Less Than An Hour From Green Bay Is Wisconsin's Outdoor Escape With A Nature Center And Scenic Trails

While Wisconsin may bring to mind images of cheese wheels and curds galore, the Dairy State has more nature to offer than its cheesy nickname might suggest. It's home to tallgrass prairies, pine barrens, and over 800 miles of Great Lakes shoreline dotted with sandy beaches and picturesque islands. One place of particularly expansive natural beauty is Navarino Wildlife Area, 15,000 acres of public land in northeastern Wisconsin's Shawano and Waupaca Counties.

Once an expansive glacial-era lakebed, it's now home to an array of landscapes, including oak, pine, and aspen forests, cattail-lined marshes, sandy uplands, and acres of managed grasses and farmland. These habitats support otters, beavers, and all kinds of birds, as well as game animals like white-tail deer, wild turkeys, grouse, pheasants, ducks, and geese. It's well-known in Wisconsin hunting circles thanks to the sheer variety of landscapes — a bounty hikers and birders can also enjoy.

The wildlife area also offers paddling and fishing on the Wolf River, and two boat launches. Winter recreation includes cross-country skiing across 12 miles of maintained trails, sledding, and snowshoeing — snowshoe rentals are available at the nature center. Visitors can also experience the space without getting out of their cars via the self-guided auto tour, a 26-stop ride over 40 miles. The wildlife area is just 45 minutes from the vibrant bayside city of Green Bay, making it a convenient day trip for citygoers looking for a spot of wilderness or easy trails.

Considering the wildlife area's massive size, the best place to start is the Navarino Nature Center. "The Nature Center is kind of like the gateway to the wildlife area. So, if you're coming out and you're looking for something, or you don't know where to go to kind of see something, you can always stop in," shared center Director Tim Ewing with Fox11 News. 

Here, visitors can learn about one of the park's most exciting natural phenomena: The annual migration of the sandhill cranes. In the spring and fall, between 5,000 and 15,000 of these birds arrive at Navarino. There's no way you'll miss them: Each crane measures between 3 and 4 feet tall and boasts an impressive wingspan of around 6.5 feet. The best time to see the cranes is in the fall when their numbers are greater, and they have new feathers. However, if you're really passionate about cranes, you need to also visit Nebraska's Platte River Valley, one of the best birdwatching destinations in America.

First opened in 1986, the nature center offers an impressive roster of programming to rival any of Wisconsin's best state parks. This includes a guided hike to watch the sandhill cranes return to their nightly sleeping spots, foraging classes, and family-friendly activities like Halloween-themed trolley rides. The center itself features taxidermy displays of native animals, including black bears and gray foxes. It's open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closed on Sunday and Monday. 

You'd never be able to explore the wildlife area's 100-plus miles of trails in a single trip. If you only have one day, consider using the nature center as a base to hike 12 miles of trails within the 1,000-acre refuge surrounding the building. This zone is closed off to hunters during waterfowl season, allowing for a more peaceful outing.

Before heading out, download the trail maps or take a picture at the visitor center. The trails are organized by color and include multiple handicap-accessible options, a birding trail, a snowshoe trail, and a variety of paths that lead to or around Pikes Peak Flowage. Here, visitors can watch the sandhill cranes return to roost without a guide by hiking 1 mile to a viewing platform. In addition, birders might spot great blue herons, northern harriers, or black terns, depending on the season. Another well-regarded path is the Grace Trail, a 1-mile stroll that showcases peaceful woods and includes stops for meditation or mindfulness. 

Outside the refuge, hikers need to be extremely mindful of hunters. Make sure everyone in your party is wearing blaze orange or other bright colors (including pets) and keep dogs on-leash or close by. Additionally, the trails here are multi-use routes that support area maintenance and logging, so be prepared for vehicle traffic.