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Reprinted by permission of:
By Jeff Dankert
Winona Daily News
Holmen, Wis.-- Straddling the border of Trempealeau and La Crosse counties, and the Black and Mississippi rivers, is a historical treasure made more beautiful by its natural wonders.
The 4,000 acre Van Loon Wildlife Area is a rich, hardwood swamp in the bottom lands of the Black River before it spills into the Mississippi River.
While a swap hike sounds like a muddy affair, visitors to the Van Lon can remain quite dry by walking 2 miles of the old McGilvray Road. Hikers can cross a half-dozen 19th century steel bowstring and arch truss bridges.
An effort to save the bridges began in 1989 after citizens learned the spans were slated for demolition. State money and donations fueled a grassroots effort - the Friends of McGilvray Road- and the road and bridges were restored.
Van Loon is a unique combination: a natural preserve, an accessible wildlife area, a hunting destination and a landmark listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Van Loon's greatest wealth might be its wildlife diversity. Threatened red-shouldered hawks nest there and were present Thursday. Other interesting birds Thursday included tufted titmouse, orange crowned warbler, northern water thrush, ruby crowned kinglet and purple finch.
The forested wetland harbors a population of Massasauga rattlesnakes, a small cousin to the timber rattlesnake.
Three groups of hunters tried their luck squirrel hunting. Two hunters bagged a pair of squirrels. the others came up empty- still too many leaves on the trees to spot these arboreal rodents they said.
Arboreal - tree dwelling - is a prominent mode for Van Loon's wildlife. The woodpeckers are varied and numerous. All seven of the regions woodpecker species can be found in Van Loon, including the king tree-knocker, the crow sized pileated woodpecker.
There is a reason woodpeckers and red-shouldered hawks find Van Loon suitable- it is one of the largest, contiguous blocks of bottom-land hardwood forest remaining in western Wisconsin.
In addition, Wisconsin Rustic Road No. 64 makes a 3 mile loop off of Amsterdam Prairie road, east of Van Loon.
Van Loon also is listed among the state-owned lands as part of a Karner blue butterfly habitat conservation plan.