Visit Us
National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. At Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge, you can enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities including wildlife observation, photography, hunting, fishing, paddling, biking, skiing, snowshoeing and mushroom and berry picking.
If you visit in the fall and spring, you’ll be treated to the sight of hundreds to thousands of migrating birds. Waterfowl are present in large flocks in wetlands and on the waters. Songbirds can be found searching the trees and grasslands for tidbits or resting. Every now and then you may even spot rare birds mixed into the flock.
During the summer months, as the waters recede, you’ll likely see wading birds like herons and egrets stalking the shallow waters as they hunt for fish. You might also see spiny softshell turtles, false map turtles and a host of other turtle species basking on fallen logs. You’ll delight in the sight of ducklings, fawns or other young animals growing up on the refuge.
During the cold winter months, look for bald eagles in the trees along the edges of open waters looking for an easy meal. Tracks in the snow can tell you a lot about the types of animals using the area. Deer, otters, rabbits, squirrels, coyotes, foxes, birds and others leave behind evidence of their presence even if you don’t see them.
Driving Directions
Directions to the Visitor Contact Station/Office
From U.S. Highway 61 just north of Wapello, Iowa, take County Road G56 east four miles. Turn right (south) at the stop sign onto County Road X61. The refuge office will be on your left (east) in one mile. Signs are in place to direct you from Highway 61.
Finding the Louisa Division
From the office, turn right (north) on county road X61 and go about two miles and follow the signs directing you to the Louisa Division by turning right (east) on 120th Street. Follow this road about one mile until you meet the refuge boundary.
Finding the Keithsburg Division
From Keithsburg, Illinois go half mile north on the Great River Road (76th Street) to reach the boat ramp. To reach the Spring Slough parking lot, continue north from the boat ramp for three miles. Turn left on 50th Street. Take the first left, and then the next right. Spring Slough parking lot will be on your left, just under one mile.
Finding Horseshoe Bend Division
From Wapello, take Hwy 99 east 1.5 miles to 114th Street. Turn right. Follow this winding gravel road 3.5 miles to F Avenue. Turn right. This road is a dead end with a parking lot.
Finding Big Timber Division
From the refuge office, turn north on county road X61 and follow this 5.5 miles to the boat ramp for Big Timber. Turn right at the sign and follow the short road over the levee and into the boat ramp. This is the main access to the division.
Fees
There is no charge to visit.
Restrooms
Restrooms are available inside the visitor contact station during regular business hours. Outdoor restrooms are also available near the visitor contact station for after hour use.
Points of Interest
Not sure where to start? Stop at the visitor contact station and ask a staff member to help you plan your visit! It is a great starting point for you to become more familiar with the refuge and the wildlife that live here. You can learn more about the refuge by looking over a variety of exhibits, see what is available on the touch table and obtain maps and brochures.
What To Do
If you have 15 minutes
- Stop by the visitor contact station
- Take a walk on the Sycamore Loop
- Enjoy the observation decks at the visitor contact station or the Muscatine Slough Trail Head
- Go birding around the visitor contact station, some great birds can be found in the trees. Look for eastern wood-pewees, great crested flycatchers, red-eyed vireos, gray catbirds, cedar waxwings, common yellowthroats, yellow warblers and many more.
- Sit on the benches by the bird feeders and look for common feeder birds like dark-eyed juncos, American goldfinches, white-breasted nuthatches and black-capped chickadees.
If you have one hour
- Hike any of the trails and roads that are open
- Take a bike ride
- Pick some mushrooms or berries for personal consumption
- Go on the auto tour
- Look for great wildlife shots and take some photos
- Become a citizen scientist and submit your observations to eBird, iNaturalist or one of the many other citizen science apps available.
If you have half a day or more
- Paddle one of the Odessa Water Trails
- Find a quiet spot and paint what you see
- Go hunting or fishing
- Hike some of the harder to get to spots. You are welcome to walk mowed fire breaks or hike on Spring Slough Road when water levels allow.
Know Before You Go
Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge can be a buggy and ticky place. Wearing long sleeves and bug spray can help but be sure to do a tick check when you get home! Deer ticks are present and can carry disease.
Poison ivy is present, so it is best to stay on the trail.
Summers can get hot and humid, so remember to dress in fabrics that breathe and drink plenty of water.
Remember to bring:
- Sunglasses
- Bug spray and pants
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Comfortable shoes for walking or hiking
- Dress in layers
- In spring or fall, be prepared for a wide swing in temperatures
- Dress warmly in winter
- Fishing pole - consider trying non-lead weights for the health of wildlife and other fishing equipment you may want
- Don’t forget your camera!
Visitor Tips
- Morning and evening are the best times to visit to see wildlife
- Remember to check for ticks when you leave
- Before you visit you can check iNaturalist and eBird for recent sightings to see what other guests have seen
- April to May are the best times to see spring migratory birds
- June to August are the best times to see wildlife with young
- September to November are the best months for fall migratory birds
- The first two weeks of October are usually the best weeks for fall color
Activities
Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to recreate. We hope you will enjoy the opportunities your public lands have to offer.
Trails
Muscatine Slough Trail
Open season: Portions are closed from September 15 to December 31 for migrating waterfowl. The trail may flood if waters are high.
Length: 1.5 miles
Location of trail: This trail has two possible trail heads. The refuge office or the Muscatine Slough Trailhead parking lot. You can find the Muscatine Slough trailhead by heading north of the office on X61 about two miles. Turn right on 120th Street and go about one mile the parking lot is on the south side of the road.
Surface: Mowed grass or bare soil
Difficulty: Moderate
Information: This is an out and back trail or point-to-point trail. Assuming you start at the office, the trail runs along a small prairie and through an upland forest along a portion of the bluff. As you travel north the trail descends into the river valley along backwaters and down into a floodplain forest. Toward the north end of the trail, you will encounter some scrub-shrub and wetland habitats. You’ll find the Muscatine Slough Observation Deck at the northern point of the trail. Sometimes of the year this trail may be flooded.
Bluff Trail Loop
Open season: Year round
Length: 0.66 miles
Location of trail: Park at the visitor contact station.
Surface: Mowed grass or bare soil
Difficulty: Moderate
Information: This loop trail takes visitors on a walk through an upland forest. Watch for a variety of songbirds like several vireo and warbler species.
Sycamore Loop
Open season: Year round
Length: 0.3 miles
Location of trail: Park at the visitor contact station.
Surface: Mowed grass or bare soil
Difficulty: Moderate
Information: This loop trail takes visitors on a walk through an upland forest and has a deck with and overview of the Odessa Division. Watch for a variety of songbirds like several vireo and warbler species.
North Trail
Open season: Open January 1 through September 14, as conditions allow.
Length: 3.0 miles
Location of trail: The trail begins at the Schafer Access boat landing. From the office, head south on X61 about one mile and turn left on 97th Street. Then go about 0.2 miles to the boat landing. The takeout is at the parking lot at the end of 120th Street. From the office head north on X61 about two miles. Turn right on 120th Street and go about 1.5 miles to the boat launch before the road turns south. Be careful the bank is steep during low water.
Surface: This is a water trail, paddlers welcome.
Difficulty: Easy, during normal water conditions.
Information: The only one of the four Odessa Water Trails that cut through the heart of the refuge. After putting in at Schafer Access head north onto the refuge. In about a mile, you will leave the main lake and head into a series of narrowing chutes. During low water lotus beds make the trail appear impassable but keep going and you will be rewarded.
During the summer drawdown the water levels are low enough for wading birds like great blue herons. Pelicans, egrets and broods of ducklings are common sights. A variety of turtles balance on downed trees sunning themselves.
Goose Trail
Open season: Year round, as conditions allow.
Length: 4.2 miles
Location of trail: The trail begins at the Schafer Access boat landing. From the building head south on X61 about one mile and turn left on 97th Street and go about 0.2 miles to the boat landing. Connect to South trail to continue.
Surface: This is a water trail, paddlers welcome.
Difficulty: Easy, during normal water conditions.
Information: Goose trail runs along the southern border of the refuge. After putting in at Schafer Access head across the main lake to a narrow lateral ditch marked with a navigation arrow. Be sure to take the water trail map along to help you navigate. In the summer, some parts may not be passable due to low water. The trail is also popular with waterfowl hunters from mid-October to late November, so paddling this time of the year is not recommended. Watch for bald eagles and their nests high in the trees.
Mississippi River Trail
Open season: Year round, as conditions allow.
Length: 6.5 miles
Location of trail: The trail begins at the boat ramp at the end of 120th Street. From the office head north on X61 about two miles. Turn right on 120th Street and go about 1.5 miles to the boat launch before the road turns south.
The takeout is at the Toolesboro Boat Ramp. From the office head south on County Road X61 and go 5.6 miles and turn left onto Great River Road. Go one mile and turn left onto Prairie Street. The boat ramp is at the end of the road.
Surface: This is a water trail, paddlers welcome.
Difficulty: Easy, during normal water conditions.
Information: After putting in at the Port Louisa boat ramp head south on the Mississippi River. Stay out of the main channel and keep right. Enjoy the paddle as you watch for a variety of wildlife including a variety of ducks and geese, swans, pelicans and more.
South Trail
Open season: Year round, as conditions allow.
Length: 6.7 miles
Location of trail: The trail begins at the Schafer Access boat landing. From the office head south on X61 about one mile and turn left on 97th Street and go about 0.2 miles to the boat landing.
The takeout is at the Toolesboro Boat Ramp. From the office head south on County Road X61 and go 5.6 miles and turn left onto Great River Road. Go one mile and turn left onto Prairie Street. The boat ramp is at the end of the road.
Surface: This is a water trail, paddlers welcome.
Difficulty: Easy, during normal water conditions.
Information: This trail is not on refuge lands. It takes paddlers through the Odessa Wildlife Management Area. Goose Trail, which runs along the southern border of the refuge, connects to this trail.
Rules and Policies
Access to the refuge trails and lands are open half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset unless otherwise posted. Do not enter areas are signed as closed.
To help meet the primary refuge purpose of providing valuable habitat for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife, the Louisa and Keithsburg divisions are closed September 15 to December 31. The Horseshoe Bend Division is closed September 15 to November 30.