Heckrodt Wetland Reserve
About This Trail
Heckrodt Wetland Reserve is a 76-acre urban nature reserve with habitats including forested wetland, cattail marsh, open water, created prairie, open field, and upland forest. The Reserve is home to numerous species of reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. Migrating songbirds and waterfowl nest and feed in its protection.
The 4,000 square foot Nature Center features a “Living Waters” exhibit with an indoor live wetland, and aquariums that are home to local fishes, crayfish, turtles, and snakes — surrounded by a display of mounted Wisconsin mammals and birds.
Outdoor exhibits include a memorial butterfly garden and bird feeding area, as well as a pond, bog and stream complex. The Nature Center facilities feature a workshop/meeting room, a classroom amphitheater/Discovery Den, Solarium, and a resource library.
Three miles of trails, including nearly 4,000 feet of elevated boardwalks, provide access to the wetland habitat to all visitors to explore and enjoy bird watching, walking, photography, and snowshoeing in winter. Wagons and strollers are available for check out to increase visitor enjoyment of the hiking trails. Wheelchairs are available for visitors who may need assistance.
Content pulled from: https://www.heckrodtnaturecenter.org/
Trail Features
| Surface type | Dirt |
|---|---|
| Carrier needed | No |
| Stroller friendly | Yes |
| ADA accessible | Yes |
| Water fountains | Yes |
| Bathrooms | No |
| Cell reception | Excellent |
| Pet friendly | No |
| Nearby convenience store | Yes |
| Camping Nearby | No |
| Emergency support within 5 miles |
Yes |
Trail highlights
Nature Center Hours:
Tuesday – Friday 8 AM – 4:30 PM
Saturday 11 AM – 4 PM
Sunday and Monday Closed
Nature Center is closed all major holidays.
Trails are open 6 AM – 9 PM daily, year round.
Pets are not allowed on the Reserve. Uniformed, leashed service dogs are welcome.
Bikes and other wheeled recreational vehicles are not permitted. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome.
Summer: Muggy days = buggy days, so bring your bug spray!
Winter: Boardwalks are typically snowplowed shortly after snowfall. There are designated snowshoe paths.
Fee & Parking Details
Donations are welcome. There is a designated parking lot.
Trail Contributor
Jami is one of the Co-Ambassadors for HiB Appleton. She helped start the Appleton branch in September 2016 shortly after her daughter was born. She has always been a lover of the outdoors and loves sharing her passion with her daughter and fellow hikers. When not hiking with HiB, she is often camping or getting with her husband, daughter, and two dogs (who also make regular appearances on hikes.)
Parking
Trail Head
Weather
Trail Map
Upcoming Community Hikes Nearby
About The Guide
Hike it Baby Family Trail Guide is an online resource to help families with children source trails that little legs can hike and parents can feel comfortable with. Hike details are sourced and have been hiked by families who participate in our community. Our contributors do their best to give you all the details they can, but if something is missed, you can reach out to the contributor and offer suggestions for them to add to make it a better trail description for all. This guide was built with a generous 3-year partnership with L.L Bean. Like Hike it Baby, L.L Bean believes that helping get families into nature from birth on is key to healthier, happier communities.
Trail Disclaimer
Hike it Baby makes every effort to keep trail content up to date, but trail conditions are subject to change. Hike it Baby is not responsible for any injuries that occur while hiking the trails covered in this guide. Hike it Baby is a platform that helps connect families to federal, state and local parks nationwide.