Features

  • Monarchs roosting at Minnesota Valley NWR by Mara Koenig/USFWS

    Overwintering Monarchs to Leave Soon

    Monarchs resting in their wintering grounds in Mexico will start moving north soon. By late May/June they should be reach Canada.

    Report Your Sightings

  • Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

    Horicon Marsh Visitor Centers

    Horicon Marsh has three visitor centers, one federal, one state and one non-profit.

    Three Centers and Friends

  • water bug scooping

    Sense of Wonder Discovery Trail

    Check out the progress of our new visitor center trail and nature play area!

    Sense of Wonder Discovery Trail 2018

  • Dave Stokes

    Earth Day Celebration

    Live frogs and turtles with Dave Stokes at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. Family activities throughout the day.

Public Use Information

Roads, Trails, & Recreation Facility Updates

The auto tour off Hwy 49 is currently CLOSED TO VEHICLES but weather depending usually opens early April. Main Dike Road is currently CLOSED TO VEHICLES but weather depending is usually open to vehicles by early May. Old Marsh Road is open for hiking and bicycling during June, July and August as well as for a special Earth Day weekend opening April 26-29th 2019.The entire refuge opens Dec 1 through March 15th for hiking, bicycling, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. March 16th - Nov 30, most of the refuge is closed to public access except for established public use areas outlined on the visitor map. *Weather, maintenance, and management practices (pumping water, prescribed fire) may lead to periodic closures of facilities as needed. Please check website, facebook and or call for updates before your planned visit.

Public Programs and Events

On refuge and marsh-wide.

Horicon Marsh Public Programs and Events Spring and Summer 2019

Birding Information

Cold weather and ice make for a slow start to spring migration this year. A few species that have been seen include Canada geese, Sandhill cranes, red-winged blackbirds and bald eagles. Refuge biologists will begin spring waterbird surveys as soon as weather allows and larger numbers of birds start migrating in.

Waterbird Survey - Horicon NWR
Location / Hours

Location & Hours

Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters/Visitor Center W4279 Headquarters Rd. Mayville, WI 53050. Phone: 920-387-2658 Refuge public use areas are open daily from dawn to dusk. Visitor Center - Regular Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. April-November: Monday-Saturday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm (plus Sundays in October). Open July 4,Labor Day and Columbus Day. (Closed all other federal holidays). The visitor center will be open one Saturday per month during the winter months: Jan 12, Feb 9, and Mar 2, 2019. Coot's Corner Bookstore, located within the refuge visitor center is owned and operated by the non-profit Friends of Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. For current hours or more information, please email fohnwr@yahoo.com.

Plan Your Visit

About the Complex

Horicon Leopold Complex

Horicon National Wildlife Refuge is managed as part of the Horicon Leopold Complex.

Read more about the complex
About the NWRS

National Wildlife Refuge System

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The National Wildlife Refuge System, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife, and plants.

Learn more about the NWRS
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