With Boscobel’s central location on the Lower Wisconsin Riverway, residents and visitors have access to thousands of acres of public land for hiking and bird watching. The Lower Wisconsin Riverway starts at the dam at Prairie Du Sac and runs 92.3 miles unimpeded by any man-made structures to the Mississippi River. On that stretch of the Wisconsin River, there are 44,000 acres of accessible land, with the stretch from Spring Green to the Mississippi River known for its seclusion and scenic beauty.
Also, visitors benefit from the Boscobel Bluffs State Natural Area, also known as the McNamee Bluff, a 389-acre property overlooking Boscobel and the Wisconsin River. Boscobel Bluffs is available for recreational and educational activities such as hiking, birding, nature photography, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hunting, and trapping for the public.
Frank’s Hill, also known as Shadewald Mounds, just north of the Wisconsin River from Muscoda near the intersection of Highways 193 and 60, provides an opportunity for visitors to hike to the top of a bluff crowned with ancient Native American effigy mounds, including one in the form of a raptor and another in the form of a bear. From that vantage point, one also can view the stunning scenery of the river valley.
Few places in the Midwest can rival the Boscobel area for the sheer volume of publicly-accessible land, Driftless Region scenic beauty, and wide range of opportunities for outdoor fun and adventure. For these reasons, our area truly is Wisconsin’s Outdoor Recreation Destination.
Bird Watching
Boscobel and its neighboring communities are located along the Lower Wisconsin Riverway–a 92-mile stretch of wild river unimpeded by any man-made structures, with the scenic beauty of the bluffs protected by state law.
A few miles west, the Wisconsin River joins the Mighty Mississippi. This river floodplain that bisects the Driftless Region was declared the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in 1924. This 240,000- acre refuge, which runs for 261 miles along the river valley, provides habitat for 40% of America’s waterfowl and more than 300 bird species. With more than 500 access points and harbors, the river is a recreational resource to more than 3 million people annually (more than Yellowstone). Just a few years ago, the Upper Mississippi River was designated as a RAMSAR wetlands of global significance, and the Lower Wisconsin Riverway is now under such consideration.
Dig out your binoculars and birding field guide, because you’re in for a treat! It’s hard to find a more ruggedly beautiful place or one with more fantastic bird habitat. See why we’re Wisconsin’s Outdoor Recreation Destination!
Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, and Ice Skating
Residents and visitors have access to thousands of acres of public land for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, given Boscobel’s central location on the Lower Wisconsin Riverway. There are 44,000 acres of accessible land in the Lower Wisconsin Riverway between Prairie du Sac, with the stretch from Spring Green to the Mississippi River particularly known for its seclusion and scenic beauty.
Also, you can enjoy exploring the Boscobel Bluffs State Natural Area, a 389-acre property overlooking Boscobel and the Wisconsin River valley. Boscobel Bluffs is available for recreational and educational activities such as hiking, birding, nature photography, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hunting, and trapping for the public.
Boscobel also offers a free outdoor skating rink each winter, with a warming house, a concession stand, and loaner skates available.
Few places can rival the Boscobel area for the sheer volume of publicly-accessible land, Driftless Region scenic beauty, and a wide range of opportunities for outdoor fun and adventure. For these reasons, our area truly is Wisconsin’s Outdoor Recreation Destination all year long.
