 Tourism
They call this area the “driftless zone”. French Island lies within the Mississippi river valley, untouched by the glaciers, leaving bluffs and coulees in tact. With its’ natural geographical beauty, visitors find it hard not to stop and look us over. Whether you take a stroll along a several hundred foot dike out into the vast Mississippi River on the west shore, or watch the sun set behind sailboats skimming across Lake Onalaska from the wildlife viewing platform on the far north shore, you'll be impressed with the Island's pristine beauty. Sunrise to sunset whether your interests include boating, biking or bird watching French Island has something for everyone.
The locals see this area as ‘blessed’ with its four seasons;
Falls brings the brilliant colors displayed along the bluffs, migratory birds grace our shores including the loon, pelican, Eagle and trumpeter swans capture the hearts of the bird watchers. Many species can be observed from the northern tip of the island known as Nelson Park where an observation deck and shelter house can be found for your waterfowl viewing convenience. This wildlife viewing platform was built to view one of the largest concentration of Canvasbacks that can be found anywhere in the U.S. In the spring and fall, as many as 100,000 of these Canvasbacks visit Lake Onalaska yearly. The lake provides wild celery in abundance and Canvasbacks dive under the water to retrieve wild celery tubers from the mud. Also frequenting the area are Tundra Swans, Lesser Scaup, Redheads, Buffleheads and Mallards.
Winter provides an opportunity for cross-country skiing and snowmobile riding along the shoreline of the natural reserve. The crisp sunny days just after a light snow are a wonderful opportunity to view the surrounding bluffs. Ice fishing is a local sport with unique characteristics. The “shanty” cities up on the lake are quite a sight.
Spring and summer bring on the boating season. Enjoy sailing, power boating, camping on the beach and, of course, fishing. Enjoy a beautiful sunset while sailing on Lake Onalaska. The natural beauty provides a quite solitude. Many fishing tournaments are held here throughout the summer season. Like to fish? Got a boat? If you enter the Island via Clinton Street Bridge, you can buy bait from a shop there, then launch your boat at the end of Spillway Drive on the west shore. In the summer, take an evening drive out to the east shore beach on Fisherman's Road and watch the River City Water Skier performances.
Also on the east shore along Fanta Reed Road is the U.S. Geological Survey's Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center. This science research Center conducts studies on our nation's biological resources, concentrating mainly on the Upper Mississippi River System and Great Lakes region. The Center foyer is open to the public
from 8:00 to 4:00, Monday through Friday, and has a variety of educational displays and an aquarium with fishes from the Mississippi River. As you drive onto the grounds towards the Center, on your left is a restored sand prairie.
A visitor to the Town of Campbell must stop to take advantage of our local Thomasville Gallery and Company Store Outlet located on Sky Harbour Drive, just off the Interstate at Exit 2. The Days Inn offers accommodations for the traveler with features such as indoor swimming pool, restaurant and cocktail lounge.
The folks of French Island welcome you to come and enjoy the natural
beauty of their Island.
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