Birding

North Hwy. 35

608-685-3330

The Alma Beach and Marina has plenty of options for fun activities with a softball field, tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts with picnic tables nearby. There is also a small playground near the field and a gazebo farther out. The sand beach is available to the public, but there are currently no lifeguards.

Mississippi Flyway

BALD EAGLES abound in and around Alma, Wisconsin, but it is especially thrilling to see these massive birds gather in great numbers during the winter months as they fish in the open water just below Lock & Dam #4. Rieck's Lake, within the city limits of Alma, Wisconsin, offers opportunities to view migrating Tundra Swans primarily in the fall and by chance in the Spring. Please be aware that the Tundra Swans do not visit Alma in the numbers they once did; today, it's a thrill to spot a few small groups - but a thrill none-the-less! You may also get a rare glimpse of one of Wisconsin's endangered species, such as the Trumpeter Swan or the Peregrine Falcon. The Upper Mississippi River is a major flyway for thousands of migrating birds each year, and many call it home year ‘round.

Big Swamp Wildlife Area is an 844-acre property in Buffalo County. Find it 5 miles west of Mondovi, south of Hwy 10, and approximately 25 miles from Alma, Wisconsin. Currently, access is only available from County Hwy A on the south side of the property. The property consists of upland hardwoods and marsh. Big Swamp Wildlife Area is owned by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Acquisition began on the property in 1956 with the goal of protecting winter cover for pheasants. The property is surrounded by private lands, so it is important that users know and respect the property boundaries.

Take a ride on a mini train through the Tiffany State Wildlife Area and the Chippewa River Bottoms with onboard birding guides! Our local non-profit nature and art center, Wings Over Alma, sponsors the event twice a year during spring and fall migration. As many as 73 species of birds have been sited in one trip! There is a requested donation of $40 per person, which includes the train ride, a sack lunch, birding guides, a history of the mini train, and locals with knowledge of the Tiffany Bottoms wildlife area. Event may be rescheduled due to weather conditions. Family rates available.

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.

Alma, WI

A 1.5 mile hiking trail that leads up to the Buena Vista park, there are benches along the way for a break.

Alma, Wisconsin is the County Seat of Buffalo County. Western Buffalo County is ranked 17th among the top 50 birding spots in Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. Wild turkeys, pheasants, sandhill cranes, red-tail hawks, bald eagles, golden eagles, canadian geese and several varieties of ducks can be seen throughout the county. The National Eagle Center released rehabilitated golden eagles in Buffalo County with radio tracking devices. They continue to return to our area during their migration, and a golden eagle survey is held in Buffalo County each year.

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.

Cemetery Road off Hwy 35, Alma

608-685-3330

Mossy Hollow Hiking Trail starts at the City of Alma Cemetery. Mossy Hollow has two paths, one that goes on the main trail and a second one that ends with a view of Alma. The main trail ends at private property, there is a sign to indicate the end of the trail. The second trail has a bench for taking in a view of the Mississippi River and our town.

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!

The Great Wisconsin Birding & Nature Trail is a mapped auto trail that reaches into every area of Wisconsin, including Buffalo County. Full-color viewing guides with maps and descriptions of every site leads the nature traveler to warblers, shorebirds, eagles, loons, cranes and all manner of mammals found in some of the state's premier wildlife venues.

608-685-6222

Located 16 miles north of Alma, Wisconsin is Tiffany Wildlife State Natural Area (also known as Tiffany Bottoms). This 717-acre portion of the most extensive river delta in the Midwest contains a representative portion of the larger Tiffany Bottoms floodplain forest. Flowing into the Chippewa River and the Mississippi River, the Bottoms abound in wildlife and contain rare birds such as the red-shouldered hawk, great egret, cerulean warbler, prothonotary warbler, great-blue heron, pileated woodpecker and the blue-gray gnatcatcher. The Tiffany Bottoms is owned by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and was designated a State Natural Area in 1958. The Bottoms can be accessed from all four sides, including State Hwy 35 & State Hwy 25.

(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.

Whitman Dam Wildlife Area is a 2253-acre property in Buffalo County. Find it 3 miles southeast of Cochrane across the main river channel from Merrick State Park. Access is available from Merrick State Park or at the end of Whitman Dam Road west of Kamrowski Road. The property consists of floodplain forest and marshland. Whitman Dam Wildlife Area was established in 1965 from land donated to the state of Wisconsin for Merrick State Park.