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Heron's Habitat LbNA #8102

Owner:Wisconsin Hiker
Plant date:May 2, 2004
Location:
City:Trempealeau
County:Trempealeau
State:Wisconsin
Boxes:1
Found by: Tatanka1
Last found:Sep 7, 2009
Status:FFFaOFF
Last edited:May 15, 2016
Last checked/found: 10-JUN-07 WARNING - In May 2007 the dike was posted "Do Not Enter", apparently in conjunction with a bird nesting area. I don't know if it is a temporary situation or permanent. I'll include more info when available. This means you can NOT walk or bike on the dike. However you CAN take a canoe across from the state park to the mountain. Canoes can be rented in the park. If you canoe to the point where the dike meats the mountain, you can follow the clues from there.

Time: ~ 2 hours if hiking (about 5 miles roundtrip). Can also be biked.

Terrain: Easy, although some bushwhacking at the end to get to box.

This box is located in the state park named for Nicholas Perrot, but is accessed via the wildlife refuge to the north of the park.

Directions to the refuge:
From LaCrosse, WI: Take Rt. 53 north to Rt. 54 west. Follow 54 west to Centerville and continue 3.1 miles to West Prairie Road. Turn left on West Prairie Road and drive one mile to refuge entrance. There is no fee.

When entering the refuge, take the paved road towards the office, and then turn left onto the gravel road toward Kiep’s Island and the Boat Landing. After a STOP sign, don’t turn right towards the boat landing, but instead continue straight into a parking area for Lower Diversion Dike.

Hike or bike the dike roadway and observe the various birds and wildlife along the way. We’ve seen deer, muskrats, herons, egrets, eagles and many other bird species. There are many Great Blue Herons along the Mississippi River, especially during their spring and fall migrations. At the end of the dike you meet Trempealeau Mountain "the mountain whose foot is bathed by water (La Montagne Qui trempe a L'Eau)". Park your bike and then proceed on foot along the path leading straight in. You’ll cross a small rock field, then a fallen tree. After stepping over the tree, take a bearing of 150 degrees. Walk 50-55 paces in this direction to the 15’-20’ base of a broken tree, crossing another fallen tree on the way. The box can be found in the heart of the upright tree base.


Hike length: 3-5 miles