Rydell Refugespring migration
Spring migration is in full swing in April and May, with up to 100 species seen in a day from the refuge's trails, per the Fish and Wildlife Service. Its usual window for this year has passed.
Right now at Rydell Refuge
Right now in Rydell Refuge · September
- Fall migration: thousands of waterfowl on the refuge's wetlands and lakes · Sep–Oct
Your guide to the area
Where to watch
- Golden Pond TrailA 1.5-mile paved and boardwalk loop (ADA compliant) from the visitor contact station past hardwood forest, restored prairie, a wetland, a willow swale and Swan Lake, with excellent bird watching in spring and fall
- Round Lake TrailOne paved mile through the refuge's largest woods, past a site managed for ruffed grouse and a wetland popular with wood ducks, along Round Lake
Nearby
- Rice Lake Refuge153 miMay
- Sherburne Refuge188 miMaySatChance Rain Showers
- Litchfield Wetland District194 mispring (March-May)
- Minnesota Valley Refuge238 miApril - MaySatMostly Sunny
- Upper Mississippi River Refuge329 miApril and May
- Trempealeau Refuge332 milate April or early MaySatMostly Sunny
The year at Rydell Refuge
- Spring migration in full swing, up to 100 species a dayApr–May
- Wildlife families: broods on the wetlands, fawns in the prairieJun–Jul
- Fall migration: thousands of waterfowl on the refuge's wetlands and lakesNowSep–Oct
- Resident wildlife (deer, red fox, ruffed grouse, nuthatches, woodpeckers), December to FebruaryDec–Feb
Questions people ask
When is the best time to see spring migration at Rydell National Wildlife Refuge?
Spring migration is in full swing in April and May, with up to 100 species seen in a day from the refuge's trails, per the Fish and Wildlife Service: April and May. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.
Is spring migration under way at Rydell National Wildlife Refuge right now?
Not now: its usual spring migration window for this year has passed. Next time: April and May, local timing.
Is there a fee?
No, it's free to visit.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rydell NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When are the trails open?
Every day from half an hour before sunrise to sunset, except during scheduled deer hunts; the refuge is open dawn to dusk for approved outdoor activities.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rydell NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Is it accessible?
Yes: the Golden Pond Trail is paved, with boardwalk, and ADA compliant, and transportation for people with disabilities can be arranged in advance.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rydell NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where are the restrooms?
Inside the refuge headquarters and visitor contact station, and at the comfort station in the headquarters parking lot and at the fishing pier.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rydell NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Which birds pass through in spring?
Snow geese, tundra swans, northern pintails and prairie falcons pass through, while trumpeter swans, wood ducks, red-tailed hawks, eastern bluebirds, yellow warblers and red-winged blackbirds come back to nest.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rydell NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where are the best spots in Rydell National Wildlife Refuge?
Golden Pond Trail: a 1.5-mile paved and boardwalk loop (ADA compliant) from the visitor contact station past hardwood forest, restored prairie, a wetland, a willow swale and Swan Lake, with excellent bird watching in spring and fall; Round Lake Trail: one paved mile through the refuge's largest woods, past a site managed for ruffed grouse and a wetland popular with wood ducks, along Round Lake.
What is Rydell National Wildlife Refuge like through the year?
Resident wildlife (deer, red fox, ruffed grouse, nuthatches, woodpeckers), December to February (Dec–Feb), Spring migration in full swing, up to 100 species a day (Apr–May), Wildlife families: broods on the wetlands, fawns in the prairie (Jun–Jul) and Fall migration: thousands of waterfowl on the refuge's wetlands and lakes (Sep–Oct).