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University of Wisconsin Arboretum

Start your adventure at the visitor center where you can check current birding activity with staff and pick up maps. The arboretum’s 1,260 acres borders the southern half of Lake Wingra. It attracts waterfowl during migrations and is considered to be the best place to bird watch in Madison. Warblers and thrushes use the lush hardwood forests. The Curtis and Greene Prairies are great places to look for grassland birds. The property includes many distinct ecological communities, horticultural collections, effigy mounds, historic artifacts and more than 20 miles of hiking trails. Free walks with naturalists are offered each Sunday and on some evenings as well.

Directions: The arboretum’s address is 1207 Seminole Hwy. While there are many perimeter parking lots with access, vehicle access is limited: from the east at the intersection of McCaffrey Dr, N. Wingra Dr and S. Mills St; from the west at the intersection of McCaffrey Dr and Seminole Hwy, just north of Hwy 12.

University of Wisconsin Arboretum map

Gazetteer: Page 36, D-1 (prior to 10th edition). | Page 85, E-8 (10th edition).

Phone: 608/263-7888.

Web site: University of Wisconsin Arboretum

Signature Species: Barred Owl, Swainson’s Thrush, Wilson’s Snipe and American Woodcock.

Rare Species: Yellow-throated Warbler, Kentucky Warbler and Red Crossbill.

Seasonality: Trails open daily 7am-10pm; visitor center Mon-Fri 9:30am-4pm, Sat & Sun 12:30- 4pm.

Parking: Parking lots.

Nearest food & lodging: Madison.