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Dozens of tundra swans and mallards on open water by a log, dry reeds behind

Photo: Cindy Samples/USFWS · Public domain, cropped and resized

Dozens of tundra swans and mallards on open water by a log, dry reeds behind.

Upper Mississippi River Refugefall wildlife

Wildlife refuge

At Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, tundra swans on their fall migration, seen from the Brownsville Overlook in Minnesota: late October through mid-November is the best time, per the Fish and Wildlife Service. Its usual window hasn't started yet this year.

Updated

Sources for this timing ↓
Local timing
Late October through mid-November
General timing for this place: not a peak date, and not a forecast.

About Upper Mississippi River Refuge

What it is
A wildlife refuge in Minnesota
What you'll see
Tundra swans at Brownsville Overlook · usual peak Oct–Nov

Right now at Upper Mississippi River Refuge

Right now in Upper Mississippi River Refuge · October

  • La Crosse District Visitor Center summer hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. · May–Oct

Next 7 days at Upper Mississippi River Refuge

Forecast: National Weather Service
  • TodaySunny60° / 43°2% rain
  • SatMostly Sunny65° / 51°16% rain
  • SunSunny64° / 41°4% rain
  • MonSunny63° / 45°–
  • TueSunny67° / 53°4% rain
  • WedMostly Sunny70° / 51°4% rain
  • ThuMostly Sunny69° / –5% rain

Today: sunrise 7:06 a.m., sunset 6:47 p.m., light until 7:16 p.m. · moon last quarter, 55% lit (our calculation)

Your guide to the area

Best spots and nearby places
  • Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census.

Where to watch

  • Brownsville Overlook

    Best spot

    Off Highway 26 about three miles south of Brownsville, Minnesota: paved parking and mounted spotting scopes

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

  • Highway 26 Overlook

    Best spot

    About a mile south of the Brownsville Overlook; the refuge's suggestion when the Brownsville lot is full (never park on the highway)

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Worth the drive

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

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

Upper Mississippi River Refuge in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions
Yellow prairie flowers at Upper Mississippi River refuge's La Crosse District visitor center
Yellow prairie flowers at Upper Mississippi River refuge's La Crosse District visitor center. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; photographer not identified on item page · public domain · resized

Questions people ask

When is the best time to see wildlife at Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge?

Tundra swans on their fall migration, seen from the Brownsville Overlook in Minnesota: late October through mid-November is the best time, per the Fish and Wildlife Service: late October through mid-November. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.

Is it wildlife season at Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge right now?

Not yet: its usual fall wildlife timing is late October through mid-November, local timing.

Where are the best spots in Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge?

Brownsville Overlook: off Highway 26 about three miles south of Brownsville, Minnesota: paved parking and mounted spotting scopes; Highway 26 Overlook: about a mile south of the Brownsville Overlook; the refuge's suggestion when the Brownsville lot is full (never park on the highway).

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).

How we know · Sources (4)

How we know

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Mississippi River NWFR: Wildlife Viewing (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · National Weather Service forecast and alerts (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Mississippi River NWFR: Visit Us (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30) · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Mississippi River NWFR: Species (opens in a new tab) (Sep 30)

All our sources and how we use them →