RR5K Week 2: where to go– how about Horicon Marsh?

It’s Week 2 of the Rock River 5k, have you decided where to go the distance yet? (if you still need to register, start HERE)

Let’s talk headwaters! At the northernmost point of the Rock River watershed is Horicon National Wildlife Refuge and Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area. This is home to the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States at 33,000 acres in size (equivalent to about 174 Big Hill Parks)!

Horicon National Wildlife Refuge and Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area provide thousands of acres of wetland to explore. (Photo credit: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Read more about these “serendipitous Black-necked stilts” here ).

It’s Week 2 of the Rock River 5k…

Whether you choose to explore the 36 miles of bike trails, 6.5 miles of canoe and kayak trails, or 4.9 miles of hiking trails, many plants and animals can be found here. Birds such as egrets, pelicans, and osprey as well as many turtles use the open water and banks for hunting and nesting. Plants such as black-eyed susan and lupine can be found along the trails, and if you listen closely, you can hear a leopard frog or a chorus frog. The list goes on!

…have you decided where to go the distance yet?

FAQ:

Whether you are a plant enthusiast looking for flowers or a birder trying to tally your birds of the year (such as the black-necked stilt pictured above), there are so many neat critters to find. We’d love to see what you discover on your adventure, whether at Horicon or somewhere else. Send your pictures to development@weltycenter.org OR use the hashtag #WeltyRockRiver5K in your social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.).

We look forward to seeing you!

Darien Becker
Environmental Educator, WEC
info@weltycenter.org
608-361-1377