Onalaska - A Place to enjoy naturally. A beautiful, small city in which to live, work and play. We invite you to come to Onalaska and share the natural beauty of Wisconsin's Newest Frontier along the beautiful Mississippi River. The community of Onalaska is built on a ridge overlooking the large area of water that is the scenic Mississippi River Valley.

You can travel in your boat from the Mississippi to Lake Onalaska and the Black River. These waterways flow into one another creating the wide expanse of water, dotted with islands, between the Minnesota and Wisconsin Bluffs. The Minnesota bluffs look hazy in the distance and this panoramic view of the river winding its way south is truly one of nature's most beautiful scenes.

Onalaska makes the most of its proximity to Lake Onalaska and the Black River. The Lake Onalaska spillway is a favorite fishing spot for local residents and visitors alike. Being so close to these waterways means that sailing during the summer months and fishing all year 'round are pleasures that Onalaskans continue to enjoy, a pleasure that few cities are fortunate enough to have!

Quality of Life

During the great Ice Age glaciers flowed around the Coulee Region instead of over it creating what is called a "driftless area." We can now enjoy the beauty of the Onalaska countryside with its steep, rocky bluffs, winding valleys, rolling hills and beautiful Lake Onalaska. With the Mississippi and Black Rivers nearby, fishing and sailing are waiting for you, with the best fishing available right in Lake Onalaska.

Onalaska is strategically located in this truly beautiful area. We are surrounded to the east and north by many heavily wooded bluffs and scenic coulees and with La Crosse adjacent to the southern part of our city. Looking toward the west you see Lake Onalaska with several small islands, merging with the Mississippi River.

Bring your camera and take some snapshots of the ice fishermen, of the glorious fall colors and of the setting sun reflecting on Lake Onalaska. These will become part of your most cherished memories.

Onalaska has much more to offer both the visitor and the resident. There are so many things to do, no matter what your interests are or what the season is. Choose from: hunting, fishing, bicycling, hiking, riding, golfing, picnicking, tennis, swimming, camping, car races in summer, semi-professional basketball, snowmobiling, cross-country and downhill skiing, concerts, theater, big name entertainment, fine dining and browsing through a large regional mall and many other shopping centers...whatever you like to do, we have it all here within a few miles of Onalaska.