Apple Blossom Viewshed Restoration Work

Those of you who have been to Apple Blossom Overlook Park in Winona County over the past eight weeks have seen some logging, forest mowing and significant changes. What's up?

A major project has been undertaken to restore the vistas in the park. This park boasts the second highest overlook on the Upper Mississippi River system. However, over the years, some of the forests, as forests will, have grown tall enough to obscure major parts of the view. There were large stands of clonal poplar trees that proliferated in the forest. The picture below from ten years ago doesn't show the proliferation of this fast growing tree that further obscured the views but gives you a sense of how much view was gobbled up.

July 2015  overlook view-  Nola Larson

Over the last few years, the Winona County staff, along with the knowledgeable Winona County Parks and Environment Advisory Committee, strategized how to restore the vistas. They met with longtime area residents who described the former views; worked with the MN Conservation Corps, foresters,  silviculturalists and many others to figure out the best course of action.  In addition to the logging needed, decisions on dealing with invasive sumac; providing interpretive signs and amenities like benches; installing a paved, landscaped viewing area; adding prairie plantings and continuing prairie care were considered and planned for.

In December 2025, two trails were closed and the sumac removal and the tree clearing began. By early January, most of the cutting was done. Some of the lumber was sold to help pay for the project. Slash will be removed and the existing trails repaired over the next few months.

January 2026 - A restored vista in the logged area.

The loss of forest and trees is always difficult to see. But while it's initially jarring to look at the cleared landscape, it is also exhilarating to see the incredible views of the river, the lock and dam, the interstate and the bluffs that have long been hidden.. 

The overlook can now be looked over. The planners expect that the clean-up and trail repairs will be done by summer and all trails open again.  I look forward to returning once the work is done to enjoy the views, take in the beautiful prairies and hike the trails again.

Images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters

You can read my column on seasonal hiking suggestions in the quarterly 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.