Trails
Redhead Trail
Open season: Open year round - Walking spring to fall, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing in winter. Not open to biking.
Length: 2 miles - connects to Red Fox hiking trail for additional mileage
Location of trail: Accessed from the main parking lot of the refuge auto tour off Hwy 49
Surface: Mowed path
Difficulty: Inclines and cross slopes of more than 5%, uneven terrain
Trail Notes: Loops through prairie, marsh and forest habitats. Offers views of the Rock River.
Egret Trail
Open season: Open year round - Walking year round. Not open to biking. Parking access limited during the winter.
Length: 1 mile
Location of trail: Accessed from the midway parking lot of the refuge auto tour off Hwy 49
Surface: Asphalt, boardwalk, crushed gravel
Difficulty: Smooth, level surfaces, no slope more than 5% grade
Trail notes: Boardwalk leads out into marsh habitat and loops back through an oak forest to the parking area. Excellent site for viewing woodland wildflowers in May.
Red Fox Trail
Open season: Open year round - Walking spring to fall, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing in winter. Not open to biking.
Length: 1 mile - connects to Egret and Redhead hiking trails for additional mileage
Location of trail: Accessed from the midway parking lot of the refuge auto tour off Hwy 49
Surface: Mowed path
Difficulty: Minimal inclines more than 5% grade, non ADA-compliant
Trail notes: Loops through prairie and forest habitats
Bud Cook Hiking Trail
Open season: Open year round - Walking spring to fall, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing in winter. Not open to biking or hunting.
Length: 2 miles
Location of trail: Located off Point Rd. off county Road Z
Surface: Mowed path
Difficulty: Incline more than 5% grade
Trail Notes: Trail winds down the hillside through grassland/flowering prairie plants and loops back to parking lot
Discovery Trail
Open season: Open year round - Walking spring to fall, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing in winter. Not open to biking or hunting.
Length: 1 mile gravel plus 1 mile of mowed grass path for increased mileage
Location of trail: Visitor center off County Road Z
Surface: Crushed gravel, boardwalk
Difficulty: ADA compliant
Trail notes: Trail loops through prairie and marsh habitat. Unique features include nature play areas, stone amphitheater, boardwalk, rocks for climbing and log steppers
Old Marsh Road
Open season: Open seasonally for biking and hiking access from June through August and open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing from December 1 through March 15
Length: 3 miles
Location of trail: Accessed from Point Road on the east or the auto tour and trails area off Hwy 49 from the west
Surface: Rock
Difficulty: No inclines or cross slopes more than 5% grade. Fairly even terrain.
Trail notes: Refuge service road that bisects the interior of the marsh. Closed to public access in spring and fall for the migration seasons.
Main Dike Road
Open season: Eastern portion (two-level gravel road) open to driving mid-May to mid-November. Closed to vehicles during winter. Western portion (gravel) open year round for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.
Length: 2 miles open for driving. 1.5 open for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Location of trail: Accessed from Rockvale Road or County Road TW on the east or from Hwy 26 on the west.
Surface: Gravel
Difficulty: Uneven terrain, not suitable for road bicycles. Western portion of trail may be impassable after heavy rains.
Trail notes: Refuge service road that bisects the marsh. Offers views of marsh and woodland habitat as well as migrating birds and other wildlife.