Upper Mississippi River Refugespring migration
April and May are some of the best times to see songbird migration, per the Fish and Wildlife Service. Its usual window for this year has passed.
Right now at Upper Mississippi River Refuge
Right now in Upper Mississippi River Refuge · September
- La Crosse District Visitor Center summer hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. · May–Oct
Your guide to the area
Where to watch
- River Road Trail (Aghaming Park)A flat 1.5-mile sand and dirt trail along the Mississippi backwaters through mature floodplain forest, with great birdwatching all year; from the Aghaming Park Trailhead, W494 Aghaming Park Road, Buffalo, Wisconsin. Walkers only; it can flood
- Shady Maple Interpretive TrailA 1.18-mile loop through bottomland forest in Goose Island County Park, with wetland views: frogs calling and songbirds migrating through in spring
- La Crosse District Visitor Center trails and Lake Onalaska OverlookAbout 2.5 miles of paved and packed-gravel trails through restored sand prairie from the visitor center (N5727 County Road Z, Onalaska, Wisconsin) to the Lake Onalaska Overlook; outdoor restrooms all year
Nearby
- Trempealeau Refuge5 milate April or early MaySatMostly Sunny
- Necedah Refuge73 miMaySatMostly Sunny
- Minnesota Valley Refuge96 miApril - MaySatMostly Sunny
- Sherburne Refuge142 miMaySatChance Rain Showers
- Litchfield Wetland District159 mispring (March-May)
- Rice Lake Refuge190 miMay
The year at Upper Mississippi River Refuge
- Eleven species of frogs and toads singing, chirping and croakingApr–Aug
- Songbird migration: April and May are some of the best timesApr–May
- La Crosse District Visitor Center summer hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.NowMay–Oct
- La Crosse District Visitor Center winter hours: Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.Nov–Apr
Questions people ask
When is the best time to see spring migration at Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge?
April and May are some of the best times to see songbird migration, 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 Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish 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 fee to visit; some activities, such as trapping and commercial work, need a special use permit that has a fee.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Mississippi River NWFR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where should I start?
At the La Crosse District Visitor Center in Onalaska, Wisconsin, for maps, brochures and exhibits. It's open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday from May to October and Tuesday to Friday from November to April, closed federal holidays.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Mississippi River NWFR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Do I need my own binoculars?
It's best to bring your own, but spotting scopes stand on several decks and observation platforms, and the La Crosse visitor center lends free backpacks with binoculars and field guides.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Mississippi River NWFR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Mississippi River NWFR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where can I find warblers?
Stop at a boat landing and take time to scan the treetops; walking trails line the Great River Road on both sides of the river.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Mississippi River NWFR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, on a six-foot leash: the La Crosse visitor center's B.A.R.K. Ranger program asks dog owners to bag waste, respect wildlife and know which trails dogs may use.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Mississippi River NWFR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where are the best spots in Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge?
River Road Trail (Aghaming Park): a flat 1.5-mile sand and dirt trail along the Mississippi backwaters through mature floodplain forest, with great birdwatching all year; from the Aghaming Park Trailhead, W494 Aghaming Park Road, Buffalo, Wisconsin. Walkers only; it can flood; Shady Maple Interpretive Trail: a 1.18-mile loop through bottomland forest in Goose Island County Park, with wetland views: frogs calling and songbirds migrating through in spring; La Crosse District Visitor Center trails and Lake Onalaska Overlook: about 2.5 miles of paved and packed-gravel trails through restored sand prairie from the visitor center (N5727 County Road Z, Onalaska, Wisconsin) to the Lake Onalaska Overlook; outdoor restrooms all year.
What is Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge like through the year?
Songbird migration: April and May are some of the best times (Apr–May), Eleven species of frogs and toads singing, chirping and croaking (Apr–Aug), La Crosse District Visitor Center summer hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. (May–Oct) and La Crosse District Visitor Center winter hours: Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. (Nov–Apr).