Thawing Trails - Try These Alternatives!

This is an update to an annual post with hiking suggestions as well as reasons why you should use alternative trails during intermittent muddy winter thaws.

Trails degraded by hikers/bikers
during muddy thaws
Image - Nola Larson

Probably the biggest challenge I see hikers face in our climate-changing winters is the yucky in-between periods of snapping cold temps followed by lingering warm-ups above freezing. 

This freeze/thaw cycle wreaks absolute havoc on the trails - and a hiker's heart. As temperatures creep up over freezing into the mid to high 30s and 40s, the snow cover melts away.  And if the thaw is prolonged, the trails begin heaving as frost melts in the ground.

That's where the trouble begins. Our Driftless winters are experiencing multiple periods of  this freeze-thaw cycle. When we use trails that are down to dirt and mud, we contribute to erosion and trail degradation that far outlasts winter. So I hope this early warning can be something we keep in mind as plan our hikes in January through early March during seesawing temps. 

Many volunteers put in hours of sweat equity maintaining trails. Ground-in tire and boot tracks are the hardest to repair. Our friends in the Coulee Region' s Outdoor Recreation Alliance created and posted signage around trails in the Coulee Region that are good reminders to us all.

If we are leaving boot/bike tracks on the muddy trail, let’s turn around and have alternative hiking plans during significant thaws coming up.

When snow cover diminishes and trails start melting to mud, I am cautious in choosing what trails to hike on. Traditionally, I confine my hikes to areas that are grassy, paved or graveled during these freeze-thaw cycles.

Do I love this kind of hiking? Not particularly. BUT I love the woods and bluff trails more. If each hiker and biker would think about the bigger picture, I think we could commit to being patient and waiting until our woods and bluff trails are solid before returning to them.

Below are some Driftless area hiking alternatives to try during winter thaws. These trails feature grass, gravel, asphalt or concrete trails. They give us a chance to still experience the outdoors and nature while preserving trails. Thanks to my hiking buddies Nola Larson and Kris Lawson for their input to this list.

Alternative Hiking Trails During Winter Thaws

• Goose Island Park along the roads near Wigwam Slough and down the slough trail along the Mississippi River south of the campground.
• La Crosse Marsh Trails (access points include Myrick Park near the dog park on N. East St off  La Crosse St or by the Nature Place; or at Riverside International Garden for paved trail.
• Chad Erickson Park, La Crosse
• Riverside Park, La Crosse
• Pettibone Park roads, La Crosse
• Lytle's Landing, Brice Prairie (or other sections of graveled bike trails - be aware that some sections get gooey/muddy)
• Reno Spillway -watch for running water and ice across the spillway and turn back if conditions are dicey. 
• Dresbach MN Hwy 90 Rest Stop - walk behind the building on the plaza and loop down to the river or hike on the shared trail past the MN sign to Dresbach, or walk down to the Lock and Dam along the road, or walk under the Hwy 90 bridge along the road down to the boat launch
• Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Visitor Center, Brice Prairie - paved and graveled paths
• Maglessen Bluff, Rushford MN - drive to the top and walk along the paved road and grassy area to overlooks
• Sugar Creek Bluff, Ferryville WI
• McGilvrey 7 Bridges, New Amsterdam WI
• Halfway Creek Park, Holmen WI
• Holland Sand Prairie, Holland WI
• Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge trails (especially the dike trails), Trempealeau WI
• Lake Park Walk, Winona MN
• Pammel Creek Trail, La Crosse WI - while you can jump on this sidewalk along the creek anywhere, a great spot is at the Shelby Hillview baseball field which has a large parking lot next to the trail.
• Veteran's Park, West Salem, WI - hike park and connect up to the La Crosse River State Trail
• Wagon Wheel Trail, La Crescent MN
• Perrot State Park - walk the campground; Black Walnut and Riverview trails may be accessible too.

See you on the trails!