Refuge Visitor Center

With the onset of winter, the construction project that will add another one-and-a half miles of walking trails to the new Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Visitor Center on Brice Prairie, has been suspended.

Construction will continue next spring.

The project suspension also affects completion of the two small parking lots being constructed on the Refuge along County Road ZB. One parking lot is located directly across from an existing public walkdown that provides access to Lake Onalaska.

The second will provide parking for a Lake Onalaska overlook to be constructed at some time in the future.

For safety reasons, the partially-constructed sections of trails and the two parking lots are not open to the public. The existing section of paved walking/bike trail is open to the public this winter although no snow removal is planned.

Work on several tasks will be completed this next spring, including adding gravel surface and pavement to parts of the trail; installing curbs and gutters and paving both parking lots; landscaping; and constructing a kiosk and notice board.