Picnic Locations

City Park Co. Road E, Alma, WI 54610

608-685-3330

Located atop a 500-foot bluff overlooking the beautiful Mississippi River valley and the quaint town of Alma, Wisconsin. Take the Buena Vista Hiking Trail up to the park with a sack lunch, or perhaps you’ll want to drive to the park if you’re toting a cooler? If driving, the park is located on County Road E, which can be found at the south end of Alma. The hiking trail starts on Second Street; look for hiking trail sign. In addition to the pavilion, the park is dotted with picnic tables and benches as well as plenty of beautiful space to lay a blanket.

S2965 Hwy 35 Fountain City, WI

(608) 687-4936

Merrick State Park is located between Alma and Fountain City and offers 65 individual campsites in three campgrounds as well as a 50-person tents-only campsite. There are dumpsters, a recycling station and a trailer dump station near the contact station at the park entrance. Canoes, including paddles and life jackets, may be rented Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. The North campground has a flush toilet shower building. Firewood is available for sale in season. The South campground offers several waterfront sites. The Island campground has 5 family walk-in tent campsites and a 50-person group tent site. The island is connected to the mainland by road. The island also has a log shelter, boat and canoe launches, picnic area, pit toilets and drinking water.

Hwy 35, Alma, Wisconsin

(608) 685-3330

Rieck's Lake Park is located just north of downtown Alma, Wisconsin and offers 12 individual campsites on a first come first serve basis. The park includes playground equipment, a pavilion, and grills, and an observation deck for viewing the lake. Rieck's lake was once known for a migratory stop for hundreds of Tundra Swans in the spring and autumn of the year. The swans can still be viewed, but in smaller numbers today, and the lake area boasts of many other birds, ducks and cranes. History and nature information is available on large kiosks in the park. Another great spot to enjoy a picnic in Alma, Wisconsin, is Rieck's Lake Park on Hwy 35 at the north end of town. Rieck’s Lake offers a beautiful waterfront setting, with ducks and other waterfowl for your viewing enjoyment. Like, Buena Vista, there are additional picnic tables and benches if the pavilions are occupied. Rieck’s Lake Park also offers a large playground for the kids!

(608) 779-2399

This Refuge was established by an Act of Congress on June 7, 1924, "as a refuge and breeding place for migratory birds, fish, other wildlife, and plants." The north end begins at the confluence of the Mississippi and Chippewa rivers near Wabasha, Minnesota and the south end is near Rock Island, Illinois. Just over 240,000 acres of wooded islands, marshes, and backwaters comprise the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge. The 240,000-acre refuge winding through 4 states for 261 miles provides a home for hundreds of species of fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and native plants. It is a place where the rare and uncommon seem commonplace.