Back after a brief hiatus, one of the best selling trips in WW history is once again on the schedule!
See the Mighty Mississippi from both land and water! Spend a weekend at one of Wisconsin’s most beautiful parks—set at the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers in the Driftless area of the Midwest, Wyalusing State Park provides it all. Miles of trails traverse the Mississippi’s bluffs, showcasing the beautiful river ecosystem and habitat 500ft above the water. And, the backwaters of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge, right along the park’s shore, provide some of the best wildlife habitat in the entire river corridor, perfect for spotting water birds and animals that call the river landscape home.
On this trip, you’ll see them both. Our hikes will lead us to beautiful limestone caves and amazing Native American mounds, giving us a deeper understanding of the wildness and cultural history of the Mississippi corridor. Then, a paddle through the wildlife refuge on a designated paddle trail will give us a glimpse of the life teeming beyond the river’s boundaries. We’ll take a detour to the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre across the Mississippi in McGregor as well, to learn about the unique landscapes that make up the Driftless region. This trip is an awesome chance to experience all the wonders the region has to offer!
Adventure Rating: Beginner
This trip has been rated Beginner because both the hiking and paddling activities on this trip are entry-level and great for all skill levels.
ACTIVITIES
Paddle a designated water trail through the Mississippi backwaters and Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge. You’ll get to choose a kayak or canoe for a perfect, built-for-you adventure.
Hike along the bluffs of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers to see unique natural landscapes, like a sand cave and preserved Native American mounds
Visit the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre to learn about the ecology and natural features of the Driftless and Mississippi River regions
ACCOMMODATIONS & LOCATION
We’ll be staying at secluded group camping sites at Wyalusing State Park, just outside of Prairie du Chein. The campsites have pit toilets and water access within an easy walk, and the park has an accessible shower house and flush toilets a quick drive away in another campground.
About Wyalusing State Park
At Wyalusing State Park, you can camp 500 feet above the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. One of Wisconsin's oldest parks, Wyalusing features Indian burial mounds, a canoe trail, and bird watching. There is an interpretive center and four historical markers within the park.
Wyalusing's 2,628 acres include hardwood forests, pine plantations, bluffs, springs, waterfalls, wetlands, and backwaters. The park is home to deer, beavers, fox, and many other animals. More than 90 bird species live here during the summer and 100 more can be observed during spring and fall migration. They include wild turkeys, bald eagles, turkey vultures, hawks, owls, waterfowl, woodpeckers, and a colorful variety of songbirds. Source: Wisconsin State Parks
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Your registration provides you:
Two professional Wander Women guides to help make the trip as seamless and fun as possible
Camping accommodations & parking
A Wanderer swag bag full of goodies
All meals cooked for you by Wander Women guides
Paddling rental, including: boat (choice of kayak or canoe), lifejacket and paddle
Camping accessories: Camp kitchen, camping chairs, fire kits, first aid kits, dining ware, fire wood, games, coolers
A detailed pre-trip online guide with everything you need to know for your trip
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Participants will be responsible for providing/paying for:
Transportation to/from the trip (we always encourage carpooling and can connect you with other participants to ride with!) and to trip activity locations
Gear: Participants are able to rent camping gear from Wander Women
State park entrance fees
INVESTMENT
$435
PAYMENT PLAN
We offer payment plans for all our trips, so you can pay a deposit now and the rest over time! WeTravel (our booking platform) easily lets you make a downpayment (this is also your non-refundable trip deposit!) and set up automatic payments for the remainder. For the payment plan schedule, just check the WeTravel page for details. There is NO fee for choosing the payment plan option!
Deposit for this trip: $220