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Through the year, a wildlife refuge in Wisconsin

Best time to visit Trempealeau RefugeWhen to catch warblers and wildlife by season

Trempealeau Refuge through the year: warblers (usually: late April or early May) and wildlife by season (at one spot: mid-June). Each has its own page with spots, sources and the latest reports.

Checked against 2 official sources.How we check

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About Trempealeau Refuge

What it is

A wildlife refuge in Wisconsin

A little history

  • Dairyland Power Cooperative bought the whole Delta Fish and Fur Farm in 1975.
  • Dairyland Power sold 4,778 acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a large addition to the refuge.

Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge ↗, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Trempealeau NWR: Visit Us ↗

What you'll see here

Each topic has its own page with its timing

Good in spring: Tundra swans, geese and ducks on the main pool, mid-March well into April.

Good in summer: black tern flocks, from a few to hundreds, from the observation deck in mid-June.

Right now in Trempealeau Refuge

From the Weather Service and the Park Service

Latest report: no dated report this season. The cards above show each usual window.

Next 7 days

Forecast: National Weather Service

  • Today77°53°1% rain
  • Wed72°49°1% rain
  • Thu66°46°2% rain
  • Fri69°54°12% rain
  • Sat77°62°1% rain
  • Sun76°55°24% rain
  • Mon65°48°41% rain

Today: sunrise 7:10 a.m., sunset 6:40 p.m., light until 7:08 p.m. Moon waning crescent, 13% lit (our calculation).

Trempealeau Refuge, month by month

Usual windows from the official sources, not a forecast

  1. OctNowNone yetNothing listed
  2. NovNone yetNothing listed
  3. Dec1 to seeUngroomed snowshoe and ski trails open (winter)
  4. Jan1 to seeUngroomed snowshoe and ski trails open (winter)
  5. Feb1 to seeUngroomed snowshoe and ski trails open (winter)
  6. Mar1 to seeTundra swans, geese and ducks on the main pool, mid-March well into April
  7. Apr1 to seeWarblers, warbler watching at its best, late April or early May
  8. May1 to seeWarblers, warbler watching at its best, late April or early May
  9. Jun1 to seeWildlife by season, Black tern flocks, from a few to hundreds, from the observation deck in mid-June
  10. JulNone yetNothing listed
  11. AugNone yetNothing listed
  12. SepNone yetNothing listed

Where to go

Spots, visitor points and towns nearby

  • Trempealeau Refuge
  • Nearby, this fall
  • Nearby, next spring
  • Town

Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census; Canada, Mexico and lakes Natural Earth.

Best spots

Where each event's source says to go

For warblers

  • Woods Nature Trail

    An easy half-mile dirt and gravel trail starting next to the visitor contact station, one of the best places on the refuge to see warblers in spring and fall migration

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

  • Prairie’s Edge Tour Loop

    A 4.5-mile self-guided loop for cars, bikes and walkers through sand prairie, backwater marsh and hardwood forest, with an observation deck and high-powered spotting scopes over the main pool

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

  • Observation deck near the visitor center

    A wide view over the main pool, where bald eagles, tundra swans, geese and ducks can be seen from mid-March well into April

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

    Also for wildlife by season: Views of the main pool, with bald eagles, tundra swans, geese and ducks from mid-March well into April, and black tern flocks in mid-June. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

  • Pine Creek Dike

    Half a mile one way from beside the visitor contact station, through woods and past a wetland to the dike's point with water on both sides: shorebirds, calling frogs and pelicans overhead

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

    Also for wildlife by season: Look for shorebirds and pelicans, and listen for frogs beside the water. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Plan your visit

From the managing agency's own pages

Before you go

Year-round

  • Fees: There is no charge to visit; only hunting and trapping need a permit with a fee.
  • Hours: Trails and grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk, and the visitor contact station Wednesday to Saturday, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
  • Dogs: Leashed dogs are welcome on refuge grounds and trails, so please clean up after yours.
  • Restrooms: The pit toilets in the parking lot by the visitor contact station are always open, with more inside the station during its hours.
  • Closures: Trempealeau Mountain is closed to the public, and the Lower Diversion Dike trail ends at its base.

Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge ↗, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Trempealeau NWR: Visit Us ↗

Towns nearby

Straight-line miles

First frost: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at each town's nearest station.

Around Trempealeau Refuge

In season first, then nearest; straight-line miles

Next season here: Warblers, late April or early May.

Questions people ask

Does it cost anything to visit Trempealeau Refuge?

No, there is no charge to visit, though hunting and trapping need a permit with a fee.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Trempealeau NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

What are the hours at Trempealeau Refuge?

Trails and grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk, daylight hours only. The visitor contact station and office are open Wednesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., though limited staffing sometimes closes them.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Trempealeau NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Are dogs allowed at Trempealeau Refuge?

Yes, on a leash on refuge grounds and trails; please clean up after it. Only service dogs are allowed inside the visitor contact station.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Trempealeau NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Are there restrooms at Trempealeau Refuge?

Yes: inside the visitor contact station during its hours, and pit toilets in the parking lot next to it that are always open.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Trempealeau NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How we know

The official pages behind every date on this page

  • Sep 29Fish & Wildlife Trempealeau NWR: Visit Us
  • Sep 29Fish & Wildlife Trempealeau NWR: Species (Seasons of Wildlife)
All our sources and how we use them