Things to Do

Click here for things to do during your visit!

Facility Operating Hours

Mon-Wed: 12-8pm
Thurs-Fri: 8am-4pm
Sat: 9am-12pm

The Atrium, Loft, The Gallery in the La Crosse Room and Discovery Room will be open to the public during these times.

Access to The Gallery and Discovery Room may be limited during programming and scheduled facility rentals.

kids in front of nature place building

Directions

From Downtown

If you are approaching The Nature Place from downtown, take La Crosse Street going East. You will pass by Rudy’s Drive-In and the Oak Grove Cemetery while following the UW-La Crosse campus. Once you pass the Anidonts statue (Pictured here), you will take a left onto Myrick Park Drive and follow it around the Main Shelter and past Kids Coulee Playground down the hill to The Nature Place.

map to nature place
The Anidonts aluminum sculpture done by Luis Arata depicting an orange boy and his yellow dog. It is located at the entrance to the Nature Place on La Crosse Street.
Anidonts Statue

From Hwy 16

If you are approaching The Nature Place from Highway 16, take a right at the lights on La Crosse Street after passing Roellig Park on your right. As you approach the Anidonts statue (Pictured above), you will take a right onto Myrick Park Drive and follow it around the Main Shelter and past Kids Coulee Playground down the hill to The Nature Place.

map directions image

From Losey Boulevard

If you are approaching The Nature Place from Losey Boulevard heading North, take a left at the lights on La Crosse Street after passing Forest HIlls Golf Course on your right. As you approach the Anidonts statue (Pictured above), you will take a right onto Myrick Park Drive and follow it around the Main Shelter and past Kids Coulee Playground down the hill to The Nature Place.

map direction image to nature place
A map showing The Nature Place and its two parking lots - the Main and the Coulee lots

Parking

There are two parking lots near The Nature Place: the Main Parking Lot and the Kids Coulee Parking Lot. The Main Parking Lot is closer to The Nature Place and has designated accessibility spots. The Kids Coulee Parking Lot is on top of the hill and provides many more parking spaces.

Myrick Park is a public park, so parking may be limited. There may also be events occurring at The Nature Place, so the Main Parking Lot may be full. If it is, check out the Kids Coulee Parking Lot on top of the hill!

Accessibility

There is a drop-off lane located at the front of The Nature Place. Please refrain from parking in the lane so that everyone may be able to quickly drop off and pick up their passengers.

Sidewalk ramps are located near the main entrance to The Nature Place in the drop-off lane and at the entrance to the Main Parking Lot. There is also a paved path along the marsh that ends with a ramp at the entrance to the Main Parking Lot. The path connects to a sidewalk where you may enter on the North side of the Atrium of The Nature Place.

There are four public entrances to The Nature Place. The Main Entrance is located on the south side of the building on Myrick Park Drive by the drop-off lane under the overhang. These doors are power-operated to allow easier access for people of all abilities. The Side Entrance is located near the Entrance Garden and is closer to the restrooms inside the building. The Atrium Entrance leads from the Native Gardens into the Atrium on the northside of the building. The West entrance is located near the Demonstration Garden and is also fitted with power-operated doors.

Bathrooms are located on the East side of the building next to the Atrium. The doors are open to allow people of all abilities to enter and exit freely. Restrooms are open to the public during the posted open hours.

A water fountain is located next to the restrooms. Remember to stay hydrated!

A map depicting The Nature Place and its entrances, entrance ramps, and parking lots.