry walls (look for climbing anchors) before turning near old quarry works and heading towards a great vista of south La Crosse.
When you reach the (58) junction, look for (57) and get onto the Yellow .39 mile Xe Xete trail loop. About halfway along this quarry floor trail at (56), you'll come to another great vista that shows you Ebner Coulee and views towards MVC's Dobsen's tract. From here, you can continue along the loop back, viewing more quarry walls and woods views to Wilder Way and back up and out for a one mile or so hike.
...you can use the Black War Eagle connector (56) for .06 miles and head on a slightly hillier portion of the hike to see some great rock formations as you head up to (55). Take a left there and continue climbing .15 miles out of the quarry until you can *just* see the parking lot. Hop through the brush on your left and you will see a wide path (George's trail - unmarked) Go left out to an outcropping (George's Point) for a great "drone's-eye" view of the two quarries below you. You can end your hike here by following George's trail (or hopping back down to the end portion of War Eagle) to the parking lot for a 1.25 mile hike....
Or.....
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| Rock formations on War Eagle |
...you can use the Black War Eagle connector (56) for .06 miles and head on a slightly hillier portion of the hike to see some great rock formations as you head up to (55). Take a left there and continue climbing .15 miles out of the quarry until you can *just* see the parking lot. Hop through the brush on your left and you will see a wide path (George's trail - unmarked) Go left out to an outcropping (George's Point) for a great "drone's-eye" view of the two quarries below you. You can end your hike here by following George's trail (or hopping back down to the end portion of War Eagle) to the parking lot for a 1.25 mile hike....
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| A "drone's-eye" view of the quarry floor from George's Point |
Or....
...you can retrace your steps along the rocks back to Xe Xete and finish the Yellow loop back to Wilder Way, up and our, for a full 2 mile hike.
THE HIKEThis is a pretty, gentle 1- 2 mile hike exploring two short loops. Take the Wilder Way trail from the parking lot down 100 feet on a gentle switchbacking trail to the quarry floor beneath the grand overlook of Grandad's Park in La Crosse. There is a vista overlook on each of two flat loops along with dramatic quarry walls and rocks on this shared hike/bike trail. An additional 75 feet of elevation and extra mileage can be added by hiking the War Eagle Connector up to War Eagle and adding a third vista overlooking the rock quarry floor at George's Point.
From La Crosse, head west on Main St and continue straight up Bliss Rd. Turn right at the Alpine Inn and continue on Granddad Bluff Road until you see a large parking lot to your left with a map kiosk and pit toilet (if you reach the main Grandad parking lot, you've gone too far). The Wilder Way trailhead is on the westside of the parking lot near the entrance.
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!
Additional posts describing Hixon Forest trails:
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| Selfie time at a vista overlook Image - Linda Sible |
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