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Wisconsin

When to catch Necedah Refugeat its best

Necedah Refuge through the year: spring migration (local timing: May), wildlife by season (3 separate phases, from late May), wildflowers (local timing: June through August), fall foliage (usually: October) and winter wildlife (2 separate phases, from September through November; the last few cranes, ducks and swans depart by mid-November). 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, 65°F · Sun sunny, 67°F
  • Park alertsCheck the managing agency before you go

When are you going?

Fall at Necedah Refuge

Where to go at Necedah Refuge

Spots, visitor points and places nearby
  • Spring
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

  • Observation Tower TrailA one-mile trail along the shore of Rynearson Pool 1, north of Grand Dike Road (20th Street), with a two-story Civilian Conservation Corps tower and viewing scope; yellow and black-and-white warblers are among its birding highlightsU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • Visitor Center TrailThe easy, accessible Muskrat Loop (a quarter mile, with viewing scopes over the wetland) and the longer Karner Loop through forest and savanna, starting at the visitor center; golden-winged warbler is among its birding highlightsU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Wildlife by season

  • Lupine LoopThe refuge's trail for Karner blue butterflies: 0.8 mile of gravel and mowed grass north of Goose and Sprague Pools, with a photo blind on the shoreU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • Visitor Center TrailAccessible trails at the visitor center (the 0.25-mile Muskrat Loop boardwalk and the 0.75-mile Karner Loop) past native plantings and a butterfly garden; Karner blue butterflies and whooping cranes can be seen from the centerU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Wildflowers

  • Boghaunter TrailThree loops west of Rynearson Pool 2 (Meadow Beauty 0.8 mile, Boardwalk 1.75 miles, Tamarack 3.6 miles) through a mosaic of wetlands, sedge meadows, prairies and shrub edges, with an overlook deck and a photo blind; open all yearU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • Visitor Center TrailAccessible trails at the visitor center: the 0.25-mile Muskrat Loop boardwalk and the 0.75-mile Karner Loop through forest and savanna, past native plantings, rain gardens and a butterfly gardenU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Fall foliage

  • White-Tail LoopA 1.7-mile mowed-grass loop through one of the refuge's older forests, south of Grand Dike Road; park at the split rail fenceU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • Boghaunter TrailThree loops west of Rynearson Pool 2 (Meadow Beauty 0.8 mile, Boardwalk 1.75 miles, Tamarack 3.6 miles); the Tamarack Loop adds hills and forest to wetland and prairie views. Open all year for hiking and snowshoeingU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Winter wildlife

  • Ducks Unlimited OverlookAn observation deck along Headquarters Road over an active wetland, with parking, a kiosk and a spotting scope aimed especially at the eagle nest across the wetland; waterfowl and wading birds from March into NovemberU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • Goose and Sprague PoolsDrive slowly between the two impounded wetlands for waterfowl viewing and stop at the floating fishing and viewing platform; listen for loons, whooping and sandhill cranes and trumpeter swansU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Next 7 days at Necedah Refuge

Forecast: National Weather Service
  • TodayPatchy Fog74° / 63°51% rain
  • ThuRain Showers Likely then Cloudy69° / 44°68% rain
  • FriSunny64° / 39°–
  • SatMostly Sunny65° / 46°9% rain
  • SunSunny67° / 38°9% rain
  • MonSunny62° / 38°–
  • TueMostly Sunny66° / 49°10% rain

Today: sunrise 6:58 a.m., sunset 6:45 p.m., light until 7:14 p.m. · moon waning gibbous, 78% lit (our calculation)

Visitor reports, not verified

Been here in the last week? Tell us how the trees looked.

What color were the trees?

Tap the one that looks most like what you saw.

One report per place for each day you saw it, no name or email · How reports work · Terms · Privacy

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

Necedah Refuge in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions
Sunrise over Rynearson Pool 1 at Necedah refuge
Sunrise over Rynearson Pool 1 at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. Katie Goodwin/USFWS.. Photo: Katie Goodwin/USFWS · public domain · resized
A pale blue butterfly with wings open, resting on a small yellow flower among green leaves
A male Karner blue butterfly at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. Photo: Katie Goodwin/USFWS · public domain · resized
An orange and black monarch butterfly on yellow flowers in front of a yellow building with solar panels on its roof
A monarch butterfly on flowers outside the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge visitor center. Photo: Katie Goodwin /USFWS · public domain · resized

Questions people ask

Does it cost anything to visit?

No, there is no charge to visit.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Necedah NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

What are the hours?

Refuge lands and trails are open daily from dawn to dusk. The visitor center is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday from May to November and Tuesday to Thursday from December to April, and closed on federal holidays. Hours can change, so it's worth calling 608-565-2551 ahead.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Necedah NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Is there an auto tour?

There's no marked auto tour route, but township roads cross the refuge and make good wildlife viewing from your car. Many are seasonal or under construction, so call the visitor center at 608-565-2551 for current road conditions and routes.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Necedah NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Are there restrooms after hours?

Yes. Indoor restrooms are open when the visitor center is, and after-hours restrooms on the west end of the building are open sunrise to sunset all year.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Necedah NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How we know

Every timing above, from these pages; checked Sep 29