Next stop on the Great River Road/National Scenic Byway is Historic Alma, perched on a narrow strip of land between the river and 500-foot limestone bluffs. The river town of 840 is only two streets wide - and has 10 stairstep streets connecting Main Street, Hwy. 35 to 2nd Street.
Downtown Alma has several shops, galleries, gift stores and a live theater. There is a variety of lodging/camping and restaurants housed in a variety of fascinating 19th-century waterfront buildings. Much of the downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Right in the heart of the town is Lock and Dam No. 4. It has observation areas with close views of lock operations and large parking area.
Alma has a courtesy dock downtown for boaters, two full service marinas with house boat rentals, a fishing float, a 300-foot sand swimming beach along the river. Visit Buena Vista Park, atop the bluffs 500 feet above the river. The park has picnic areas and some of the most spectacular views found on the Upper Mississippi. In autumn, Rieck´s Lake, just north of Alma, becomes the temporary home of migrating tundra swans, Canada geese, ducks and bald eagles. Rieck's Lake Park has upgraded camping sites along the banks of the Buffalo River. The park also has kiosks, observation platform, picnic shelters, play ground and rest rooms. Below Lock and Dam #4, during the winter, in the open water area there are times you can see 50-100 Bald Eagles.
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