Illustration
State guide
When to catch Wisconsinthrough the year
We follow 6 places in Wisconsin for fall foliage, spring migration, wildlife by season, wildflowers and winter wildlife: fall at Apostle Islands and Chequamegon-Nicolet, winter at Necedah Refuge, spring at Necedah Refuge and Trempealeau Refuge and summer at Necedah Refuge. Each timing below is the place's own source, in its words; none is a forecast.
When are you going?
Fall in Wisconsin
- USUAL PEAK · FALL FOLIAGEOctoberNecedah Refuge · Wisconsin
- STATEWIDE · FALL FOLIAGEUsually well under way by early OctoberApostle Islands · Wisconsin
- STATEWIDE · FALL FOLIAGEUsually well under way by early OctoberChequamegon-Nicolet · Wisconsin
- STATEWIDE · FALL FOLIAGEUsually well under way by early OctoberLakewood · Wisconsin
- STATEWIDE · FALL FOLIAGEUsually well under way by early OctoberSaint Croix Riverway · Wisconsin
Winter in Wisconsin
Good in winter
- Necedah RefugeOwls court and nest; bald eagles prepare to nest
- Necedah RefugeVisitor center winter schedule: Tuesday to Thursday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Necedah RefugeGoose Pool open to fishing, December 15 to March 15
- Trempealeau RefugeUngroomed snowshoe and ski trails open (winter)
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Spring in Wisconsin
- PHASE · WILDLIFE BY SEASONLate May, then 2 moreNecedah Refuge · Wisconsin
- SEASON · SPRING MIGRATIONLate April or early MayTrempealeau Refuge · Wisconsin
- SEASON · SPRING MIGRATIONMayNecedah Refuge · Wisconsin
Good in spring
- Chequamegon-NicoletLac Vieux Desert campground open
- Chequamegon-NicoletKentuck Lake campground open
- Chequamegon-NicoletSpring wildflowers, Lost Lake trails
- LakewoodBagley Rapids, Boulder Lake and Ada Lake campgrounds open
- LakewoodMountain fire tower open to climb
- LakewoodHerons nest at Cathedral Pines
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Summer in Wisconsin
Good in summer
- Apostle IslandsMain season
- Apostle IslandsLittle Sand Bay exhibits
- Apostle IslandsBlueberries
- Chequamegon-NicoletLac Vieux Desert campground open
- Chequamegon-NicoletKentuck Lake campground open
- LakewoodBagley Rapids, Boulder Lake and Ada Lake campgrounds open
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Places in Wisconsin
Pin color: each place's season now or next
- Spring
- Fall
Places on this map, as a list
Planning a Wisconsin trip
Sources: USA National Phenology Network · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · checked Sep 30 · How we know