Outdoor recreation

 

Pike's Peak State Park

For one of most scenic view along the river, drive two miles south of McGregor to Pike's Peak State Park. From 500 feet in the air you can see where the Wisconsin River empties in to the Mississippi River. Lt. Zebulon Pike came up the river in 1805 to survey the Mississippi. Pike suggested that a fort be located on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River and is today one of Iowa's most beautiful state parks. This is also the place where explorers Marquette and Joliet first set foot on the land west of the Mississippi. The park contains campsites, picnic grounds with a view of the two great rivers, waterfall, hiking and nature trails. Pike later went further west and named the famous peak in Colorado, as well.

Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge was established in 1924. Since that time, the Refuge has grown to become one of the country's largest and most visited refuges with 3.5 million people annually participating in fishing, boating, hiking, bird watching, hunting, and sightseeing. The Upper Mississippi Refuge provides homes for over 265 species of birds, 57 species of mammals, 35 species of reptiles and amphibians, and over 100 species of fish. The Refuge's goal to provide a diversity of habitats needed to support many distinct types of wildlife, year-round and during migration.

The Refuge is comprised of nearly 200,000 acres and is over 260 miles long starting at the Chippewa River in Wisconsin and continuing nearly to Rock Island, Ill. The McGregor, Iowa is the District Office location for one of this country's largest and most poplar wildlife refuges. You will find this office located directly between the towns of Marquette and McGregor.