The Alma Area Chamber of Commerce, working with the City of Alma, applied for "Bird City Wisconsin" designation in 2017 and our application was approved effective April 1, 2017. Below is some of the important work in our community that supported our designation.
All About Birds | Cornell Lab of Ornithology
allaboutbirds.org
American Birding Association
aba.org
Audubon Society, Wisconsin
audubon.org/audubon-near-you?state=WI
eBIRD, Wisconsin
ebird.org/content/wi
Great Wisconsin Birding & Nature Trail
wisconsinbirds.org/trail
National Geographic Society, Birds
animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds
Nature Conservancy, Wisconsin
nature.org/en-us/
National Eagle Center
nationaleaglecenter.org
Upper Mississippi National Wildlife & Fish Refuge | US Fish & Wildlife Service
fws.gov/refuge/upper_mississippi_river
Wings Over Alma Nature & Art Center
wingsoveralma.org
Wings Over Alma Nature & Art Center is a multi-purpose, non-profit organization staffed by volunteers. Wings Over Alma overlooks the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge and the magnificent Mississippi River. The Center also hosts the Alma Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center.The Center offers a 50-foot outdoor viewing deck overlooking the Mississippi River and is equipped with spotting scopes and binoculars to view a variety of wildlife year-round. You can also enjoy a great river view from inside the comfort of the Center. The Mississippi Flyway brings hundreds of migrating birds past the Center every spring and fall. During the winter months, dozen of bald eagles can be viewed from the deck, feeding in the open water below Lock and Dam #4. Inside the Center, local area artists display their work in rotating exhibits.Nature displays and educational programs are offered through the year. The talent of our many local artisans and the National Historic District of Alma have attracted over 7,000 guests a year from all 50 states and many countries.
Alma Visitor Center
110 N Main Street
Alma, WI 54610
608.685.3303
wingsoveralma@icloud.com
Located 500 feet above Alma, it’s a small city park with a big view of the Mississippi River for several miles to the north and south. According to Better Homes & Gardens magazine, "Buena Vista Park is one of the river valley's finest natural balconies." The park is a great birding spot with breathtaking sunsets and is a "must see" when you come to Alma. This scenic vista 500 feet above Alma and the Mississippi River Valley has a natural viewing platform. Visitors can watch barges and riverboats traveling on the river and locking through Lock & Dam #4 along with views of sand islands and backwaters. The area is handicapped accessible and offers picnic tables, grills, a picnic shelter, restrooms and a small children's playground. The park also offers a large parking lot that accommodates several vehicles and motor coaches. No camping is allowed. This is a popular wedding spot but must be reserved in advance. For information, directions and regulations contact the Alma City Clerk. DRIVE County Road E from Main Street in Alma up the bluff to Buena Vista Park and walk to the overlook. County Road E starts at Wisconsin Highway 35 (the Great River Road) in Alma. HIKE the Buena Vista Trail from Alma's Main Street up the Alma Bluff to Buena Vista Park or hike down the trail from the Park to Alma's Main Street. This is a 3-mile hike and approximately 7300 steps up 500 feet.
Buena Vista Road
(Off County Road E)
Alma, WI 54610
608.685.3330
Open daily, dawn to 11pm
cityalma227@gmail.com
Rieck’s Lake is located at the confluence of the Buffalo and Mississippi Rivers. Beautiful sunrises start your day and if you are traveling in the summer months you may experience the morning mist as it rises from the water. Located 3 miles northwest of Alma on Wisconsin Hwy 35 (the Great River Road), the area is handicapped accessible and provides a large parking lot that accommodates several vehicles. Rieck’s Lake Park offers a small popular camping area on a “first come” basis. For $15 a night you will enjoy a paved camping pad, fire pit, picnic table, showers and a direct lake view. Electricity is available at an additional charge. Dumping facility is available 2 miles north on Wisconsin Hwy 35 at the Silver Moon facility. For information, directions, regulations and prices contact the Alma City Clerk at (608) 685-3330. Recreational options abound with a picnic shelter and a great playground that offers a play structure as well as old time swings, slide and merry-go-round we all enjoyed as children. The park is an excellent birding spot with two viewing decks and a spotting scope. Expect crowds in the spring and fall during migration. White Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Tundra Swans, Canada Geese and many species of ducks can be viewed. Other wildlife like beaver, muskrat and mink can be sited, with muskrat huts visible on the lake. DRIVE Wisconsin Highway 35 northeast from Alma about 3 miles.
Off Wisconsin State Hwy 35
Alma, WI 54610
608.685.3330
Open daily, Dawn to Dusk
cityalma227@gmail.com
The Alma Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center is located in the Wings Over Alma Building on Main Street. Let us know if you have any questions or comments. We are happy to provide more details. Please email us 24/7 or call us to learn more.
Email To Learn More
