Upper Mississippi River
Winona, MN 55987-3509
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Plan Your Visit
POOL/HUNTING MAPS-KNOW WHERE TO HUNT AND RECREATE
Driving Directions
Visitor Center in Onalaska, Wisconsin (La Crosse District)
Address: N5727 County Road Z, Onalaska, Wisconsin 54650.
From Dakota, Minnesota:
- Head east on I-90
- Take exit 3B, turn left to follow WI-35N - 4.7 miles
- Turn left at stoplight onto County Road OT. - 0.6 miles
- Turn left at the first stop sign onto County Road ZN. - 1.1 miles
- Continue to the junction of County Roads ZN and Z. - 0.2 miles
- Turn right onto County Road Z and use the left turn lane to turn left and enter the Visitor Center parking lot
From Sparta, Wisconsin:
- Head west on I-90
- Take Exit 3 for US-53S / WI-35 Toward La Crosse / Onalaska - 0.1miles
- Keep Right at the fork and merge onto WI-35N - 4.1 miles
- Turn left at the stoplight onto County Road OT. - 0.6 mi
- Take the left at the first stop sign onto County Road ZN - 1.1 miles
- Continue to the stop sign and the junction of County Roads ZN and Z - 0.2 miles
- Turn right onto County Road Z and use the left turn lane to turn left and enter the visitor center parking lot
Savanna District Office and Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center in Thomson, Illinois
Address: 7071 Riverview Road, Thomson, Illinois 61285
From Fulton, Illinois:
- At the intersection of IL-84 and IL-136
- Head north on IL-84 N for 12.7 miles
- Turn left onto Riverview Road, go 0.7 miles
- Turn left into the parking lot
From Elizabeth / Galena, Illinois:
- Head south on IL-84 S; in Hanover, turn left onto IL-84 S/Jefferson St
- Follow IL-84 S for 15.5 miles through Savanna
- Turn right onto IL-84 S/Viaduct Road at stop light
- Continue 3.9 miles, turn right onto Riverview Road
From Lanark, Illinois:
- Head west on US-52 (64) for 16.5 miles
- Turn left onto IL-84 S / Viaduct Road at stop light
- Continue 3.9 miles, turn right onto Riverview Road
Staff issue Federal Recreational Lands passes at the La Crosse, Winona and Savanna District Offices. Fee-based passes can only be purchased with cash or check; credit/debit cards are not accepted. Passes are available at the La Crosse District Visitor Center during open hours and at Winona and Savanna offices by appointment only.
The following lifetime passes are available:
Senior Lifetime Pass ($80): For U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over.
Military Lifetime Pass (Free): For veterans and Gold Star Families with appropriate identification.
Access Pass (Free): For people with permanent disabilities, with appropriate documentation.
Activities
More Activities
Get Involved
Whether you want to further conservation, learn more about nature or share your love of the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. National wildlife refuges provide many opportunities for you to help your community by doing what you love through volunteering, youth groups, and partnerships.
Services
Staff issue Federal Recreational Lands passes and process Special Use Permits for commercial, recreational, and research activities. These permits ensure that activities are compatible with the refuge's mission and include trapping, guided fishing/hunting, and research projects.
About
Established in 1924, the refuge covers more than 240,000 acres and extends 261 miles of the Mississippi River across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. It is a Globally Important Bird Area, hosting over 290 species of birds, including 40% of the nation's waterfowl during fall migration and over 300 pairs of bald eagles. Managed by four districts and a headquarters in Winona, Minnesota, the refuge offers extensive public recreation including hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching. Its mission is to conserve and restore fish, wildlife, and plant resources for future generations.
