Ask A Local

Winona has a 5.5 mile paved biking and walking path around Lake Winona. It is a flat route and encompasses the natural beauty of the bluffs and native species.

The Flyway Trail is an 8 mile Loop that connects Winona and Wisconsin and the trailhead is located in Winona at Levee Park. It crosses over the interstate bridge to Latsch Island and again crosses over the John Latsch Historic bridge into Aghaming Park in Wisconsin which leads to the Flyway Trail bridge that crosses over the railroad tracks that connects to Hwy. 35/54 to Buffalo City Park.

The Mississippi River Trail Bikeway which runs through Minnesota and northern Iowa also winds through Winona on city roads and state highways.

The City of Winona has bikeways (pdf) for those who want to ride within the city limits.

The bluffs facing Winona have miles of beautiful single and double-track trails that range from gentle slopes to adrenaline-rush descents.

Winona’s Parks and Recreation department has done a fantastic job of making ice rinks accessible all around town.

The Lake Lodge Recreation Center on East Lake Winona is your place for all outdoor winter activities. For a small yearly/daily membership fee, you can take advantage of skate rentals, snowshoe rentals, broomball, and other winter games. They also have free Wi-Fi and warm, cozy fires. There is no fee required to skate on the lake with your own equipment.

Bud King Ice Arena is an option if you’re looking for an indoor location or open hockey. There are different times and options depending on what type of skating you’re looking for.

Here’s a list of the other rinks around town. Please check the Parks & Rec website for skating rules and specific information of each location.

• Tillman Lodge Rink – 549 Kerry Drive
• Valley Oaks Rink – 260 Valley Oaks Drive
• Knopp Valley Rink – 200 Knopp Valley Drive

The City of Winona has many lodges, shelters, gazebos, fields, historic places, and fields for the public to rent for your special event. Please click here for more information about those facilities.

If you are not looking for a shelter, you are welcome to gather in any open spaces in Winona parks, but please note that alcohol is not allowed in those settings.

Captain Jon Borreson offers a fishing guide service; he is an avid bass tournament fisherman and enjoys many other outdoor activities including hunting and trapping. For more information on his services, click on this link.

Fishing Guide Service

Another option would be working with outdoorsman Steve Briggs at Briggs Farm, where you can stay overnight, and with a group.

The Rutting Ridge Outfitters (running from Red Wing to Winona), offer guide services. As well as On the Fly Guide Service.

There is an active Winona/Lewiston Snowsports snowmobile club and they have a facebook page where you can learn more information.

Hunting is not allowed on the city side of Prairie Island but it is on the riverside unless it’s part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife area. The Winona City Ordinance does not allow hunting on any city owned lands. Privately owned property zoned Agricultural can be hunted upon, following all DNR regulations.

For hunting locations, regulations, and licensing, visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Because Winona is located in a valley, much of the biking is flat and includes both road biking and a designated path for multi-use. Winona’s most popular bike trail is located at Lake Park. It is a paved path surrounding East and West Lake Winona and the total distance is six miles.

See more information about Winona’s city’s bike trails.

Winona is surrounded by bluffs that turn many beautiful colors in the Fall. We have several parks where you can view the Fall colors: Lake Park, Levee Park, Garvin Heights Park and Overlook, Bluffside Park and Holzinger Lodge, and Latsch Island Park.

View Winona Parks.

The Winona Park and Recreation department does not have grills in the city parks, but picnickers can use their own grills in the city parks.

Lake Winona has several fishing piers located around the lake that accommodate people who want to fish without a boat. Levee Park is located on the Mississippi River and people are allowed to fish from the levee. Minnesota fishing licenses can be purchased at Burggraff’s Ace Hardware, Fleet Farm, and Walmart.

 View the Winona fishing map (pdf).

Reaching nearly 585 feet into the sky, Sugar Loaf is a storied symbol of Winona and is known by all as its most distinguishing landmark. Hiking trails along its newly-updated front side of Sugar Loaf Bluff offer adventure seekers a unique vantage point to see the city. Users can access the trail behind Edina Realty. Parking is available on Lake Boulevard; not in Edina Realty or Treasures Under Sugar Loaf parking lots. Please note that motorized sports are not allowed on the trail.

To climb to the top of Sugar Loaf, it is advised to use climbing equipment.

Birds are fairly weather-dependent and will take advantage of weather patterns when migrating. However, in general terms, the swans are very “flashy” in the spring. The trumpeter swans will be seen in small family groups and can actually stay all winter and disperse very quickly as soon as the ice starts to break. The tundra swans rarely make an appearance here in the spring but are our top “viewable” species in the fall, generally peaking during the second week of November.

Great blue herons nest here, so they start showing up sometime in mid-late March and begin working on nests in the colonies shortly after they arrive. They typically begin nesting from mid-late April and the young usually fledge in early-mid July. We ask that people stay out of the heron colonies once the birds arrive as they do not do well with human disturbance.

Bald eagles are here year-round, but are most easily seen in late March when they congregate around the breaking ice. Nesting pairs begin working on nests in early January, laying eggs in Feb if the conditions are favorable. The birds that are passing through to more northerly destinations generally follow the breaking ice and disperse quickly once the river opens.

Watercrafts are plentiful in Winona and here are some places you can rent them:

• Lake Lodge: Kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddle boards, and everything else you’ll need to get out on Lake Winona.
• The rental center at Prairie Island Campground rents canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, tents, sleeping bags, pads, and more and is located on the upriver side of the campground near the public boat launch and spillway.
• Broken Paddle Guiding Company: Leads daily guided paddles throughout the waters of Winona and surrounding areas.

The Sugar Loaf Bluff sits 600 feet above Winona and is a popular destination for rock climbers. It is recommended that you use rocking climbing equipment to climb the rock formation. For professional climbing assistance, the Big River Climbing Guides serves the Winona area with professional rock and ice climbing trips throughout the year.

The Winona State University Outdoor Education Center offers open climbing activities, beginning in the Fall Semester.

Winona has an ice park that cascades hundreds of feet down the bluffs to create one of the country’s premiere climbing opportunities. Climbers have the opportunity to scale hundreds of vertical feet of quality ice found on the bluffs at 1183 West Lake Boulevard. It is a free attraction but the City of Winona does not offer guiding or equipment for the Ice Park; however, the Big River Climbing Guides provide that service.

The municipal boat harbor, Dick’s Marine is located across the interstate bridge (Highway 43), across the river from Winona. The Marina has a limited number of slips for overnight docking. Call for the daily docking rate.

The Winona Marina is another marina located on the main channel of the Mississippi River. Boats may moor along Levee Park with limited restrictions, and at no cost.

View full list of Marinas & Landings.