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When to catch Upper Mississippi River Refugeat its best

Upper Mississippi River Refuge through the year: spring migration (local timing: April and May) and wildlife by season (local timing: from April to August). Each has its own page with spots, sources and the latest reports.

RIGHT NOW · SEP 30

  • Latest reportNo dated report this season; the posters below show each usual window.
  • This weekend (NWS)Sat mostly sunny, 64°F · Sun sunny, 64°F
  • Park alertsCheck the managing agency before you go

When are you going?

Where to go at Upper Mississippi River Refuge

Spots, visitor points and places nearby
  • Spring
  • Fall
  • Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census.

Best spots

Where each event's source says to go

Spring migration

  • 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 floodU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • 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 springU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • 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 yearU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Wildlife by season

  • Shady Maple Interpretive TrailA 1.18-mile loop through bottomland forest in Goose Island County Park with views of the wetlands; listen for frogs calling in spring. Can be wet in spring and summerU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • Upper Halfway Creek Marsh Area dikesThree short dikes (about 1.25 miles in all) between restored wetlands and wet meadows, half a mile east of the La Crosse visitor center on County Road ZN; signed parts close in mid-spring and summer for nesting waterfowlU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Next 7 days at Upper Mississippi River Refuge

Forecast: National Weather Service
  • TodayMostly Cloudy74° / 61°54% rain
  • ThuAreas Of Fog then Cloudy65° / 46°44% rain
  • FriSunny61° / 43°–
  • SatMostly Sunny64° / 49°8% rain
  • SunSunny64° / 40°8% rain
  • MonSunny60° / 43°–
  • TueMostly Sunny64° / 53°11% rain

Today: sunrise 7:04 a.m., sunset 6:51 p.m., light until 7:20 p.m. · moon waning gibbous, 78% lit (our calculation)

Nearby, and when they peak

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

Towns nearby

Straight-line miles; each town page has frost dates and its nature year

Questions people ask

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)

How we know

Every timing above, from these pages; checked Sep 30