Outdoor lovers gather in Hixon Forest to celebrate new trails

There are more new trails available in the bluffs east of La Crosse for biking and hiking.

The Outdoor Recreation Alliance celebrated the completion of the Upper Hixon Trails with a summer party Wednesday.

Trail coordinator Josh Blum from the ORA, as well as La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat took part in a ribbon cutting at one trail point.

Kabat praised the collaboration between city staffers and private volunteers who helped develop the trails. Bloom boasted about how many volunteers showed up.

The alliance worked with the city park department to rebuild some trails in the Hixon Forest which were damaged by flooding a year ago. A Michigan company was hired to rebuild trails.

The party included kids and parents on bikes, families on hiking trails and food trucks.