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Upper Hixon Forest
4.7 ★★★★★ 238 Google reviews · Running trail in La Crosse, Wisconsin · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Upper Hixon Forest's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Natural area known for its hiking & mountain-biking trails, along with scenic lookouts.
What runners say about Upper Hixon Forest
“We hiked the Upper Hixon Trail near Grandad Bluff in La Crosse, Wisconsin and it was beautiful!”
“Only real complaint is trails are not incredibly well marked and no particularly great map is posted.”
One of my favorite places to mountain bike in the state. Well built trails, great maintenance and beautiful views. Only real complaint is trails are not incredibly well marked and no particularly great map is posted. I would suggest using an app like Trailforks to navigate your first time you go there.
This is by far one of my more favorite places to spend a day in the wilderness it has so many paths leading through so many different types of terrains and can get pretty rugged at times but also very very well maintained.
We hiked the Upper Hixon Trail near Grandad Bluff in La Crosse, Wisconsin and it was beautiful! The trails are well-marked and the views overlooking the city and Mississippi River are amazing. A great spot to get outside, enjoy nature, and take in some incredible scenery.
Decently maintained trails. The mountain bike trails are decent, but they are very short. Expext to pedal a lot. Some trails are shared; people and bikes. Expect hikers to be oblivious to this despite the massive amounts of signs advertising this. The views are amazing, so definitely worth a visit.
Trail conditions & character
“Some of the most awe inspiring views as you look out over the Mississippi and able to follow all of it's back waters.”
“It was really windy and a little muddy in spots so we didn't ride to much, plus we are pretty new to trail riding so we stuck to the easy ones.”
“Only real complaint is trails are not incredibly well marked and no particularly great map is posted.”
“Bring water as sometimes the water fountain isn’t always working.”
Plan your run at Upper Hixon Forest
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadwater — reported by runners
- Websitecityoflacrosse.org
- Phone+1 608-789-7533
Hours
| Monday | 6:30 am–10:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6:30 am–10:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6:30 am–10:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6:30 am–10:30 pm |
| Friday | 6:30 am–10:30 pm |
| Saturday | 6:30 am–10:30 pm |
| Sunday | 6:30 am–10:30 pm |
Running trails near La Crosse
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Hixon Forest
4.8 ★★★★★ 67 reviews
City park with trails for biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing.
Lower Hixon Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 130 reviews
Trail network amid wooded terrain and bluffs that’s popular for hiking, mountain-biking and trail-running.
Grandad Bluff Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,006 reviews
Large bluff offering hiking trails & a scenic overlook of the town of La Crosse.
Tramway trail trailhead
5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews