1000 Islands Nature Center

In Kaukauna on the east side of the Fox Valley Metro Area is the 1000 Islands Nature Center on the Fox River. Growing up this was an area local schools would send children to learn about local nature. Now it has grown to include multiple walking trails and lookout points.

Key Features

• Scenic beauty: The trails offer beautiful views of the Fox River and surrounding nature.
• Variety: There are a variety of trails to choose from, including boardwalks, wooded paths, and hilly terrain.
• Wildlife: Visitors may encounter a variety of wildlife, such as birds, deer, and turtles.
• Accessibility: The center has wheelchair-accessible parking and an entrance.
• Boardwalks: Some of the trails are elevated boardwalks, which provide a unique perspective on the wetlands.
• Islands: When the water level is low, visitors can explore some of the islands in the river.
• Learning opportunities: The 1000 Islands Environmental Center offers educational exhibits and programs about the local ecosystem.

Review

This week my wife and I decided to take an early December walk on this trail. The day was warm and overcast. Ducks geese and Seagulls were flying around the area but the high light of the day was the eagles.

More than a dozen eagles have made their home in the trees around the islands. They were flying over our heads and roosting in the trees. We even had the pleasure of watching a group of them fight over the fish one of them had caught.

But I am getting ahead of myself. The 1000 Islands Nature Center is hidden in the Fox River Valley behind Bayorgeon Field, a group of baseball diamonds. The Fox river here is a series of rapids with islands in the middle of the river. The river is so shallow at these rapids that you can walk out to the islands.

To the east of the nature center between the road and the river is a forested area with raised platforms for walking. When the water is high small streams separate from the river and run through the trees before ultimately rejoining. There are several different paths available. However they are currently adding some more raised walkways.

Eventually the paths rejoin and give way to a gravel path that takes you to Nelson Overlook. Here is another parking spot for the trail with two separate decks for observing wild life on the river. Here you can see the dozens of young and adult Bald Eagles.

Continuing on from the Overlook the path follows the river closely as it reaches a bend. This bend creates a shallow and wide area of the river as it turns more northward. Geese and ducks, mostly Mallards on our trip, can be seen eating and paddling around as you walk.

Eventually you will get to the canoe launch and another parking lot. From here there is another Forested area that the trail continues into. And the trail becomes known as Hoersch Memorial Trail. The trail heads north and goes into a loop. This section of the trail is paved with blacktop. However the trail is showing its age.

There is another section of trail here that travels south of Dodge Street. This path continues through the 1000 Islands State Conservancy Area. We did not travel this path but have before. It continues south to Hillcrest Drive.

This is another of our favorite places to walk in the Fox Valley. Its just a short drive from Appleton. The only issues are some of the trails can be muddy and the foundries across the river can produce a bad smell. Otherwise the area is a great place to visit and enjoy.

Please leave a comment if you have been here or are planning on visiting soon. And thank you again for reading my review and viewing my pictures.