Things to Do in Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge

Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge is a vast 33,000-acre wetland in Wisconsin, recognized as one of the largest freshwater marshes in the United States. It is a critical ecosystem, designated as a Wetland of International Importance and part of the Ice Age Scientific Reserve.

The refuge offers opportunities for hiking across diverse habitats, including wetlands, prairies, and woodlands. Visitors can explore over 5 miles (8 km) of designated hiking trails and portions of a 3-mile (4.8 km) auto tour route for walking.

Horicon Marsh features a 10-mile (16 km) network of trails, including the Redhead, Egret, Red Fox, Bud Cook Hiking Trail, Discovery Trail, Old Marsh Road, and Main Dike Road. The Egret Trail includes a unique floating boardwalk. For more details, see the Hiking in Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge guide.

Yes, the refuge offers several trails suitable for easier hikes, traversing varied terrain. These trails provide scenic views and opportunities for wildlife observation. Specific easy routes can be found in the Easy hikes in Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge guide.

Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge provides trails suitable for families, allowing visitors of all ages to experience the natural environment. These routes are generally less strenuous and offer engaging features for younger explorers. Consult the Family-friendly hikes in Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge guide for specific recommendations.

The refuge's landscape, shaped by glacial activity, includes open water, expansive cattail marsh, forested islands, wetland habitats, upland grasslands, and woodlands. It is also notable for having one of the highest concentrations of drumlins, which are glacial landforms, in the world.

Horicon Marsh is a vital habitat for over 300 bird species, including hundreds of thousands of migratory waterfowl, Canada geese, and sandhill cranes during migration. It supports Wisconsin's largest nesting rookery for great blue herons and a significant breeding population of redhead ducks. Other wildlife includes white-tailed deer, red fox, river otters, muskrats, and snapping turtles.

Dogs are permitted on the trails within Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. However, they must be kept on a leash at all times, especially between April 15 and July 31, to protect nesting birds and other wildlife.

The spring and fall migrations are particularly active times for wildlife viewing, as hundreds of thousands of waterfowl and waterbirds use the marsh as a rest stop. Bird activity is generally high throughout the warmer months.

No specific permits are required for hiking on the designated trails within Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. Access to the trails is generally open to the public during refuge hours.

Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge features 4 routes on komoot, with an average rating of 4.67 out of 5 stars. These routes have been explored and rated by more than 70 visitors.

Yes, komoot offers several guides for the area, including Hiking in Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Easy hikes in Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, and Family-friendly hikes in Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.

Official information, including visitor details and current conditions, can be found on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website at fws.gov/refuge/horicon. The visitor center can be reached by phone at +1-920-387-2658.