Thursday, March 26, 2026

Let's Get Hiking and Learning - April 2026

Image - Kris Lawson

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

This post will be updated 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.



April Events

 - Wednesday, April 1               7:00-8:15pm
 - The Nature Place, 789 Myrick Park Dr, La Crosse WI
Enviro-Wednesdays is an adult (ages 14+) nature series on the first Wednesday of every month at 7 PM at The Nature Place (unless otherwise noted). Free, no registration necessary.  Join us to enhance your nature knowledge. Different topics and speakers every month!  Sponsors: The Nature Place and Friends of the Marsh.

 - Saturday, April 4          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

 - Wednesday, April 8              10:00 am - noon
 - Whitewater (MN) State Park, Visitor Center,  19041 Hwy 74, Altura, MN
Join us on Wednesday for our monthly A.L.P.'s (Advanced Learning Program - formerly called HOP) facilitated by the Friends of Whitewater State Park! In April, we welcome Christine Johnson, Manager of the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area. She will help us understand how climate and the land’s history are shaping the decision-making of today. She will discuss how these influences are impacting the preservation of the historic Marnach House, habitat management, and even the Master Plan for the site. Sponsors: Friends of Whitewater State Park/Whitewater State Park.

 - Wednesday, April 8        4:30-5:30 pm
 - Onalaska Public Library, 741 Oak Ave S, Onalaska, WI
Join us for messy, handmade fun at the Onalaska library. We'll celebrate care of the Earth and each other with nature and recycled art projects inspired by the children's novel Wildoak by C.C. Harrington.
The event will feature a special recorded video message for La Crosse County youth from author C.C. Harrington! Best for ages 7 and up. Registration required. Sponsor: La Crosse County Library

 - Saturday April 11       10:00am - 3:00 pm
 - Perrot State Park, 26247 Sullivan Rd, Trempealeau, WI
Horse-drawn wagon rides. Enjoy music with Under Paris Skies from 11-3. Learn nature skills and crafts with Happy Dancing Turtles. Make a bird or wren house to take home. Plant native seeds in a pot to start your own butterfly garden. Join a walk with the naturalistLight snacks or bring your own lunch. Thanks to Invenergy for the wagon rides, to Black Oak Land Management for the music, and Happy Dancing Turtle for fun and informative education. As always, thanks to staff at for making this happen. Sponsors: Friends of Perrot State Park/Perrot State Park

 - Saturday April 11               1:00 pm
 - Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center, 1944 Columbus Road, Lansing, IA
The Upper Iowa Audobon Society will present on the impact that artificial lights at night can have during seasonal bird migrations. Local efforts to monitor and control light pollution, as well as what we can do to help combat the issue will be presented. Sponsors: Allamakee County Conservation Board/Upper Iowa Audobon Society

 - Tuesday, April 14       4:30-5:30 pm
 - Hazel Brown Leicht Memorial Library, 702 Industrial Dr, West Salem, WI
Join us for messy, handmade fun at the  library. We'll celebrate care of the Earth and each other with nature and recycled art projects inspired by the children's novel Wildoak by C.C. Harrington.
The event will feature a special recorded video message for La Crosse County youth from author C.C. Harrington! Best for ages 7 and up. Registration required. Sponsor: La Crosse County Library

 - Wednesday, April 15       4:30-5:30 pm
 - John Bosshard Memorial Library, 1706 Henry Johns Blvd, Bangor WI
Join us for messy, handmade fun at the library. We'll celebrate care of the Earth and each other with nature and recycled art projects inspired by the children's novel Wildoak by C.C. Harrington.
The event will feature a special recorded video message for La Crosse County youth from author C.C. Harrington! Best for ages 7 and up. Registration required. Sponsor: La Crosse County Library

 - Wednesday, April 15       4:30-5:30 pm
 - FJ Robers Library, 2548 Lakeshore Dr, La Crosse WI
Join us for messy, handmade fun at the library. We'll celebrate care of the Earth and each other with nature and recycled art projects inspired by the children's novel Wildoak by C.C. Harrington.
The event will feature a special recorded video message for La Crosse County youth from author C.C. Harrington! Best for ages 7 and up. Registration required. Sponsor: La Crosse County Library

 - Monday, April 16          6-7:00 pm
 - online virtual presentation
Explore America's national parks from the comfort of home. Every park has a story. During this virtual series, we’ll connect with people from across the country to talk about special places and complex stories at National Park Service sites. Each hour-long program includes a presentation and time for questions and answers. This week, Effigy Mounds National Monument in Harpers Ferry IA is featured. In the Upper Mississippi River Valley, there were thousands of sacred earthen mounds built by American Indians. During this talk, a ranger from Effigy Mounds National Monument will discuss the cultural landscape within the Monument, which includes over 200 mounds in geometric shapes, as well as bears and birds. This talk will also discuss the continued use of the landscape, including the underexplored industrial history of the site. From a sawmill run by Jefferson Davis, to the web of logging roads and quarries constructed by laborers, the lands that now comprise the park contain thousands of years of human history. Stop here to register for the whole free series and get the link for the Effigy Munds presentation as well! Sponsors: Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor/Effigy Mounds National Monument

 - Saturday, April 18            9 - 11:00 am
 - Frontenac (MN) State Park - meet at the Sand Point parking lot off Hwy 61
Walk through the riparian forest and along the beach to Sand Point. Hope to see winter resident birds of the forest as well as early spring migrating waterfowl. Bring binoculars. The trail is well maintained and flat. It can be muddy following rain. The full loop is approximately 2 miles long. When birding, this can take 2-4 hours depending upon how many birds we’re seeing, but you can leave whenever you would like. No need to register but if you have any questions, email janetmalotky@gmail.com. Sponsors: Frontenac State Park and Frontenac State Park Association.

- Saturday, April 18           10:00am -noon
- Whitewater (MN) State Park, Visitor Center,  19041 Hwy 74, Altura, MN
During this program we will go and look for ancient sea life that lived in the area hundreds of millions of years ago. We'll start with a brief introduction at the visitor center, then drive out of the park 9 miles to hunt for fossils. Please bring your own transportation. For more information, please contact Jeremy Darst at 507-312-2301 or by email at Jeremy.Darst@state.mn.us. If you need an accommodation, please call or email the event contact listed above by two weeks prior to the event. Sponsor: Whitewater State Park.

 - Saturday, April 18       1-4:00pm
 - Yellow River State Forest Forestry Office , 729 State Rd, Harper's Ferry IA
It’s been said if you had to divide Iowa into two parts there would be Northeast Iowa, and then the rest of the state. The Paleozoic Plateau is what makes our area different… but what exactly does that mean Come learn about the bedrock that makes us unique!  Local geologist Phil Burgess will share is knowledge of the Paleozoic Plateau and answer questions about the geological history of this region.
After the presentation kids and grown-ups alike are welcome to bring any local rock or fossil you have Phil will tell you its fascinating history - which will likely go back more than a million years! The conversation will be engaging and questions are highly encouraged. Sponsor: Friends of Yellow River State Forest

 - Thursday, April 23         4-5:00 PM
 - La Crescent Community Building, 336 S. 1st St
Join Nora and Delaney from Happy Dancing Turtle and explore the wonders of water and how we can help keep it clean. Become a water droplet and take a journey through the water cycle! Sponsors: La Crescent Public Library/Happy Dancing Turtles

 - Saturday, April 25
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 dates for free park days in 2026: Saturday, June 13; and Friday, November 27, 2025. Sponsor: MN DNR


Wildcat Mountain Earth!Work!Play Day
- Saturday, April 25                        9:00am- Noon
 - Wildcat Mountain State Park, E13660 Hwy 33, Ontario, WI
Bring along friends and family to join park staff and the Friends of Wildcat Mountain State Park for this fun annual stewardship event and celebration of Earth Month. Activities may include tree planting, campground and trail clean up, invasive species removal, picnic table maintenance and litter clean-up. Bring sturdy footwear and some work gloves. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of Wildcat Mountain State Park. After volunteering, we encourage you to stay and recreate in the park for the afternoon! This event is weather-dependent. For more info, contact Emily Alf, emily.alf@wisconsin.gov, 608-337-4775. Sponsors: Friends of Wildcat Mountain State Park and Wildcat Mountatin State Park

Signs of Spring Hike
- Saturday, April 25                  10:00am - noon
- Whitewater (MN) State Park, trout Run Trailhead parking lot past the South Picnic Grounds, 19041 Hwy 74, Altura, MN
Explore the signs of spring and how nature is interconnected at Whitewater State Park on a guided hike. Participants will use their observations and easy-to-use science tools to compare plants, waters, and signs of animals across different habitats, amidst the backdrop of beautiful spring ephemeral wildflowers. This program for ages 8+ features an easy to moderate 1.5 mile hike. No registration necessary.  For more information, contact Jonathan Ismail at 507-312-2300 or by email at jonathan.ismail@state.mn.us. If you need an accommodation, please call or email the event contact listed above by two weeks prior to the event. Sponsor: Whitewater State Park.

Earth Fair
- Sunday, April 26           11:00am-4:00pm
 - Myrick Park and the Nature Place, La Crosse WI
A FREE family-friendly event celebrating Earth Week  Kids activities, Farmers market, Live music, Local artisans, Food vendors, Eco Education, and SO MUCH MORE. Also featuring the Nature Place Critter Mobiles, Sustainability Institute Green Goose Chase Mini Missions, Friends of the Marsh Marsh Walk, Drum Circle, Recycling Relay with Happy Dancing Turtle, Story Times & Activity Stations with La Crosse County Library, Y on the Fly Van, hands-on activities, prizes, live raptor demonstration, and Rainbow Ridge Farm animals! Visit our website for a schedule of events and full list of vendors.Sponsored by the Sustainability Institute

Guided Marsh Hike at Earth Fair 2026
- Sunday, April 26                11:00am -4:00pm
 - Nature Place, Myrick Park, La Crosse WI
Join Dr. Chuck Lee, Emeritus Professor of History at UWL, for a free and informative hike and discussion about the marsh and all of those who depend on it. This hike is part of Mississippi Valley Conservancy's Linked to the Land series of educational events which are hosted across the Coulee Region. The La Crosse River Marsh, at the confluence of the La Crosse and Mississippi Rivers, is a thousand-acre wetland located in the middle of the City of La Crosse in western Wisconsin. This marsh not only provides the city with critical flood protection, clean water, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities, but it also helps to create a sense of community and bolsters the local economy. Local organizations, community members, and city government are all working together to protect and care for this vital resource. Bring your binoculars and your questions to make your hike even better. Sign up for this hike here. After the hike, stay for loads of Earth Fair fun for the whole family. There will be hands-on activities, guest speakers, information from many wonderful conservation-minded organizations, food vendors, and opportunities for outdoor play. Visit EarthFairLaCrosse.com to learn more! Sponsor: Mississippi Valley Conservancy

Do you know of other April 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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