Wauzeka
Where the Kickapoo meets the Wisconsin
Wauzeka sits at one of the most quietly remarkable confluences in southwest Wisconsin -- the spot where the Kickapoo River, after 125 crooked miles of twisting through the valley, finally empties into the Wisconsin River. Two rivers meeting in a landscape of forested bluffs, floodplain forest, and open water that draws wildlife from across the continent. It's a small, rooted community - the kind where families have farmed the same ridges for generations and neighbors still know each other's names.
Surrounding it is some of the most significant natural land in Crawford County: wildlife areas, state natural areas, and river access that makes serious outdoor living not a weekend luxury but an everyday reality. Platted in 1856 by Hercules Dousman, the same frontier entrepreneur behind Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien, Wauzeka has always been a place where rivers and people converge.
Quick Facts
Population
630
At the confluence of the Kickapoo & Wisconsin Rivers
5,697-Acre
Wildlife Area
One of the most significant bird habitats in the Midwest
Wauzeka-Steuben Schools
Small district, K-12 on one campus, strong community roots
What You'll Find Here
Kickapoo River paddling — the full navigable length of the river ends here
Wauzeka Bottoms State Natural Area — mature floodplain forest, exceptional birding
5,697 acres of hunting, fishing, and some of the best birding in the Midwest, cerulean & Kentucky warblers, bald eagles, and thousands of spring migrants
Two river systems for fishing — walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish
Housing in the village along the rivers or on the surrounding ridgetops -two very different settings, both affordable
Area back roads and trails, popular with UTV clubs throughout the region
Kickapoo Caverns Nature Preserve — limestone cliffs, rare birds, and one of Wisconsin's longest cave systems just outside the village
20 minutes to Prairie du Chien for the full range of services
Wauzeka-Steuben School District — K-12 on one campus