Necedah National Wildlife Refuge

Necedah sprawls across 20,000 acres of restored wetlands, prairie, and oak savanna in central Wisconsin’s sand country. The refuge roads are mostly gravel and dirt, perfect for exploring by vehicle while watching for sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, and the occasional black bear. Spring and fall migrations bring serious bird action, but summer’s good too if you can handle the mosquitoes.

Main entry is off Highway 173 west of Necedah town. The refuge has multiple driving loops — some seasonal closures protect nesting birds. No camping on refuge land, but it’s a solid day trip from nearby state parks or dispersed spots in the surrounding Necedah Unit of Black River State Forest.

Sandhill cranes and gravel roads through restored wetlands