If you’re looking for the best places to visit in Horicon, Wisconsin, you’ve come to the right place. The city is located in Dodge County, Wisconsin. It has a population of 3,655 as of the 2010 census. Horicon is also home to Nitschke Mounds Park, Greenhead Boat Landing on the East Branch of the Rock River, and Horicon National Wildlife Refuge.
Nitschke Mounds Park
Nitschke Mounds Park in Horicon is a beautiful park with many effigy mounds. There are many different mound shapes, including two over 200 feet long. The shapes and sizes of the mounds generally correspond to the three natural realms, earth, water, and air. Many of the effigy mounds are long-tailed, representing water spirits. They are oriented towards the spring and are believed to have magical properties.
In addition to being a beautiful park, Nitschke Mounds are also a great place to learn about early Native American cultures. These people lived in the area between 800 and 1200 AD. Their cultural practices included building mounds, making pottery, and growing corn and vegetables. Today, most of the mounds have been cleared of trees and brush. The clearing process started in 2003 and has continued with the help of many volunteers. There are interpretive signs posted throughout the park that explain more about the history of the mounds.
Nearby, visitors can enjoy the Horicon Marsh, which is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States. It is home to over 300 species of birds, and is regarded as one of the Midwest’s top birding sites.
Greenhead Boat Landing on the East Branch of the Rock River
Visitors to Horicon, Wisconsin, can launch a boat at four public boat launches within the city limits. Three of these locations are located north of the Rock River dam, and the fourth is located south of the dam at the nearby River Bend Park. The Rock River flows into Sinissippi Lake.
The marsh is best viewed from a kayak, and canoes can explore the marsh’s wildlife. However, paddlers must take care to avoid harassing marsh wildlife. The marsh’s wetlands are covered in large floating cattail bogs. These bogs have blocked some of the known routes, so paddling guides aren’t always accurate.
If you want to learn more about the marsh, take a tour of the Horicon Education and Visitors Center. This informational center will teach you more about how the marsh was created and how people used it. You’ll also learn about human mistakes that impacted the marsh’s ecosystem, and learn about the future of the area. It’s an educational experience for the entire family.
The Horicon Marsh is a part of the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge and Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area, which are both managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The marsh was created by the Town of Horicon in 1846 and was the largest man-made lake in the world at the time.
