Bangor: Trails, Forests, and Historic Places

When choosing Bangor as a destination, specific interests can make the difference: here, walking and biking trails meet a distinctive landscape and historic landmarks. The town can be explored from several perspectives—through its outdoor routes, waterways, and the former uses of individual buildings.

Walking, Hiking, and Biking Trails

A large part of the 3,109-acre Coulee Experimental Forest lies in the western area of the Town of Bangor. The forest offers walking and hiking trails. If you’d mainly like to get around on foot during your stay, this forest is a specific place to start. It complements the bike routes and local roads, which also offer opportunities for outdoor activities.

The La Crosse River State Bicycle Trail runs for about five miles through the Town of Bangor. It is 21.5 miles long in total and connects with the Great River State Trail and the Sparta-Elroy State Trail. The two distances describe different sections: about five miles refers to the portion in Bangor, while 21.5 miles is the full length of the trail.

From spring through fall, the La Crosse River State Trail is open to pedestrians and cyclists; in winter, it is open to snowmobiles. The stated permitted uses therefore vary by season. More than 35 miles of low-traffic, paved local roads also offer opportunities for biking and walking. This figure refers to local roads in the Town, not the roughly five-mile section of the trail. A state-funded snowmobile trail runs about five miles east to west through the Town of Bangor.

Landscape, Creeks, and Fishing

The landscape of the Town of Bangor is characterized by a ridge-and-valley topography. Forests, including agricultural and non-agricultural forestland, cover a total of 5,406 acres, or 32.2 percent of the Town. White-tailed deer and eastern wild turkeys are also found there. The Town’s creeks flow into the La Crosse River and eventually the Mississippi River.

Bostwick Creek is 16.04 miles long and is a Class I, II, and III trout stream. The Bostwick Creek Fishery Area is located in the Town of Bangor. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources maintains fishing access easements in numerous areas of the Town and manages corresponding lands there. These details provide several points of reference for anyone interested in creeks and fishing, without implying a specific fishing spot.

Historic Places in Bangor

Nine historic structures in the Town of Bangor are listed in the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Architecture and History Inventory. One example is Bangor Town Hall: the building was constructed in 1920, first used as a schoolhouse, and later became the Town of Bangor’s town hall. The sequence of its construction and former uses gives the building a specific place in the town’s history.

Another historic landmark is Welsh Congregational Cemetery, historically known as the Congregational Church of Fish Creek. It is located in the Town of Bangor, half a mile south of the intersection of County Road B and County Road J. Together with the listed structures, this site offers another perspective on local history: both its historic name and its precise location are identified.

Discover more destinations: Onalaska, West Salem, La Crosse.

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