Nestled Between Green Bay And Milwaukee Is A Nature Escape With Hiking, Wildlife, And Wetland Canoeing

Killsnake River, Cedar Creek, and the South Branch of the Manitowoc River all wind through Killsnake State Wildlife Area in east-central Wisconsin. Tucked between Green Bay and Milwaukee, the 7,000-acre nature preserve is a blend of restored wetlands, marshes, prairies, and hardwood forests. When you visit, you might spot locals paddling on the Manitowoc River, or birders watching raptors hunt over the meadows in the winter. This expansive nature escape is a quiet spot to get outside, spend a couple of hours walking through its mixed terrain, or catch a warm sunset at the end of the day. The best part? It's free to visit.

Located in Manitowoc and Calumet counties, Killsnake State Wildlife Area has quite a fascinating backstory. Before Wisconsin purchased the first parcel in 1956, the land in the Killsnake Bottoms and Cedar Creek areas was leased and used to track migrating geese. The area also has a longer history with multiple archaeological sites listed on the National Register, including Island Village Site, which is believed to be a Potawatomi village from the mid-1800s (around the same time that European farmers and settlers arrived). Fast forward to today, and roughly 1,000 acres is still used as farmland, while the state restored another 1,500 acres of prairie and created wetland habitats for all the wildlife that visits and uses the preserve.

Killsnake makes a great pit stop for roadtrippers driving through eastern Wisconsin. And if you've been spending time on Lake Michigan's busy beaches, the nature escape offers a change of scenery. It's a sanctuary where your best memory will be seeing the wildlife thrive in the wetlands. "No matter if you are an amateur or professional birder, you'll love this beautiful wildlife preserve, spotting bald eagles, rough-legged hawks, short-eared owls, sandhill cranes, all sorts of ducks, and much, much more," remarked a Google user.

If you're looking for a place with miles of rugged trails, head to Devil's Lake State Park, Wisconsin's largest state park. Killsnake is more suitable for casual hikers, photographers, and birders. Visitors can explore the area from the land or from the waterways. There are no marked trails, but you can take walks through the meadows, prairies, and along the roadways around the wetlands. The expansive preserve has 30 parking lots, giving visitors easy access to view different areas. Because it's on a hill, the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology recommends the overlook from the parking lot at Aebischer Road as a great spot to take in views of the wetlands.

There are over 204 species of birds recorded here, so birders should bring their binoculars and camera. Throughout the wildlife area, ospreys can be seen nesting from raised platforms. Come in winter for a chance to spot rough-legged hawks or sandhill cranes flying over the grasslands while listening for eastern screech-owls near the tree line. A highlight for past guests is watching the short-eared owls hunt at sunset. Local news publication, iwantthenews.com, called Killsnake a "bird watcher's mecca" and continued by saying, "Many of the watchers come equipped with cameras with long lenses in an effort to capture the owls in action."

For a different perspective of the nature preserve, hit the water. Given that paddling is limited on the Killsnake River, it's best to canoe or kayak on the Manitowoc River. On the narrow waterway, you'll have a chance to drift past the grassy, tree-lined shore, while waterfowl and wading birds hunt near the banks. And if you look up, a bald eagle might be soaring overhead. The river is also a great place to view the sunset over the wetlands while being surrounded by wildlife. If, after your time here, you plan to head south towards Brew City, take a look at these unwritten rules to know before visiting Milwaukee.