Description: La Riviere Park is managed by the City of Prairie du Chien Parks and Recreation Department and the La Riviere Park Board. It is also maintained by many volunteers including the La Riviere Horse Riders, Prairie du Chien Rod & Gun Club, and the Boy Scouts among many others. It includes tracts of hills, woods, open fields, and limited agricultural land on the geological feature called the Bridgeport Terrace. The terrace is actually the old river bottom of the prehistoric Mississippi River. Because of the abundance of natural resources, the park is also a designated Tree City and Bird City USA location. Today, hiking, bird watching, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, picnicking, berry and nut picking, and nature appreciation are a few of the activities that can be enjoyed at the park. Primitive walk-in campsites are located within the park and the La Riviere Horse Riders boast one of the largest free Horse Campgrounds in the nation! Hiking trails and bridle trails are shared in some locations within the park. Remnant prairies, grasslands, hardwood forests, and wildlife edge make up the park’s varied habitat. The park provides six miles of hiking trails, nature viewing, bird watching, cross-country skiing, archery area, picnic area, and a shelter house. Horse trails in the park and adjoining rails cover over 50 miles.
Amenities: La Riviere Park offers a Boy Scout camp area, primitive group camping, a horse-camp area, and marked hiking and biking trails. In the winter, cross-country ski trails are marked, and there is a toboggan slope. The park has electricity and running water at some locations, as well as pit toilets. Toilets and many of the areas of the park are handicap accessible. Recent improvements completed at the park are the construction of a new picnic shelter with provision for tying horses at the shelter, improvements and expansion of both the equestrian and human hiking trails, and an improved visitor’s display building. Some other amenities you will see in the park include An Archery Range, Chimney Swift Towers, Bird Bath watering area, Sledding Hill, a picnic area, and multiple educational signage throughout the park. The park barn and shelter with bathrooms are also available for rentals, weddings, and special events.
La Riviere Horse Camp (62048 Vineyard Rd)
La Riviere Park Campsite
La Riviere Park Chimney Swift Towers
La Riviere Park Picnic Area
La Riviere Park Shelter
La Riviere Park Farm Barn
Size: The size of the park 300 acres.