Experience Driving North
This Scenic Road Tour includes the largest city within one hour of Ferryville. For those looking for a city with metropolitan conveniences with Midwestern charm you’ll find it on this circuit. There’s even lots of opportunity to shop at familiar stores as well as local shops. Check out the picnicking and swimming opportunity offered at Blackhawk Park.
Great River Road Interpretive Center
The Interpretive Center features the intrinsic values of the Upper Mississippi River Region. The center focuses on four major themes:
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1. The Upper Mississippi River and its historic and current importance in navigation and trade.
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2. The Blackhawk War, its causes and history of the tribes and their current locations.
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3. The Pearl Button Industry and the importance of mussels in the Upper Mississippi River ecosystem.
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4. The History of conservation nationwide and within the Upper Mississippi River basin.
Also included are two aquariums with live fish exhibits that depict natural riverine species of the Upper Mississippi River and a stream aquarium with species that represent a Wisconsin stream.
Hatchery grounds offer views of the Upper Mississippi River bluffs and the hatchery ponds and the grounds are frequented by many different species of migratory birds and waterfowl.
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S5524 WI-35
Genoa, WI 54632
608-689-2605
Rush Creek State Natural Area
Operated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, this natural area is an example of a “goat prairie” and is an important habitat for numerous rare plants and animals.
Access to the park is convenient from either Highway 35 (at the roadside) or from Rush Creek Road. Located only 3.5 miles from Ferryville. Access to the natural area is free.
Rare plants include purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens), hairy meadow-parsnip (Thaspium barbinode), broad beech fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera), and Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioica).
Rare animals include wing snaggletooth (Gastrocopta procera), Kentucky (Oporornis formosus) and cerulean warblers (Dendroica cerulea), Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens), red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus), and the gorgonne checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne gorgone).
Rush Creek is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1981.
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De Soto, WI 54624
Genoa National Fish Hatchery
Raises over 10 species of fish to contribute to sport fish restorations, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brook trout, rainbow trout, yellow perch, sauger, black crappie and bluegill. Lake sturgeon are also raised for stocking in Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin waters.
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This facility is open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Stop by for a self-guided tour. Group tours are available upon request for school and civic groups. Kids’ Fishing Day is held in Spring.
The hatchery grounds are also noted by bird watching enthusiasts.
S5689 State Road 35
Genoa, WI 54632-8836
608-689-2605