Three miles west of Viroqua, County Road XX drops off the ridge into a steep, wooded valley, and at the bottom there is a lake that was never supposed to be a park. Sidie Hollow Park grew up around a flood-control dam, and it is now the place locals go to fish, ride singletrack, swim off the dock and camp close to town.
This is everything you need for a day or a weekend there: the lake, the trout streams, the trails, the campground and what to bring.
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What is Sidie Hollow Park?
Sidie Hollow is a Vernon County park about 3.3 miles west-southwest of downtown Viroqua, built around a lake in a narrow valley of the Bad Axe River watershed. It is the closest place to town for a full outdoor day.
The main entrance and the lake are off County Road XX, at E6051, and the campground sits on Boat Landing Road on the south side of the lake. The county runs it, and the park office phone is 608-637-5480.
Getting there and getting in
From downtown Viroqua, head west and follow County Road XX down into the hollow; the main entrance is at E6051 County Road XX. The campground turnoff is Boat Landing Road, on the south side of the lake.
Google lists a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking lot at both the park and the campground. Fees and passes can change from year to year, so check the Vernon County parks page for current day-use and camping rates before you go.
How the lake got there
The lake is a byproduct of flood control. In the 1960s, Vernon County bought land in the valley to build a large flood-retention dam that would protect the farms downstream from the flash floods that tore through the Bad Axe River valley after heavy rain.
Once the dam was built, the county sold the land to the State of Wisconsin but kept a permanent recreation easement, which is why it runs as a county park today. The steep valley sides that made it a good place to hold back floodwater are the same ones that make the trails so good.
Fishing the lake and the trout streams
Sidie Hollow fishes two ways: a stocked, easy-access lake for bass, panfish and trout, and two cold spring creeks for fly anglers. The lake holds brown trout, brook trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, perch and crappie.
The fishing piers make the lake a good first fishing trip for kids, and there is a boat launch for a canoe or a small boat with a trolling motor. Fish the edges early in the morning before the swimmers arrive.
Hiking and mountain biking
The trail network at Sidie Hollow is nearly 10 miles of shared, natural-surface track built by the volunteer group Vernon Trails, looping around the lake and climbing the valley walls to the ridge. It suits walkers, beginners on bikes and strong riders, depending on which loop you pick.
The heart of it is The Bobby, a 2-mile flow trail with about 200 feet of climbing and descending. It was the first legal singletrack built in Vernon County and is rated intermediate, but plenty of beginners ride it. From The Bobby you can link into Der Oberlken, Wind Up, Well Digger, Dang, Girl! and Bake Sale for longer rides.
Wind Up was built as the easier way up from the bottom of the hollow. It climbs about 300 feet in less than a mile through cedar trees and rolling switchbacks, so you gain the ridge without the hardest climb.
Here is how the main trails compare, using the figures published by Vernon Trails on MTB Project.
| Trail | Length | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Lake loop | Around the lake | Flat and easy, good for walking with kids |
| Wind Up | 0.4 miles | Steady climb of about 300 feet through cedars, the easier way to the ridge |
| The Bobby | 2.0 miles | Intermediate flow trail, about 200 feet of up and down |
| Der Oberlken, Well Digger, Dang, Girl!, Bake Sale | Varies | Connectors off The Bobby for longer rides |
Walkers do not need the singletrack. The flat path around the lake is an easy loop with the water in view the whole way, and reviewers call the trails near the lake good for kids.
Swimming, picnics and playgrounds
Sidie Hollow is a family park first. There are two playgrounds, two picnic shelters, grills and picnic tables, and public restrooms near the main areas.
In summer the lake is the draw. Reviewers mention a rope swing that drops into the lake and a floating dock that works for sitting, swimming off or fishing. Keep a close eye on children in the water.
Bring a picnic from town. The subs at the Cheese Corner on South Main travel well, and the Viroqua Food Co+op on North Main, open every day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., has a hot bar and a local cheese case.
Camping at Sidie Hollow
Reviewers suggest booking a couple of weeks ahead for August weekends. A few honest notes from campers: some shower doors lack latches, sound carries between sites, and the floodlights near the park office can wash out the stars, so pick a site away from the office if you came to stargaze.
The campground suits families and anyone who wants to be close to town. If you would rather be on a trout river or in the Kickapoo valley, there are campgrounds on the West Fork and the Kickapoo within 20 miles.
Music in the Parks
Sidie Hollow has hosted the county's Music in the Parks series on summer Wednesday evenings, sharing it with Esofea County Park near Westby. Bring a chair and a picnic, and check the Events tab or the Vernon County Friends of the Parks schedule for the current year, since the lineup changes each season.
When to go
Late spring through fall is the main season. June brings the most rain of the year, which keeps the creeks cold and the woods green, and July and August are the swimming months.
Weekday mornings are the time to have the lake nearly to yourself. Fall is the quiet favorite. The hardwoods on the valley sides turn in October, the bugs are gone, and the trails are dry and fast. Winter is quiet and snowy, and the park keeps the same 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. hours, but check trail conditions before you head out, since the steep sections ice up.
What to bring
Pack for a full day, since there are no shops in the hollow. Bring water, food, sunscreen and a layer, because the valley floor stays cool in the morning and the ridge can be windy.
Anglers need a Wisconsin fishing license, plus the trout stamp for the streams. Riders should carry a pump and a spare tube, and anyone hiking the steeper loops will want proper shoes, since the trails are natural surface and slick after rain. If you bring a dog, bring a leash and water.
Nearby: Duck Egg and Esofea
About 5.8 miles north of Sidie Hollow, Esofea County Park near Westby is bigger, with 1,800 acres of park and forest and its own campground with full hookups, and the trails at Esofea run for more than 31 miles. It is a good second day if Sidie Hollow leaves you wanting more.
Back in town, the rest of what Viroqua has to offer is about 3.3 miles east-northeast along County Road XX.
Frequently asked questions
Published September 7, 2026
