Adventure By The minnesota mile
Winona has something for every season, with over a hundred miles of multi-use trails spread throughout our beautiful bluffs and steps away from your urban hotel or charming inn. Bad vibes will take a hike because Winona offers a delightfully different way to rise above it all.
Top Hikes Around Winona:
- Lake Park includes more than 5 miles of paved blacktop path perfect for biking, skating, running and walking. The route circles both segments of Lake Winona and is a flat, total hike of 5.3 miles.
- Bluffside Park Trails offer short, steep climbs and winding curves for a total of 15 miles through a forest and blufftop. This trail is beautiful in any season and is composed of mostly rocky clay.
- Great River Bluffs State Park is known for the beautiful bluffs it preserves on more than 3,000 acres, containing 6.5 miles of trails with great views of the Mississippi River and the Black River bottoms.
- Saint Mary’s University Trails include 10 miles of rolling trails through beautiful valleys along Garvin Brook behind the university campus.
- The Flyway Trail Winona Connector includes use of the Highway 54 Interstate Bridge and the John A. Latsch Historical Wagon Bridge as well as the new 842-foot bridge over the Burlington-Northern Santa Fe railroad. Watching train traffic from above is a must-see!
Winona takes climbing to new heights thanks to our iconic landmark, Sugar Loaf. Rising high above the city and surrounded by hiking trails, it couldn't get any sweeter. In winter, Winona becomes home to the nation’s best ice park, and adventurists flock from across the Midwest to scale our winter wonderland!
Get Outdoors:
Bike Winona From Ridge to River:
- Ride the Ridges bicycle tour in the Bluffs
- Trinona Triathlon & Kids Tri
- Winona County Bike Loops
- City of Winona Bikeways
- Mountain biking and hiking Winona
Local Experts:
RENTALS
Rent watercraft of all kinds at Lake Lodge Recreation Center, open seasonally with membership or daily rates, rentals available only for Lake Winona.
Tour the backwaters of the Mississippi by renting canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards and more from Prairie Island Campground.
Got a boat with a little more horsepower? Whether you’re docking for the day or the season, check out both full-service stops: Dick’s Marine just steps from downtown on Latsch Island, and the Winona Marina located on the Mississippi River just east of downtown Winona.
Fishing
From wonderful walleye in the Mighty Missisippi to fully stocked, bubbling streams, Winona offers enough alluring options for any angler!
In Town Angling
Lake Winona (shore, boat, ice)
Both East and West Lake Winona offer fishing docks with easy access and a diverse bounty of fish year-round (ice fishing, anyone?!). Ranging from sunfish for the new angler to northerns, walleye and largemouth bass for serious anglers. Try fishing near the east end of the pipe connecting the lakes, beneath Huff St., right after a rain. A boat ramp on each lake is available.
Levee Park (shore)
There is good fishing at the west end of Levee Park, near the foot of Johnson Street. When the water is low, you might catch just about anything here.
Bartlet Lake (shore, boat, ice)
This quiet backwater lake is inside the Winona dike, near the airport. It’s a good place to fish in the warm months and a great ice fishing spot.
Prairie Island Causeway & Spillway (shore)
Anglers catch a variety of fish on the downstream end of the culvert under the causeway to Prairie Island, especially in the spring and during high water. The far west end of Prairie Island park adjoins the L&D 5A spillway. The spillway is a popular place to fish from shore.
birds the word
Located in the heart of the Mississippi Valley Flyway, Winona is a natural destination for birds and bird watchers. A great variety of birds nest here year-round or pass through the area during migration. Over 280 species of birds have been identified in the bluffs, valleys and backwaters of the Winona area. The annual tundra swan migration draws many visitors to Winona.
Great vantage points to view birds from the blufftops to the river bottoms:
- Farmers Park (Stockton, MN)
- Great River Bluffs State Park
- Perrot State Park (WI)
- Prairie Island
- Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge (WI)
- Woodlawn Cemetery & Holzinger Trails
Golf & Disc Golf
Get your clubs and discs ready — Winona’s got an incredible variety of fairways for your next round!
Tee off surrounded by bluffs, rolling greens, and some of the most scenic views in the Midwest. Winona’s trio of golf courses offers something for every golfer — from relaxed rounds to championship-level play.
Winona is a disc golfer’s paradise with four beautiful courses, each offering its own mix of scenery and challenge. Soak up lake views at The Willows (18 holes around East Lake) or enjoy a quick round at West Lake (9 holes). Head to Prairie Island Disc Golf Course for wide-open fairways and river breezes, or test your skills among the trees at The Woods on the Saint Mary’s University campus.
Find More Golfing In The Area
indoor rec
Winona keeps the fun rolling no matter the weather. Visitors can knock down pins at the local bowling alley, show off tricks at the indoor skate park, glide across the ice rink, or perfect their swing at one of the city’s indoor golf facilities. With something for all ages and interests, Winona’s indoor recreation options make it easy to stay active, have fun, and make memories — rain or shine.
Our latest obsession? Winona Axe & Arcade!