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Wisconsin
66

State of Wisconsin Parks

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USA Parks
Wisconsin
Northern Kettle Moraine Region
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge
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Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Whooping Cranes © Rick Vant Hoff
Ledge Rd. East of the Horicon Refuge in Mid Aug. 2012
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Peregrin Falcon © Rick Vant Hoff
Stormy, born in Chicago in 2011, Mother Scruffy born in Milwaukee in 2007. Sighted on Old Marsh Road. Identified by leg bands. Eating a Greater Yellow Legs.
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Blue Heron © Rick Vant Hoff
Blue Heron in a tree on Hwy 49 east of Waupun
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Dragonfly © Joseph Valerius
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Boardwalk © Joseph Valerius
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge The Marsh © Joseph Valerius
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge © Joseph Valerius
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge © Justin Olson
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge © Justin Olson
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Dragonfly © Joseph Valerius
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge © Justin Olson
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge © Justin Olson
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge © Justin Olson
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HORICON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
HORICON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
W4279 Headquarters Road
Mayville, Wisconsin   53050
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Over 21,000 acres in size, Horicon National Wildlife Refuge is located on the west branch of the Rock River in southeastern Wisconsin and encompasses the northern two-thirds of Horicon Marsh.

Horicon Marsh is a shallow, peat-filled lakebed gouged out by the Wisconsin Glacier about 12,000 thousand years ago. The headwaters of the Rock River, Horicon Marsh is 14 miles long and three-to-five miles wide. Branches of the Rock River, small and intermittent streams, and groundwater springs provide the water resources for the marsh. At 32,000 acres in size, it is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States.

In 1990, Horicon Marsh was designated a "Wetland of International Importance" by the Ramsar Convention. It has also been designated as a "Globally Important Bird Area" by the American Bird Conservancy and a unit of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve.

Major land types identified on the refuge include wetland (about 17,000 acres), of which the majority is classified as deep, freshwater marsh, and upland (about 4,000 acres), including grassland habitat. Up to 200,000 Canada geese stage on the refuge on a peak day in fall. The refuge provides critical habitat for ducks, cranes, egrets, herons, marshbirds, and shorebirds as well as several endangered species. Horicon National Wildlife Refuge supports the largest number of nesting redhead ducks in the eastern United States. Altogether, 223 species of birds call the refuge home.
FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
Day-UseFishingyes
 Huntingyes
 Hiking Trailyes


Location
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge is located near Beaver Dam, Fond Du Lac and Waupun


Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
September 30 Great Kayaking
park review stars; one to five I enjoyed kayaking the Rock river and canals north of the city of Horicon. We saw and heard a good deal of wildlife, including sandhill cranes, geese, duck, and muskrat. Our visit was around the start of the fall migration.
April 12 Need more informtion by Avishek
park review stars; one to five Need some more detail information about the place..Like the Ecological system overview,bio diversity that can be seen in the place..those kind of stuffs..
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Area Campgrounds
The Playful Goose Campground
2001 South Main Street
Horicon, WI
920-485-4744
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
To reach the refuge office/visitor center from Waupun, go 7 miles east on State Highway 49 and 3.5 miles south on County Road Z. From Milwaukee, take 41 north to the Brownsville exit, go west on Highway 49 and 3.5 miles south on County Road Z. From Madison, take 151 north to Highway 49, go east to County Road Z, go south 3.5 miles. From Fond du Lac, take 151 south to Highway 49, go east to County Z, go south 3.5 miles. We strongly suggest that you consult an atlas or Dodge County map when using these directions.

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Wisconsin
66

State of Wisconsin Parks

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