boat cruise la crosse wi

La Crosse Queen Cruises

Review Highlights

“ such a relaxing Sunday evening! ” in 3 reviews

“ I was on the sightseeing cruise which starts in Riverside Park and goes up the Mississippi past the railroad bridge, up to Lock & Dam No. ” in 3 reviews

“ Fun to get out on the river and paddle wheel boats are very cool! ” in 2 reviews

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405 Veterans Memorial Dr

La Crosse, WI 54601

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About the business.

We provide our customers with a relaxing cruise on the Mississippi River. We offer sightseeing and meal cruises seven days a week May through October. Our sightseeing cruise is a 90 minute journey up the Mississippi. Our Riverlorian provides insteresting facts about the history of La Crosse and how the river helped it grow into the city it is today. Our 90 minute weeknight cocktail cruise includes pizza, soda, and beer. A cash bar is available if you wish to purchase other beverages. Our 2 hour Friday and 2 1/2 hour Saturday night dinner cruises are very popular and include a sumptuous buffet dinner. You will be able to enjoy the food and then later go up to the upper deck to watch river and wildlife activities with the majestic bluffs providing the backdrop. The 2 hour Sunday Brunch Cruise is always popular and you will njoy an array of hot breakfast and lunch entrees. Be sure to visit our website for more information! …

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A fun experience for spending time on the water! I definitely recommend getting here EARLY as it's first come first serve on seating (you'll want a seat upstairs, in the shade, and nearest the side of the boat).

Nice 1 1/2 hour cruse up and down the Mississippi River. This was a lunch cruse that started at 11:00. You could either do the cruse with food, or without. We shared the boat with about 25 people and all of us had the meal. It was early spring, so I'm sure the boat fills up as the weather improves and travelers are out and about. Our lunch was sliced turkey, Swedish meatballs with potatoes and carrots. The turkey was hand carved and the rest was buffet style. Food was decent and there was plenty available. Coffee and tea were included, but other beverages, including a full bar, was available for a charge. The trip itself was nice. The highlight was going through a railroad bridge. (Twice - going up and down) A large section of the bridge has to turn to open a space for the boat to go through. Otherwise the views were a bit pedestrian, some nice homes along the river and a few uninhabited islands. There were some bird watchers on our trip who got really excited when they spotted a couple of Eagles nesting in a tree along the river. The captain does a nice job as a narrator/guide to bring the area to life with interesting stories and historical facts. Overall this is a nice relaxing trip. Sit back and learnt some history of the area and Mississippi River, and enjoy the ride. It's always fun to be on the water! Glad I did the trip, probably wouldn't need to do it again.

It was a nice sightseeing cruise on the Mississippi River. Hour & 1/2 with drinks for purchase on board. $18.75 per tix for adults. Only 150 seats, buy tix the day b4 or very early the day of, they sell out.

Nice concept! Had a group of 85 take an evening dinner cruise. Small on board bar, very young inexperienced bartenders, weren't sure how to make a brandy old fashioned, in Wisconsin?? Then dinner came, nice dinner rolls, ran out of butter, in Wisconsin? Main course was ham and roast chicken, ran out of chicken! Hope you understand why I wasn't impressed!

I can't pinpoint a *best* part of this trip; everything was exceptional. The people I dealt know what hospitality is, and want to ensure the best possible travel experience, from the woman I made my reservation with, to the checkin hostess, to the chef, to the servers, to the ship's captain: everyone was verify friendly. The lunch was as good as any land-based meal, service was not rushed, and the views were beautiful. With all of these factors working together, how could you not relax and enjoy a warm summer afternoon on the river?

If you're visiting La Crosse during "boating season" I highly recommend taking a ride on an authentic paddle-wheel riverboat, the La Crosse Queen. They offer narrated tours on the Mississippi River, as well as non-narrated pizza cruises, brunch cruises, and weekend dinner cruises. You can sit below or up top, covered or uncovered. Our narrator provided educational and fun insight, as well as informative stories around the river and surrounding lands, including wildlife that may be seen. I saw three bald eagles during our tour. The tour lasted around an hour and a half, and this particular tour was only $16.95, which I think is a great value! At the end of the tour, the narrator provided recommendations for other activities in town, including a visit to Grandad Bluff, which I visited at her suggestion and loved! There is a gift shop and a photo op for a nominal charge ($5 on my visit), if guests are interested. Add this boat to your to-do list.

See all photos from Rick R. for La Crosse Queen Cruises

" Nice Site Seeing Tour On A Small Paddle wheeler " My wife and I decided to go on a 1 1/2 hour River site seeing tour in La Crosse WI. Even though we had docked earlier in the day on a large Paddle wheel ship The American Duchess we wanted to see and hear the local history and things to see on the small La Crosse Queen Cruise. The Tour Started on the dock at the Riverside Park and went up the Mississippi River past the railroad bridge, and up to a Lock & Dam, and then returned to the Riverside Park again. The Tour guide was very easy to hear and understand, and had a lot of historical local information to hear, that we would not get on our Big Ship.

La Crosse Queen Boat

Mississippi River Tour

The sightseeing cruise made our Lacrosse stay so enjoyable. We took the 11 am morning cruise and the tour host was so knowledgeable providing historic information about the river and area. Our entire family loved staying on the upper level through most of the cruise for the scenery, but you can freely go to the lower level for snacks, restrooms or to get out of the sun for A/C comfort. The paddle wheel was fun to watch. We were pleased to find out they are very safety conscious regarding COVID. They clean and sanitize the entire boat well. We were on a boat that holds many more people but they keep the capacity to 65-people.

See all photos from Michael H. for La Crosse Queen Cruises

Very nice cruise. We took the 1.5 hour afternoon trip. Good commentary on the river, La Crosse and the local sites. Upper deck has tables which is nice seating arrangement versus standard bench or row seating on other sightseeing boats. I would definitely recommend.

such a relaxing Sunday evening! We did the pizza cruise. For $20 you get an hour and a half boat ride with unlimited beer/pop and pizza! Staff is super friendly. They also offer gluten free pizza for $5 extra, you just have to call ahead and let them know!! We will definitely be back.

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La Crosse Queen Cruises

405 Veterans Memorial Dr, La Crosse , Wisconsin 54601 USA

• Independent
• Credit Cards Accepted
• More in La Crosse

Learn more about this business on Yelp .

“Riverboat Tours”

The La Crosse Queen is a modern-day replica of the grand river boats that plied the Mississippi River in the late 19th Century. Cruising out of LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN, she is one of the few authentic Mississippi River paddlewheel river boats still in operation in the United States today. In keeping with early traditions, she was built with sternwheels that are her only means of propulsion. The La Crosse Queen has a split sternwheel and each is run by a twin diesel engine that powers hydraulic motors which turn the paddles.  This is in contrast to most Mississippi River paddlewheelers in operation today that have a "free wheeling" paddlewheel at the stern of the boat for visual effect, but have traditional screw-type engines hidden for their real means of propulsion. 

Reviewed by John F.

Nice 1 1/2 hour cruse up and down the Mississippi River. This was a lunch cruse that started at 11:00. You could either do the cruse with food, or without. We shared the boat with about 25... Read more

Reviewed by Christine L.

A fun experience for spending time on the water! I definitely recommend getting here EARLY as it's first come first serve on seating (you'll want a seat upstairs, in the shade, and nearest the... Read more

Reviewed by Jennifer S.

It was a nice sightseeing cruise on the Mississippi River. Hour & 1/2 with drinks for purchase on board. $18.75 per tix for adults. Only 150 seats, buy tix the day b4 or very early the day of,... Read more

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• Mon - Fri: 10:00 am - 5:30 pm

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Because life's too short to stay home …, cruising la crosse, these days, the riverfront is an even bigger draw than the bars..

© Beth Gauper

We'd been in La Crosse for barely an hour, and everyone we'd met was a certified character.

In Riverside Park, Frank and Faith Rimmert and Jonathan and Barb Rimmert were decked out in top hats, waistcoats and crinolines to meet the Mississippi Queen paddlewheeler, portraying the 19th-century locals who would have assembled.

"If your relatives were coming for a visit, you'd come to greet them," said Faith Rimmert, a volunteer for the La Crosse County Historical Society. "People picked up things being shipped in, or maybe you'd be looking for a servant — you'd say, 'I want that person for a servant in my house.'"

As the history buffs smiled for the camera, a wedding party in black dresses, black fishnet stockings and purple ankle boots hurried toward their own photo session in a gazebo.

Then, a lime-green 1953 fire truck full of German shepherds drew up, blasting its horn. It was Charles Weeth of La Crosse Skyrockers, a volunteer group that puts on special effects and fireworks shows at city festivals.

"I can do a hundred effects off this thing," he said. "I've got really loud whistles that set off a fountain of silver sparks and one that goes whoosh in a great ball of fire. Oh, we have a lot of fun here."

He invited us to hop in and said he was still recovering from Oktoberfest, which had ended six days before. When I asked if it was true the festival had become more sedate in recent years, he had to think about it for a while.

"Well, there aren't the riots and tear gas and all," he said. "But you know how it is when alcohol and testosterone and estrogen get all tied together."

La Crosse always has been a destination for drinkers, with as many as eight breweries, three colleges and a downtown with so many consecutive bars it once held a Guinness world record.

Once, a reputation was nearly all La Crosse had. Damage from a 1965 flood forced the city to demolish many historic buildings, turning the riverfront into an empty patch of sand.

A new mall off the interstate drew business from downtown, and the big department stores closed. Even its status as a drinking town took a hit in 1999, when its last brewery closed briefly.

But downtown La Crosse is looking spruced up these days, with brick pavers and period street lamps. The brewery is back, partly owned by employees and renamed City Brewery for its 1858 origins.

And there's a microbrewery in North La Crosse, where the Pearl Street Brewery produces a line of signature ales as well as handcrafted seasonal and specialty beers.

The sand patch now is a verdant park surrounded by hotels. Paddlewheelers stop there to let passengers go sightseeing, evoking the era of Mark Twain, who got off a boat in 1882 and pronounced La Crosse "a choice town."

Named for a game

We were there during Historic Downtown La Crosse Days, so we joined a tour led by architectural historian Barbara Kooiman.

The town is named for the game French traders saw the local Ho-Chunk playing; the first resident set up a fur post to trade with them, and by the time Twain arrived, La Crosse was a thriving rail and river center with nearly two dozen lumber mills.

Some of the downtown he saw — "blocks of buildings, which are stately enough, and also architecturally fine enough, to command respect on any city" — is still there.

The 1879 Italianate Pamperin Cigar Co. is there, still with original copper panels under its windows, as well as the 1872 Healy Block, where Dr. Frank "White Beaver" Powell ran a drugstore, and the 1878 John Walter Building, now with a 1933 Art Moderne facade.

"We have quite a gem here," Kooiman said. "People talk about all the buildings torn down, but we have a nice concentration here."

As we walked farther from the river, the buildings became newer with each block, until we reached the Prairie School Odin J. Oyen Building, built in 1912 for an interior designer, and the 1930 art-deco Hoeschler Building, with sconces and mosaic panels.

"That's what's neat about La Crosse," Kooiman said. "As you progress away from the river, the styles shift with each decade."

Behind the historic facades that day, costumed characters were portraying Oyen, Frank Powell and Dr. Adolph Gundersen, who founded the local hospital. John Satory, a former president of the historical society, has played Powell and merchant Mons Anderson.

But that year, he was behind the counter of his Satori Arts shop on Pearl Street.

On a shelf over his head sat boxes of products once made in La Crosse — Jay-Tee Japan Green Tea, Peerless Beer and Funk's Happy Boy Confections, made on the site of town founder Nathan Myrick's cabin.

Another case held Doc Powell memorabilia, including a ruler stamped "White Beaver's Cough Cream and Wonder Worker," which Powell marketed with his friend William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, who often came to visit.

Powell was a medical-college graduate, and his mother was part Seneca, known as a medicine chief, Satory said. "He believed in herbal medicines, so people thought he was a quack."

On the sidewalk outside the shop, people lounged in the sun, eating ice-cream cones from an old-time parlor. Overhead, painted ladies looked on from murals on the boarded-up windows of the 1887 Schwartz Block, once a disreputable hotel.

"This neck of the woods was really a bad part of town," Satory said. "They used to arrest GIs if they were found in the area."

A brew or two

We couldn't leave town without seeing the World's Largest Six Pack at City Brewery. When it was Heileman, the only La Crosse brewery to survive Prohibition, the giant storage cylinders bore the Old Style logo; today, they look like cans of La Crosse Lager.

The last time I visited, our tour guide told us that students once tried to tap the cans with an ax, nearly blowing up the neighborhood.

A second guide said he hadn't heard that story, but he offered a stupid drinking trick of his own: One Oktoberfest, he said, some men sawed the stein out of the hand of King Gambrinus, the potbellied medieval connoisseur whose wooden statue stands outside the brewery.

They used it to drink beer during the festival, then returned it to the king.

In La Crosse, drinking legends are legion, many revolving around the brewery, which once offered unlimited imbibing before and after tours.

Back downtown, we stopped by the Casino , a former speakeasy whose Art Moderne interior Barbara Kooiman had urged us to see.

Run for more than 30 years by the late Donald Padesky, who refused to sell big-brewery American lagers, the bar now specializes in cocktails as well as good beer and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Outside the Pearl Street bar, people still were sitting at sidewalk tables, enjoying the evening and drinking — except they were drinking coffee, not beer.

Maybe we left too early, or maybe La Crosse has calmed down even more than we thought. But no matter what, it'll always have its reputation.

Trip Tips: La Crosse, Wisconsin

Getting there: From the west, Amtrak's Empire Builder arrives in La Crosse at 11:37 a.m. and the Borealis at 2:16 p.m. From the east, the Empire Builder arrives at 8:04 p.m. and the Borealis at 3:58 p.m.

2024 events: July 3-6, Riverfest in Riverside Park. July 19-20, Storytelling Festival at the Pump House. Aug. 9-11, Irishfest . Aug. 23-25, Great River Folk Festival . Sept. 26-28, Oktoberfest .

American Queen Voyages riverboats stop in La Crosse on their Upper Mississippi cruises.

Accommodations: On State State near Riverside Park, close to downtown, the boutique Charmant Hotel occupies a former chocolate factory. It includes a French-inspired restaurant and a rooftop terrace that serves wood-fired pizza.

The GrandStay Hotel & Suites is on the north end of Riverside Park and has an indoor pool and free breakfast.

On Cass Street, the Bentley-Wheeler B&B includes two historic houses.

Two miles south of downtown on U.S. 14-61, the Welch Motel is a mom-and-pop motel with clean and tidy rooms. The popular Hungry Peddler restaurant is nearby.

South of town, the 1917 Prairie-style Wilson Schoolhouse Inn is a lovely two-bedroom cottage with a well-equipped kitchen and living area. 608-787-1982.

There's camping at Goose Island County Park , three miles south of downtown, 608-788-7018, and at Pettibone Resort , on Barron Island across the Cass Street Bridge, 800-738-8426.

Dining: In a historic building downtown, the classy Lovechild serves rich pastas, meats and desserts. Overlooking Riverside Park, The Waterfront has an extensive  menu of seafood.

Piggy's and the Freighthouse , both along the river, have nice atmospheres and standard menus. 4 Sisters Wine Bar & Tapas Restaurant has a patio with a view of the river.

Downtown, Fayze's on Fourth Street has a bakery and is a good place for breakfast and lunch. Digger's Sting on Third Street looks like a dive bar from outside but has good food.

* Nightlife: * Concerts, plays and national touring shows perform at Viterbo College, Pump House Regional Arts Center , UW-La Crosse Center for the Arts and the La Crosse Center.

River cruises: The La Crosse Queen , a small paddlewheeler, offers cruises from Riverside Park, 608-784-8523.

Craft breweries: The Turtle Stack Brewery tasting room is downtown, across from the Radisson and La Crosse Center.

Pearl Street Brewery , just off Wisconsin 35 north of the La Crosse River, has a taproom and often offers live music.

On the north side of town, just off U.S. 53, 608 Brewing has a taproom and is open daily.

City Brewing Co no longer offers individual tours.

Canoeing and kayaking: The seven-mile Goose Island Canoe Trail, around Goose Island south of La Crosse, takes four to five hours to paddle. To get there, take Wisconsin 35 south to County Road GI.

It can be reached by three boat ramps in Goose Island County Park , which rents canoes. Miles Paddled supplies handy information about canoeing and camping in the park.

Information: La Crosse tourism , 800-658-9424.

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• 405 Veterans Memorial Drive
• La Crosse, WI 54602
• Phone: (608) 784-2893

A modern-day replica of the grand river boats that plied the Mississippi River in the late 19th century. Cruising out of La Crosse, WI, the boat is one of the few authentic Mississippi River paddlewheel river boats still in operation in the United States. In keeping with early traditions, the boat was built with split sternwheels that are the only means of propulsion, and each is run by a twin diesel engine that powers hydraulic motors which turn the paddles. U.S. Coast Guard inspected for safety and is licensed to carry up to 149 passengers.

Yelp Reviews

La Crosse, Wisconsin River Cruises

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• River Cruises
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• American Serenade
• Viking Mississippi

America’s Great River

• Explore St. Louis' arts scene
• Enjoy American music styles
• Learn Civil War history
• Experience New Orleans' culture
• Visit the Quad Cities

America’s Heartland

• Discover history of the Mississippi
• Explore Dubuque, Iowa
• Experience Mississippi river towns
• Admire local artisan work

Grand Heartland Cruise

• Visit mansions and art galleries
• See the Gateway Arch and St. Louis
• Visit Natchez’s antebellum homes
• Experience Memphis' musical legacy

Top La Crosse Travel Destinations

• Mississippi River

Top Experiences in La Crosse

• La Crosse River Cruises (3)
• La Crosse Cruises (3)
• La Crosse Cultural (3)

La Crosse Trips by Activity

• La Crosse village visits (3)

Why Travel With Adventure Life

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Boating and Boat Tours

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• Locks & Dams
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To truly experience the Wisconsin Great River Road, you need to get out on the river. A number of boat launches, boat tours and other on-the-water experiences are available in many of the river towns.

River Cruises

Boating & paddling, boating maps - north to south, houseboat rentals, la crossse queen.

The La Crosse Queen is a modern-day replica of the grand river boats that plied the Mississippi River in the early 1900s. Cruising out of La Crosse, Wisconsin, she is one of the few authentic Mississippi River paddlewheel river boats still in operation in the United States today. In keeping with early traditions, she was built with sternwheels that are her only means of propulsion.

More than 25,000 acres of open water awaits you on Lake Pepin. This natural lake was formed by a natural sandbar created where the Chippewa River spills into the Mississippi. The result is one of the best places on earth for sailing and boating. Waterskiing was invented on this big body of water. Numerous marinas and boat launches can be found along its shores.

Lake Onalaska

At 7,700 acres, Lake Onalaska offers boaters lots of room to explore. The lake is famous not only as a boating and paddling destination – it’s also known as the “Sunfish Capital of the World.” Backwater areas and quiet sloughs are perfect for canoeing and kayaking.

Lake Winneshiek

This wild and undeveloped stretch near Lynxville and Ferryville offers thousands of acres of open water just waiting to be explored with a canoe or kayak. At the northern and southern ends of the pool, the river splits into numerous channels. Boat launches are located along the eastern shore, allowing easy access to this pristine section of the Mississippi River. Numerous stumps and islands make this a challenging stretch for motorboats

Prescott Pool 3, River Miles 814-804

Diamond bluff pools 3&4, river miles 803-791, bay city pool 4, river miles 790-780, stockholm pool 4, river miles 781-771, pepin pool 4, river miles 771-761, nelson & alma pool 4&5, river miles 762-751, buffalo city & cochrane pool 5, river miles 750-739, fountain city pools 5a & 6, river miles 738-727, trempealeau national wildlife refuge pool 6, river miles 727-717, trempealeau pools 6&7, river miles 716-706, onalaska & la crosse pools 7&8, river miles 706-696, la crosse & stoddard pool 8, river miles 695-684, genoa pools 8 & 9, river miles 683-673, victory & de soto pool 9, river miles 673-661, ferryville & lynxville pool 9, river miles 660-649, north of prairie du chien pools 9 & 10, river miles 650-640, prairie du chien pool 10, river miles 639-629, wyalusing, bagley, glen haven pool 10, river miles 628-618, glen haven, cassville pools 10 & 11, river miles 617-606, cassville pool 11, river miles 605-596, potosi pool 11, river miles 596-585, dickeyville, kieler pools 11 & 12, river miles 585-579, cassville car ferry.

The charming river town of Cassville is home to one of the few operating car ferries on the Upper Mississippi River. The first ferry operating out of Cassville dates back to 1833, making the Cassville ferry the oldest operating ferry service in Wisconsin. Kids will love the trip across the Mississippi River to Turkey River in Iowa.

The ferry runs seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During May, September and October, it runs from Friday to Sunday only.

Fun in the Sun Houseboats

Enjoy a houseboat vacation on the Mississippi River with Fun ’N the Sun houseboats! As the captain of your own houseboat, you’ll enjoy the freedom of exploring the Mississippi River at your own pace.

Great River Houseboats

Enjoy spectacular bluffs, secluded sand beaches and boating on the largest pool on the Upper Mississippi River which includes beautiful Lake Pepin. Quaint river towns offer a variety of services and food.

La Crosse WI cruise port

Canada and usa rivers.

• Coordinates 43.804, -91.262
• Local Time 2024-07-01 22:12

La Crosse WI cruise ship schedule

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La Crosse, WI

Steamboat JULIA BELLE SWAIN

The sternwheel steamboat JULIA BELLE SWAIN (#3180) was designed and built by Capt. Dennis Trone at Dubuque Boat & Boiler Works being the last steamboat built there in 1971. The steam engines came off the steam ferry CITY OF BATON ROUGE (#1050) which can still be seen in Le Claire, IA, as landing boat for the riverboat TWILIGHT. The JULIA BELLE SWAIN is equipped with a steam calliope.

The boat has been located at La Crosse’s Riverside Park for many years, offering overnight cruises and local dinner cruises in summer, until 2008. After several attempts to renovate the boat and get her back to business, she’s still laying on idle – potentially on the Black River near Copeland Park with little hope for a happy end …

Riverboat LA CROSSE QUEEN

The paddlewheeler LA CROSSE QUEEN is located at the north end of Riverside Park (west end of State St) providing excursion cruises from May til October.

La Crosse Queen Paddleboat Cruises lacrossequeen.com

Riverside Museum

The nice little Riverside Museum on the north side of Riverside Park is concentrating on the Mississippi River and its importance to the area. Exhibits range from prehistoric artifacts to a large collection of birds and fresh water clams. A video of the history of La Crosse is shown and artifacts of the steamboat WAR EAGLE (#5691) are on display. Within a walking distance from the boat landing.

Riverside Museum www.explorelacrosse.com/project/riverside-park/

Murphy Library, University of Wisconsin

The Murphy Library hosts the largest collection of steamboat photographs started by Ralph DuPae. Copies are available. Researchers should call ahead.

Murphy Library, University of Wisconsin Special Collections & Area Research Center www.uwlax.edu/murphylibrary/

Granddad Bluff

Granddad Bluff is a 600 ft. high bluff and city park overlooking the city of La Crosse and the Mississippi River valley and the tri-state area of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. Be sure to have a day with clear air and good visibility.

Directions: Follow Main St which becomes Bliss Rd as you ascend the bluff. Turn right at Granddad Bluff Rd.

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2024 RiverBoat Shore Stops In La Crosse, WI

Jun 23, 2024 to Oct 6, 2024

Mississippi River Levee, Riverside Park 100 State St La Crosse WI, 54601

Event Website

608-782-2366

[email protected]

Boats dock at the Mississippi River Levee in Riverside Park. Schedule subject to change according to unpredictable river conditions. Please call ahead to assure the schedule, 800-658-9424.

Viking Mississippi Cruise Ship: Aug 13th arrives 130pm, Aug 14th departs 300pm, Aug 19th 9am-5pm, Aug 29th 930am-5pm, September 2nd 8am-5pm, September 12th 930am-5pm, September 16th 8am-5pm, October 15th arrives 130pm, October 16th departs 300pm, October 21st 8am-500pm

American Serenade Cruise Ship: July 11th 8am-11pm, July 25th 8am-11pm, August 8th 8am-11pm, August 8th 8am-11pm, August 11th 8am-11pm, September 19th 8am-11pm

American Melody Cruise Ship: June 23rd 8am-11pm, August 4th 8am-11pm, September 5th 8am-11pm

American Symphony Cruise Ship: September 22nd 8am-11pm, October 6th 8am-11pm

High water impacts La Crosse’s parks, trails, and boat landings

L A CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) - Our stretch of rainy weather is leading to issues with high water in the Coulee Region, causing multiple parks, trails, and boat landings in La Crosse to close.

“As soon as water breaches a trail or breaches a roadway, that’s what we need to take that preventative action immediately to discontinue use of trail facilities as well as vehicles accessing parks. We don’t want people on trails or roadways that are underwater,” says La Crosse Parks and Forestry Manager Leah Miller.

Some places, like Pettibone Park, have been closed for around a week.

Miller says the city’s boat landings have been the most affected by the water levels.

“We asked that anyone forgo using our boating recreational facilities to put their boats in and out of the water at this time for their own safety and safety of their equipment that they’re utilizing as well,” says Miller.

La Crosse Fire Chief Jeff Schott warns that it does not take a lot of flooding water for it to become dangerous.

“Any time we get water moving into places where it shouldn’t be and it’s moving, in some cases, it takes six inches to move somebody that’s standing in water, and it takes twelve inches to move a vehicle. Obviously when you have people moving their boats in and out of the water or potentially walking to and from their boat houses over boat docks that are underwater, it puts people in a very compromising situation,” says Schott.

City officials say even if there is no water on trails or roads that are barricaded, it still isn’t safe to pass them.

“Some of those barricades may exist longer than past when the water recedes because we do need to get our staff in there to ensure that our facilities are ready to restore use once those flood waters do go down,” says Miller.

As of Tuesday, the National Weather Service reported the Mississippi River at La Crosse to be at moderate flood stage. The river is expected to begin slowly receding by the end of the week.

Advanced public reservations are taken online. Bookings open four weeks in advance of cruise date.

Pizza Cruise

Discover the Mississippi River while enjoying free pizza and unlimited tap beer and soda!

Quick Details

• Hour Glass Duration: 1.5 hours
• Users Ages: All ages
• Clock Start time: Wednesday's and Friday's at 5:30 p.m. & Saturday's and Sunday's at 3:30 p.m.
• Info Booking: Public reservations can be booked online four weeks in advance

Enjoy Free Pizza, Tap Beer and Soda as You Cruise on The Mississippi

Get together with friends, family or business associates for camaraderie and fun on this 90 minute scenic Mississippi River cruise. Enjoy complimentary pizza with unlimited tap beer and soda while you cruise on the mighty Mississippi River. This cruise is available to individuals, groups, and private parties, running early May through October. Advanced reservations are necessary. This cruise is NOT narrated. Beer, wine, and liquor are available for purchase. Please call to book if this cruise is full.

• Complimentary pizza
• Unlimited tap beer and soda

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• Clock Varies
• Users All ages
• Hour Glass 3 hours

Three-Hour Lunch Cruise

Spend the afternoon cruising along the Mississippi River and enjoying a buffet-style lunch!

• Clock 7:30 p.m.
• Hour Glass 2 hours

Friday Dinner Cruise

Have a delicious buffet-style dinner while enjoying live music on this evening tour of the Mississippi River!

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• Clock 6:00 p.m.
• Hour Glass 2.5 hours

Saturday Dinner Cruise

Feast on a delicious chicken and prime rib dinner while relaxing on this Mississippi River tour!