Onalaska Blufflands
The Greens Coulee and French Road nature preserves include 162 acres protected by Mississippi Valley Conservancy within the City of Onalaska’s Greens Coulee Park and the French Road property. These protected blufflands above Onalaska occurred in four acquisitions: the Greens Coulee Property is comprised of the Savanna Oaks Tract acquired in December of 2009, the Elmwood Partners Tract in December of 2010, the French Road Property (comprised of the French Valley Tract) was donated in 2007, and the Elmwood Partners II Tract was donated in 2022. All of these properties are located in the City of Onalaska. Since their acquisition, ownership of all four tracts have been transferred to the City of Onalaska. The City of Onalaska and Mississippi Valley Conservancy have a cooperative agreement to prioritize conservation projects through the Onalaska Natural Lands Protection Program.
The land is managed as natural habitat and is part of the larger City of Onalaska Greenway Project. Hiking and other non-motorized uses such as cross-country skiing and bird watching are encouraged.
These bluff properties allows visitors a chance to explore a unique landscape that would have been prevalent hundreds of years ago. They feature bluff prairie and oak woodland that have become increasingly rare due to development, mining, and agriculture. Visitors will enjoy the sweeping views of the Mississippi River Valley from the bluff tops, the mushroom rock formations, and diverse wildlife habitat.
Public Access:
Greens Coulee Park is owned and maintained by the City of Onalaska and 82 acres of it is permanently protected by Mississippi Valley Conservancy. The land is managed as natural habitat and is part of the larger City of Onalaska Greenway Project.
The 80-acre French Road property is also owned and maintained by the City of Onalaska and is permanently protected by Mississippi Valley Conservancy. The land is managed as natural habitat and is part of the larger City of Onalaska Greenway Project.
For more information on either of these nature preserves, please call 608-781-9560 or visit www.onalaskawi.gov/departments/parks_and_recreation/index.php.
Bow hunting is allowed according to the state and city ordinances. Interested hunters should see the Onalaska Urban Deer Management Program and/or contact the Onalaska Parks Department at 608-781-9560 for any additional information.
162 acres
Find Nature's Treasures:
Greens Coulee: Head north out of Onalaska, WI on US 53. Take the Main Street exit and turn right onto E. Main Street. Enter the roundabout and take the second exit, heading north onto Greens Coulee Road. Proceed approximately 1 mile and turn right onto Clifford Drive. The trailhead kiosk is at the end of cul-de-sac.
French Road Tract: From the intersection of Highway 35 and Main Street in Onalaska, head east on Main Street for 3 miles. Turn left/northeast onto I-90 ALT and continue northeast on I-90 ALT for 0.7 miles. Turn left/northwest onto Emerald Drive East and continue for 0.3 miles. Continue straight from Emerald Drive East onto French Road and continue for 0.2 miles to the cul-de-sac on French Road. There is a gravel driveway to the left/north that continues toward the City of Onalaska park lands parking area and trail head to access the property. (GPS: 43.892838, -91.168506)
Please respect private property by staying within the boundaries of the nature preserves.