Pierce County Wisconsin Attractions
2017
Pierce County, the Western Gateway to Wisconsin, is a cornucopia
of adventures. Some of the many exciting destinations include:
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e Great River Road-Freedom Park |
Kansas City Chiefs training Camp |
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Air Show |
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One of the many exciting geological formations referenced on
the tourism geological
CD tour is Crystal Cave located on the western edge of Spring
Valley on Highway 29. Crystal Cave is the longest cave in
Wisconsin and is open to the public from early April through
October. Crystal Cave offers regularly scheduled hour-long
guided tours of the cave, plus visitors can browse the gift
shop, sample fresh homemade fudge and participate in lucky
miner gem panning. Visit
www.CrystalCave.com
A
short drive from Crystal Cave is the Eau Galle Recreation
Area located just north of Spring Valley. Eau Galle Lake
and its surrounding recreation area offers camping, picnicking,
a swimming beach, summer and winter fishing, non-motorized
boating, great scenery
and five miles of hiking trails in eastern Pierce County.
Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the park's
huge earthen dam was completed in 1969 to control drainage
from a 64-square mile area. Take Hwy 29 east to CTH CC north,
and then follow the signs.
For additional information call (715) 778-5562.
Other
family orientated parks in the area include:
NUGGET
LAKE COUNTY PARK
Nugget
Lake Park offers a full-service campground, 116-acre fishing
lake (electric motors only) with canoe/boat/ kayak rentals,
picnicking, six miles of hiking and cross-country ski trails,
nature programs throughout the summer, and park staff to
assist visitors. Operated by Pierce County, the 752-acre
park was created around a large dam created in 1972 to control
flooding in the Plum Creek watershed. Located 30 miles southeast
of River Falls. Take Hwy 29 east to Hwy 62; go south to
Hwy 72, then east to CTH CC. Turn south and watch for the
signs. An entry fee is required for every vehicle entering
Nugget Lake County Park. The fee schedule is as follows:
Daily
Entrance (Per Vehicle/Per Day) $5.00
Annual
Entrance $30.00
Camping,
Electrical Unit $20.00 - Campsite reservation fee $5.00
Canoe/Boat/Kayak
Rental $8.00 first hour $4.00 ea. additional hour
5 cabins are available for rental at $60.00 per night.
Camping
fees are paid in addition to entrance fees. Prices subject
to change. No entrance fees required for Senior Citizens.
Canoe/boat/kayak rentals include life jackets and paddles. Fishing
licenses are available. Dogs on leash only. Quiet hours
exist after 11:00 PM. For additional information call (715)
639-5611 or visit the website at
www.co.pierce.wi.us
WILLOW
RIVER STATE PARK
Three
thousand acres of rolling countryside includes three dams,
three lakes, a famous trout stream, sand beach and prairie
remnants. Community support resulted in a recent development
of a nature center. Facilities include camping, fishing,
boating, canoeing, swimming, picnicking and handicapped
restrooms. About 10 miles from River Falls. Follow Hwy 35
to I-94. CTH A north to the park entrances. Call (715) 386-5931.
KINNICKINNIC
STATE PARK
The
Kinnickinnic, a cold water trout stream, forms a large,
sandy delta where it flows into the St. Croix River. The
park is devoted to boaters who swim and fish, then sleep
in moored boats or campsites. Offerings include fishing,
water-skiing, canoeing, swimming and picnicking. About five
miles southwest of River Falls. Follow Hwy 29 S to CTH F,
Travel west to FF. Call (715) 425-1129.
The
scenic recreation areas are second only to the World-Class
pristine Western Wisconsin fly fishing sustained
by the Kinnickinnic, Rush and Trimbelle rivers that
traverse the county. For Maps, Supplies, Licenses and other
related items,
Fishing%20guide.html
Any
trip to the Pierce County area would not be complete without
sampling the famous Wisconsin Cheeses. Cady Cheese located
east of Spring Valley, a short distance south of I-94 on
highway 128, is the countries largest producer of
Longhorn
Cheese with over 25 tons of cheese being produced every
day. Cady Cheese also produces the world's "squeakiest"
fresh cheese Curds and offer over 100 other different varieties of cheese.
Visitors are encouraged to sample the various cheeses and
observe the actual making of cheese through one of two viewing windows or with advanced
notice, the knowledgeable staff will conduct a tour. View
a video tour of the factory by visiting is open daily all year. The hours are January
- April 9 am to 5 pm and May to December weekdays 8:30 to
6 p.m. and on Sat and Sun, 9 a.m. to 5 p. m. Visit
www.cadycheese.com
Pierce
County Fair
The 2017 Pierce County Fair will be held August 10-13 at
the Ellsworth
Fair Grounds
Ellsworth, Ellsworth Creamery
favorite s
http://www.co.pierce.wi.us/Fair/Fair_Main.php
For
many connoisseurs the perfect compliment for their cheese is
a glass of wine.
In recent years, Pierce County has blossomed with several
new vineyards and perhaps one of the finest and most unique
is Vino in the Valley located on the banks of
the Rush River in Maiden Rock Wisconsin just off of State Highway 10.
Vino in the Valley not only offers an excellent assortment
of quality wines, the vineyard offers a succulent outdoor
dining experience with a complete dinner of gourmet pasta
and pizza prepared in an open hearth oven. Visitors are
invited to visit the gift shop, stroll along the river and
through the vineyard or simply relax and enjoy acoustic
music from local artisans near one of the bonfires.
Open June through September on Thursday and Saturday
evenings. Visit www.vinointhevalley.com
Ten
minutes from Ellsworth between Ellsworth and
River Falls you will find Circle K Orchard, home of the
Annual Lions Club Apple Festival. Circle K Orchard is open
to the public from early August until October 31 for u-pick
as well as prepackaged apples. In addition to the ever popular
"Honey Crisp" apples, Circle K Orchard offers
13 other varieties of Apples, Apple Brats, fresh pressed "pasteurized"
Apple Cider, Caramel Apple Pies, custom made Caramel Apples,
Jam, Jellies and gift items. For directions and additional
information on tours call (715) 273-7799 or visit the website
at
www.Circle-K-Orchard.com
A
Buffalo Ranch located near River Falls WI, less than 1 mile
west of Circle K Orchard is home to over 400 Native American Bison.
In this pastoral setting one can view the largest mammal
in North America just as it was in the 1700's before the
land was settled.
For
the Golfer, the Pierce County area offers a plethora of
challenging opportunities from Championship courses like
Kilkarney Hills
www.kilkarneyhills.com
to the pastoral 9 hole course at the Ellsworth County Club
(Open to the public). For a detailed list of area golf courses
visit
www.wisgolf.com.
With
over 240 miles of groomed trails, Pierce County is a favorite
destination for the
snowmobile
enthusiast.
The public snowmobile trails in Pierce
County do not open or close on a set schedule they are open
or closed based on the current snow conditions. The Pierce
County Snowmobile Council, which is a council made up of
representatives from each of the counties local snowmobile
clubs makes the decision to open or close the trails. For
official notification of if the trails are open or closed
and for current trail conditions call the
Pierce County Trail Hotline at
715-639-6311.or visit
http://www.piercecountysnow.com
The public snowmobile trails are open
to any snowmobile registered in Wisconsin or any snowmobile
displaying a Non-Resident trail use decal. Our trails run
primarily on private land so please respect the landowner by
staying on the marked trail and ridding only when the trails
are open. For more information on snowmobile regulations
including ordering non-resident snowmobile trail
passes in the state of Wisconsin
visit
Wisconsin Dept. of Natural
Resources. For maps and trail conditions contact Nugget
Lake Park at (715) 639-5611 or visit the website at
www.co.pierce.wi.us.
Farm Markets
in Pierce County provide an excellent opportunity to acquire
locally grown produce as well as specialty items such as:
organic meats, honey, maple syrup and fresh cut flowers.
There are markets in all the major communities that open in
early summer and continue into the early fall. For a
complete listing and details on specific markets go to:
www.piercecountywi.com
Bicycling:
Autumn Trek:
www.rivervalleytrails.org/trek.html
This year will mark the thirteenth annual ride through the
beautiful St. Croix River Valley. It will embark Sunday,
September 22th, 2015, at Hoffman Park. Ride registrations
will begin at 7:30AM with a tentative ride completion time
of around 3:30PM
The Autumn Trek includes:
-
Well marked routes and trail maps
-
Sag wagon support
-
Beautiful rest stops with great food
-
Circle K apple festival and civil war
re-enactment
-
Raffle for a Gary Fisher Tiburon cross bike
Four
scenic country routes from family friendly to the ultimate
challenge
25 Mile Kinnickinnic River Amble: Easy to moderate rides
that meander around the Kinnickinnic River with ample rest
stops along the way. Included in the 25 mile ride is a rest
stop at Earth Works Nursery.
45 Mile Trimbelle River Ramble: A moderate ride that travels
south of River Falls to the Circle K Apple Orchard before
doing a short-cut from the Trimbelle River/Gas Light ride to
take you back to Hoffman Park.
65 Trimbelle River Rumble: A moderate to challenging ride
along the Trimbelle River to the Gas Light. The route
includes a beautiful 18 mile loop, from the Gas Light, that
has some long hills on its route to the Great River Road,
Mississippi River bluffs and its return to Hoffman Park.
100 Mile Ultimate Challenge: For the rider who wants the
ultimate experience. This ride adds an extra loop to the 65
mile ride. (no SAG support on the extra loops)
Proceeds from the Autumn Trek will be used to promote
bicycle safety and education, bike/pedestrian trail
enhancements and interconnected bike/pedestrian routes in
the West Central Wisconsin River Valleys. The Wisconsin DOT
Transportation Grant awarded through our efforts, to the
Town of Troy in 1999 covers the cost of bike shoulders on
both side of South Glover Road and North Towns Valley Road.
On completion of this and County Road FF and MM bike
shoulder projects, there will be a continuous linkup of
pedestrian/bicycle trails that connects Hudson and River
Falls.
Wednesdays, 5:30 PM, Hoffman Park, River Falls.
Usually there are enough riders to form an "A" & a "B" ride.
The "A" ride is usually 30 to 40 miles while the "B" ride is
25 to 30 miles. We usually meet back at Hoffman Park to
socialize.
River Valley Trails accepts no responsibility or liability
for this ride.
Fridays, 9:00AM, Place to be determined.
SEE WISCONSIN FROM A BIKE SEAT
Friday B level ride 45-60 miles through Western Wisconsin
countryside. We will meet at 9:00 AM Friday morning and then
drive to the starting point for the ride. We will be back in
Hudson around 6:00 PM.
The rides are designed to maximize the scenic value of
lakes, rivers and scenic overlooks. The routes will be
slightly to moderately hilly. But, distance and difficulty
are negotiable.
We will stop for lunch at a café or resort and then loop
back to the starting point. The overall average speed will
be about 14 mph.
For details on the next trip and meeting call Jerry or
Deanne at 715-386-6272. River Valley Trails waiver forms are
provided for all riders.
Information on
Horse shows and riding trails click:
www.rivervalleytrails.org
