Riverview Ranch & Resort
Things To Do Off Ranch
Galena and Surrounding Areas
Stuff To Do Off Ranch
Galena IL Official 2025 Visitor’s Guide
Hike, Jog, or Bike along River Road:
River road is a great place for walking, jogging, bicycling, bird watching and sight-seeing. From the ranch go south on River Road for a shady stroll under a canopy of trees along steep rock cliffs. Pick wildflowers, mulberries and raspberries along the way to Chestnut Mountain Ski Resort. Catch the ski lift to enjoy lunch at Chestnut Mountain’s restaurant, or enjoy a beautiful sunset view of the water from at Chestnut Mountain’s pier. (20 minute walk from the ranch).
Go north on River road for a walk through open fields, view an eagle’s nest, put your toes in sandy banks of the Mississippi river. (12 minute walk to kayak/canoe launch site , 20 minute walk to the eagle’s nest). Guests may borrow our binoculars for birdwatching trips.
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Chestnut Mountain has a beautiful overlook park 7 minutes drive south at 42.32301188068253, -90.39901968329777; (map); enjoy a picnic lunch with an amazing view of the Mississippi river while birds soar beneath you.
Snow Skiing
Chestnut Mountain ski resort is 7 minutes south at 8700 W. Chestnut Mountain Rd Galena, IL 61036. You could also go to the bottom of the ski hill and catch the lift up. The bottom of the hill is just one mile south.
In summer ride Chestnut’s Alpine Slide.
Chestnut Mountain rents bikes you can use to go down their bike trails. There are also beautiful and well maintained trails leading all the way to Galena, 7 miles away, and beyond.
Map of Aiken Trail Head Route to Galena. Off the Aiken trail you can bike in the steep terrain of the Casper Wiilderness Preserve (green squiggly lines along dark green line). Two trails come right by our ranch: the Mississippi river trail and the Galena Illinois trail so we see a lot of bikers riding by.
A five minute drive away is Horshoe Mound Preserve where you can take a challenging half-mile hike on Horshoe Loop Trail.
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Also a five minute drive to Thunderbay Waterfall.
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0.7 miles away is Winston Tunnel State Natural Area. This is 230 acres of trails. “Area closed to non-hunters during deer firearm seasons (Youth, Firearm, CWD and Muzzleloader) and until 1:00 PM during turkey firearm seasons (Youth and Spring).” There are dates that this is only available to licensed hunters. More info: Hunter fact sheet, DNR Map, Satellite Map,
Nice rocks for climbing , if you are into that sort of thing.
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About 4 miles away is Witkowsky State Fish Wildlife Area. This is 1,086 acres of trails and wilderness, filled with wildlife.
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About 3 miles away is the entrance to Casper Bluff Land and Water Preserve. A scenic walk will take you to a 1,000 year old Thunderbird effigy.
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More Stuff to do
HGTV named Galena one of its favorite small towns to visit for Christmas.
Galena was ranked as the second friendliest city in the US on a survey by Condé Nast Traveler.
We have many fantastic restaurants and lots of cool events all year long.
Parking can be tight in town so you might want to have this Parking Map handy when you arrive:
The city center of Galena is a 10 minute drive away. Click here for other area attractions and events.
Galena was named one of the best midwest small town for getaways. Galena was named the best main street in America by Fodors.
7 miles north is the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design.
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7 miles north is the Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historical Site. Across the river from Grant’s home is the Galena & U.S. Grant Museum.
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12 miles southeast are two wineries: Rocky Waters Vinyard & Winery and Fergedaboudit Vinyard & Winery
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12 miles southeast is Wapello Land and Water Reserve.
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21 miles east is Valley of Eden Bird Sanctuary. More info here.
Fishing
Father’s day Weekend in June is normally free to fish for everyone. Check with the Dept. of Natural Resources to be sure.
Children under 16 can fish without a license in Illinois any day of the year.
See 2022 Illinois Fishing Regulations.
We have fishing gear to rent for $10 per day. You can get bait at Galena’s Walmart Superstore.
The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is an angler’s paradise! Anglers fish year round for walleye, sauger, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, bullhead, channel catfish, crappie, and sunfish below the dams, in sloughs and channels between islands. Fishing is allowed in accordance to state fishing regulations and federal Public Use regulations. All anglers must have paper copies of their state fishing licenses with them while fishing on the refuge.
Roger’s Take On Galena and Surrounding Area
(page – under construction)
Dubuque IA (across the Mississippi)
A 34 minute drive away is the The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. This is really cool.
We recommend Hu Hot Mongolian Grill. They put on a show preparing your food. We love it. All you can eat.
28 miles from the ranch (47 min drive). The Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is free.
Tour Lock and Dam #11 – 35 minute drive from the ranch. More info.
Dubuque also has casinos and water parks.
Couple’s Massage
Healing Touch of Galena Massage
I could show your kids the petting zoo while you are getting a couple’s massage. I’ll try to stay where you can see us from the apartment windows so you can keep an eye on your kids. We’ll pet horses over the fence, hand-feed the chickens, and meet all the other critters. We won’t go into the horse enclosure or ride any horses unless a guardian is present. Or I could take your juvenile kids (12 or over) on a canoe excursion to beach island while you are getting your couple’s massage. I charge $80/hr for the petting zoo or canoe trip kid sitting. For an additional $20/hr I’ll video record, or facetime, the experience so you can share it. Inquire about massage cost and schedule the massage directly with the masseuse. Schedule kid sitting with Wrangler Roger.
Hunting
Hunting Regulations. Hunting/Fishing Licenses.
Illinois Veterans who served abroad are eligible to purchase hunting and fishing licenses at one-half the normal fee. Click Here for more info. Hunting/Fishing Licenses.
See www.ifishillinois.org.
Jo Daviess County maps and info about Greenways, Trails and Navigable Waterways etc.
Nearby Parks, Nature Preserves, Hiking, bicycling, horseback riding trails, Hunting, Bird Sanctuary
1.6 miles north is the Aiken Trailhead entrance to the Galena River Trail. Turn right out of our driveway and follow River Road. Cross the railroad tracks twice and cross a bridge then look for the entrance to the trail on the left. This trail includes some prehistoric sites. There is a Thunderbird Effigy Mound that is 1,000 years old. This trail goes all the way to Galena along the Mississippi river and along the Galena river, and goes past Galena to Bueler Preserve.
Galena River Trail Map
Another Galena River Trail Map.
Galena River Trail Info
Two miles away is Casper Bluff Land and Water Reserve.
Hanover Bluff State Natural Area
Mississippi Palisades State Park 21 miles south of the ranch (31 minute drive).
Schurmeier Teaching Forest – Horses Welcome. 14 miles (23 minutes) from Ranch
Tapley Woods Hunting.
Here is a DNR map showing nature preserves, wildlife areas etc: Map of DNR sites
We are in the heart of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
The Raptor Resource Project has some cool webcams always live so you can see the Eagles and other birds live in their nests or landing sites in the Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
See and hear the many different species of birds. There are Deer, turkey, Bald Eagles, racoon, opossum and other critters commonly cross the roads so please slow down and watch for them. In the fall the Geese form majestic chevrons above your head on their journey south, stopping in the river for a while before continuing their journey south. In the spring you’ll hear their honking again as they make their way upriver and spend more time here. There is an eagles nest that can be seen in fall and winter through the bare branches of trees. In summer you can see the nest from a kayak or by trudging through thick underbrush. It is easier to see in fall/winter when the trees are bare. Map showing approx. location of Eagle nests.
A new bird sanctuary: Valley of Eden Bird Sanctuary
Watch Migrating Birds
We have a fantastic view of an estuary where migrating birds stop for a few months on their way north in the spring and south in the fall. Experience the wonder of hundreds of honking geese flying overhead and landing and taking off in the water in front of you.
Swimming
There is a public beach one mile north of us where you can swim. It’s not the greatest beach for swimming though. There are branches in the water and a muddy bottom. – The beach is just south of the launch site (green area on the map of the local river area). I’d recommend bringing some flotation toys so you can get away from the shoreline where the water is deeper or rent the kayaks and/or canoe and go to Beach Island.