Brule-St. Croix Chapter, Northwest Wisconsin

Bird Sanctuary North

US Hwy 53 Trailhead -Bird Road

Length of Segment: 3.1 miles

North Trailhead:  West side of US Highway 53, just north of Holly Lucius Road.  Plenty of parking space, a kiosk with map, and a restroom.

South Trailhead:  Bird Road, 1/2 mile NW of its intersection with Douglas County Highway M.  Parking area on east side of road with kiosk.

Alternate Access: Bird Sanctuary Road where the trail crosses.  Park alongside the road or just off it on a track near the trail crossing.

Campsite: Leo Creek, 0.8 miles south of US 53 Trailhead

As you leave the trailhead heading southwest, you'll pass a small pond on its west side, then enter woods with large white and red pines.  After 0.8 miles, you'll see the old railroad grade to the west that now is the Wild Rivers State Trail, an ATV/snowmobile route.  The Leo Creek campsite with two separate tent sites is on either side of the trail near the grade and just before crossing Leo Creek.

As you climb the south side of Leo Creek and cross the Wild Rivers State Trail, you are moving up onto the large glacial sand plain that makes up the Douglas County Wildlife Area, commonly known as the Bird Sanctuary.  This oak savanna prairie is managed for sharptail grouse, and is home to other uncommon birds, wolves, coyotes, and assorted wildlife.  You'll circle a prairie pothole, then re-enter popple/pine woods on the south side of Bird Sanctuary Road.  Just before you approach Bird Road, you pass a kennel area used during hunting dog trials, held here since the 1920s.

Next Trail Segment West: Bird Sanctuary South & Spring Creek

Next Trail Segment East: Solon Springs & Lucius Woods Park

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