Horicon Marsh

Horicon Marsh is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the contiguous United States - 33,000 acres of wetland, half an hour west of Fond du Lac, often called the "Everglades of the North" and designated a Wetland of International Importance by the United Nations. More than 300 species of birds have been recorded here, including thousands of sandhill cranes during the September and October migration, the largest great blue heron rookery in Wisconsin, white pelicans, and most every duck native to the state. The federal Horicon National Wildlife Refuge runs the north 22,000 acres; the Wisconsin DNR runs the southern 11,000. Between them: a visitor center with an Explorium, boat tours from Blue Heron Landing, fifteen miles of trails, a 1,400-foot boardwalk, and a 50-mile auto route. Photo: Dodge County Wisconsin