Minocqua • Arbor Vitae • Woodruff • Hazelhurst
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Bird Watching & Nature Trails In Northern Wisconsin

Minocqua Area Birds and Viewing Locations

With its abundance of protected public wild lands, the Minocqua area is a great place to see rare and endangered birds in their natural habitats. Many of these areas can be easily accessed by car or on foot. A canoe or kayak can also be useful for up-close investigations of birds and the pristine ecosystems in which they reside.

Area hiking trails are great destinations for birdwatchers who wish to meander through spectacular scenery on well-marked paths.

Bird watching

Hot Spots

NHAL State Forest

Northern Highland American Legion State Forest’s more than 220,000 acres of lakes and woodlands offer the best opportunities to see bald eagles in their nesting...

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Bearskin State Trail

The 21.5 mile trail winds over water and through wooded areas, giving birding fans access to outstanding habitats for a plethora of species.

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MORE POPULAR BIRD WATCHING SPOTS

  1. ALMON BOG TRAILS AT ALMON PARK/BUCK LAKE
  2. BEARSKIN STATE TRAIL
  3. BLOCKHOUSE LAKE AND FLAMBEAU TRAIL AND HAY CREEK WILDLIFE AREA
  4. CARPENTER CREEK AND SAXON HARBOR
  5. CATHERINE WOLTER WILDERNESS AREA
  6. CHIPPEWA FLOWAGE
  7. FALLISON LAKE NATURE TRAIL
  8. FLAMBEAU RIVER STATE FOREST
  9. FRANKLIN AND BUTTERNUT LAKES AREA
  10. GIANT WHITE PINE GROVE STATE NATURAL AREA
  11. HIAWATHA STATE TRAIL
  12. KIMBERLY CLARK STATE WILDLIFE AREA
  13. LAKE EVELY STATE NATURAL AREA
  14. LITTLE TURTLE FLOWAGE
  15. LUMBERJACK AND ESCANABA TRAILS
  16. NORTHERN HIGHLAND-AMERICAN LEGION STATE FOREST
  17. PENOKEE IRON RANGE AND GILE FLOWAGE
  18. PLUM CREEK FOREST RESOURCES TOUR
  19. POPPLE CREEK TRAIL-WILSON FLOWAGE AND RILEY LAKE WILDLIFE AREA
  20. POWELL MARSH STATE WILDLIFE AREA
  21. THUNDER LAKE STATE WILDLIFE AREA
  22. TOTAGATIC LAKE STATE WILDLIFE AREA
  23. TURTLE-FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE SCENIC WATERS AREA
  24. UNDERWOOD STATE WILDLIFE AREA
  25. WILLOW FLOWAGE

1.  ALMON BOG TRAILS AT ALMON PARK/BUCK LAKE

This 80-acre county park offers woodland trails through old age mixed hardwoods, northern bog with a boardwalk, and lakeshore trail. Paved parking areas with an adjacent picnic area, restrooms and swimming beach.
Signature species: Common Loon and Pileated Woodpecker.
Rarities: Warbler and kinglet opportunities. Ringed neck snake.
Read more on the Almon Park Trail.

2.  Bearskin State Trail

This 18-mile railbed trail offers a packed granite gravel surface for hiking/biking in the warmer weather, and snowmobiling in the winter. Excellent birding as the trail transects varied habitats – northern hardwoods, bogs, old-field, marsh and springs, and trout stream. The south end of the trail is especially productive. Numerous trestles and boardwalks provide viewing stops. Fascinating interpretive signage.
Read more on the WDNR Bearskin State Trail

3.  Blockhouse Lake and Flambeau Trail and Hay Creek Wildlife Area

Upland forest, conifers, streams, wetlands and Blockhouse Lake combine to create abundant habitat for many birds and mammals. Good concentrations of waterfowl are attracted to Blockhouse Lake during migrations. Mammals include fishers, timber wolf and bobcats.
Signature species: Trumpeter Swans, Black-backed Woodpeckers, Gray Jays, Bald Eagle, Common Raven, Boreal Chickadee and Sharp-tailed Grouse.
Read more on the Blockhouse Lake Association | Flambeau Trail System | WDNR Hay Creek Wildlife Area

4.  Carpenter Creek and Saxon Harbor

This quiet road is seldom used and the traveler has many opportunities to park along the roadside and walk quietly looking at the woodlands, ferns and wild flowers along the way. Many species of northern birds such as thrushes, warblers, hawks and woodpeckers are numerous and easy to spot. Deer and bears may be seen in the early morning or late afternoons as they cross the road. At Saxon Harbor, Loons and Bald Eagles are common and sunsets are spectacular.
Read more at Iron County

5.  Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area

This 2,189-acre Nature Conservancy state natural area includes 15 lakes and ponds. Common avian species include neotropical migrant songbirds Otter, fisher, black bear and timber wolves are known to frequent the preserve.
Signature species: Black-throated Green and Black-throated Blue Warblers, American Redstarts, Golden-winged Warblers, Magnolia Warblers and Mourning Warblers, Common Loons, Osprey
Rarities: Bald Eagle
Read more on the Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area.

6.  Chippewa Flowage

The “Chip” is a 15,300-acre flowage with 233 miles of rugged pine and aspen shoreline cut by numerous bays, channels, and floating bogs. The waters are dotted with hundreds of forested islands. Travel by boat or canoe to fully appreciate the abundant wildlife throughout the warm months.
Read more on the WDNR Chippewa Flowage

7.  Fallison Lake Nature Trail

This 2.5-mile loop trail rolls through a mixed coniferous/deciduous forest of balsam fir, hemlock, red pine, white pine, sugar maple, white birch, and large-toothed and trembling aspen. The trail crosses bogs and a hemlock glade. The longest loop of the trail goes all the way around 50-acre Fallison Lake.
Signature species: Bald Eagle and Common Loon
Rarities: Osprey
Read more on the Fallison Lake Nature Trail.

8.  Flambeau River State Forest

Important goals guide the management of this 90,000 - acre property located along the Flambeau River. The principles of sustainable forestry are used to assure that the forest can and will continue to provide a full range of benefits to the people and visitors of Wisconsin. Northern hardwood forests of sugar and red maples, yellow birch and white ash create a beautiful color display in fall. North and south forks of the Flambeau River offer 75 miles of white water canoeing and there are numerous lakes to fish in. Northern birds are found in good numbers throughout the property along with Bald Eagles and Common Loons.
Read more on the  WDNR Flambeau River State Forest.

9.  Franklin and Butternut Lakes Area

A wonderful 1,000-acre site for the hiker/birder. A 13-mile loop of trail winds around a number of beautiful and remote lakes. A one-mile interpretive nature trail (brochures available on site) takes you through 400-year-old hemlock and pine forest. A boardwalk crosses an open bog. Birds in these forest communities include Woodpeckers, Wood-Pewee, Winter Wren, Blackburnian Warbler, Cape May Warbler, and Ovenbird. Waterfowl on and near the lake include Loon, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Spotted Sandpiper, and Willow Flycatcher.
Signature species: Bald Eagles
Rarities: Red-shouldered Hawk

10.  Giant White Pine Grove State Natural Area

One of the best examples of mature, northern mesic forest in northeastern Wisconsin. Located in the Forest Service’s Headwaters Wilderness Area, the forest canopy of this 30-acre site contains large hemlock, sugar maple, yellow birch, and basswood. Huge white pines, some more than 3’ in diameter, tower above the forest.
Signature species: Blackburnian and Black-throated Blue Warblers, Pileated Woodpeckers
Rarities: Winter Wren, Evening Grosbeak, porcupine, snowshoe hare, black bear, and bobcat
Read more on the WDNR Giant White Pine Grove State Natural Area.

11.  Hiawatha State Trail

A state-owned, crushed-stone hiking/biking trail built on a former railroad bed. The trail runs north six miles to the Lincoln/Oneida County line on the south side of Lake Nakomis. The trail is a scenic walk, offering much wildlife.
Read more on the Hiawatha State Trail. 

12.  Kimberly Clark State Wildlife Area

This area is managed with fire for Sharp-tailed Grouse that can be found most mornings eating gravel along the roads. Three small flowages have been constructed with associated bogs and marshes. Deer, bears, and fishers are often observed along with Sandhill Cranes and a nice variety of waterfowl. Loons, Osprey, and Bald Eagles also use this area.
Read more on the WDNR Kimberly Clark State Wildlife Area.

13.  Lake Evelyn State Natural Area

This 300-acre site contains Lake Evelyn, a soft-water seepage lake surrounded by wetlands and gently rolling forested uplands of white and red pine, and aspen. The 55-acre lake has an undeveloped shoreline and wilderness character perfect for birding. It forms the headwaters of Evelyn Creek, a tributary of the Turtle River. A floating leatherleaf bog rings the lake on the north, while the southwestern portion contains a conifer swamp.
Signature species: Osprey
Read more on the WDNR Lake Evelyn State Natural Area.

14.  Little Turtle Flowage

A 640-acre marshland surrounded by grassland (big bluestem prairie - quite a rarity in the Northwoods) and edged by forest.
Signature species: Trumpeter Swans, Bald Eagles, Osprey, and Sandhill Cranes
Read more on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage.

15.  Lumberjack and Escanaba Trails

An 11-mile trail system around White Sand and Escanaba Lakes. Habitat types include forest, wetlands, lakes and a river.
Signature species: Ruffed Grouse, Woodcock, and Bald Eagles
Read more on the Lumberjack and Escanaba Trails.

17.  Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest

At 223,283 acres, the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest is Wisconsin’s largest property. It offers many campgrounds totaling 871 campsites; most offering water, showers, restrooms, swimming, fishing and a boat launch. The forest contains a diversity of northern timber types interspersed with grasslands, marshes, and more than 900 lakes. It is home to one of the largest Bald Eagle nesting concentrations in the world.
Signature species: Alder Flycatchers, Vesper Sparrow, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
Rarities: Gray Jay, Nelson’s Sharp-tailed and LeConte’s Sparrows, Bald Eagle, Osprey, and timber wolf.
Read more on the WDNR Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest.

18.  Penokee Iron Range and Gile Flowage

Iron county was named for the “red gold” iron ore that was mined in the rugged Penokee Iron Range from the 1880s until the 1960s. The most famous mine in the range was the Montreal Iron Mine – the deepest iron ore mine in the world. Montreal is a true “company town” where many of the houses mirror each other in design. Urban birds are found in these small towns. The Gile Flowage is a 3,384-acre flowage. Waterfowl, Loons, and Bald Eagles can be found in the flowage where they nest, feed, and rest during migration.
Read more on the Iron Country Heritage Areas.

19.  Plum Creek Forest Resources Tour

Plum Creek is the second-largest private timberland owner in the United States with 548,000 acres in Wisconsin. This 9-mile auto trail is well marked and has a full-color guidebook that is available at the site. This logging road takes you past creeks, marshes, spruce forest, aspen stands, hardwoods, and old-growth pine. Boreal species like Boreal Chickadee, Gray Jay, and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher can be seen. Many species of warblers can be found here including Golden-winged, Mourning, and Canada. Clear-cut areas attract flocks of warblers, thrushes, and sparrows. Mammals include wolves, fishers, deer, and bear.
Signature species: Connecticut Warbler, nuthatches, vireos, Winter Wrens, Clay-colored Sparrow, and Ruffed Grouse.
 

20.  Popple Creek Trail-Wilson Flowage and Riley Lake Wildlife Area

Popple Creek Trail leads wildlife watchers along a 266-acre glacial ridge to an expansive vista of Wilson Flowage where waterfowl and wetland wildlife abound. At Riley Lake, you can see Sharp-tailed Grouse in courtship displays in early spring. Schedule the use of blinds to observe the birds by contacting the Forest Service.
Read more on the Popple Creek Trail.

21.  Powell Marsh State Wildlife Area

The marsh, developed in 1955, is a 4,303-acre wetland complex of peatland, open water lakes and flowages, northern sedge meadows, and grassy upland islands with a 1,800-acre refuge located in the middle of the property. It supports a variety of waterfowl, water birds, migrant shorebirds, open-area birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Common bird species include great blue herons, songbirds, marsh hawks, eagles, sandhill cranes, Northern harriers, LeConte's sparrows, short-eared owls, Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrows, sharp-tailed grouse, Henslow's sparrows, and black terns.
Signature species: Yellow Rail, LeConte’s Sparrow, and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Rarities: Yellow Rail, Short-eared Owl, Northern Harrier, American Bittern, and Merlin
Read more on the WDNR Powell Marsh State Wildlife Area.

22.  Thunder Lake State Wildlife Area

2,700 acres of sedge meadow, barrens, bog lakes and tamarack forest. This area is large, wild and filled with interesting birds. Known as a hotspot for birds, one can find Hermit and Swainson’s Thrushes, and Northern Saw-whet Owls. Over 20 species of Warblers nest in the area and in the winter, flocks of grosbeaks, crossbills, Common Redpolls, and Pine Siskins can be seen.
Rarities: Northern Hawk Owl, Yellow Rail, Short-eared Owl, LeConte’s Sparrow
Read more on the WDNR Thunder Lake State Wildlife Area.

23.  Totagatic Lake State Wildlife Area

This 2,719-acre state-owned property includes the Totagatic Flowage, created by a dam on Nelson Lake. The dam is located across the highway from the parking area. At the dam, there is a wildlife viewing overlook adjacent to the highway. Birders can find Red-breasted Nuthatch, warblers, Blue-headed Grosbeak, and other uncommon species here. The lake is surrounded by marsh, northern mesic, and wet-mesic forest including the Totagatic Highlands Hemlocks, a stand of old-growth hemlock on the area’s western edge. Canoe or kayak the flowage for good looks at a variety of waterfowl, eagles, and herons.
Notes: The lake has excellent fishing (northern and panfish): there are boat landings on each end of the flowage.
Read more on the WDNR Totagatic Lake State Wildlife Area.

25.  Turtle-Flambeau Flowage Scenic Waters Area

This 14,000-acre flowage offers more than 180 miles of white pine and birch shoreline, as well as hundreds of small islands. A truly wild area of forest, wetland and river.
Signature species: Common Loon, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Double-crested Cormorant, whitetail deer, and beaver.
Rarities: Black Tern, Merlin (nests), timberwolves.
Read more on the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage.

26.  Underwood State Wildlife Area

A 1,602-acre site with forested uplands and cedar swamp. The northern border of this property is the State of Michigan.
Read more on the WDNR Underwood State Wildlife Area.

27.  Willow Flowage

This area is known for attracting large concentrations of waterfowl during spring and fall migrations. Shorebirds can be seen along mudflats. Great Horned, Eastern Screech Owls, Northern Saw-whet Owls, and Barred Owls are found here.
Signature species: Bald Eagles, Osprey, Loons, Sharp-tailed Grouse, shorebirds, and owls. Great Gray owls are occasionally seen in winter.
Read more on the WDNR Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area. 

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