Marquette County Attractions

Located in the gently rolling countryside of south-central Wisconsin, Marquette County remains largely untouched by human habitation. Almost two-thirds of the County's 320,000 acres are covered by primitive oak and pine forests alive with an abundance of wildlife, and vast expanses of grassy marshlands, vibrant with the sights and sounds of thousands of nesting and migrating birds.

Named for the French Jesuit explorer, Jacques Marquette, who traveled here in 1673, Marquette County’s waterways remain today much like they did years before -- idyllic waterways, great for canoeing, boating and fishing; rich in wildlife and tranquil beauty.

In 1890, the Montello Express promoted development of Marquette County's tourism potential, editorializing that "It is admitted by most intelligent people that Montello is most favorably suited to make it an attractive and delightful Summer Resort." Today, as at the turn of the last century, Marquette County is a natural vacationer's paradise, but not just for summer anymore!

In spring, the county's woods and wetlands come alive with the sights and sounds of hundreds of thousands of birds; rare and endangered plants spring new growth, trout dart hungrily after the first emerging waterflies, ruffed grouse labor to attract their mates, "drumming" their hearts out on fallen logs, and delicate wildflowers burst into bloom. Hikers, cyclers and canoeists take to the waters and trails, birders take out their binoculars, turkey hunters tryout their calling techniques, and anglers scout out their favorite fishing holes as fast as the melting snows allow.

In fall, as the woods turn to red and gold, migrating birds again fill the countryside with their calls, hunters get ready to respond to the first explosive flash of feathers from the underbrush, and anglers work the lakes and streams for the last of the year's soft-water catches while hikers. Cyclers and canoeists explore the glorious colors and watch the squirrels, beavers, muskrats, mink and otters as they scurry to fill their larders and prepare their shelters for the season ahead.

In winter, cross-country skiers quietly glide through frosted woodlands where inquisitive whitetail deer shyly peek-out from the distance and ermine (weasels in winter wear) lay tracks across the trail; anglers patiently try their hand at hard-water fishing through the ice as beavers and muskrats sun themselves atop the domes of their winter lodgings. Snowmobilers explore the winter wonderland on 250 miles of trail that crisscross the County; trail riders take to horseback and entire families bundle up in buffalo robes to take a horsedrawn sleigh or wagon ride to view the winter scenery as it was seen by the area's first European settlers, 150 years ago.

The father of our country’s National Park Service, naturalist John Muir, spent his boyhood on a Marquette County farm located alongside Fountain Lake, now named Ennis Lake. The lake and the Muir's' Farm are now part of Muir Park; a National Historic Landmark consisting of 125-acres of land and lake restored to the state they were in when Muir's father and brother found them 140 years ago. John Muir's legacy lives on in the pristine beauty and proliferation of recovering plants and animals found in Marquette County's many wildlife conservation and preservation areas, including the Fox River Unit of the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, across the road from Muir Park, Duffy's Marsh, Comstock Marsh, the Summerton Bog and the Germania and Grand River Marshes.

In Marquette County's woods and wetlands, naturalists, birders and casual observers will find hundreds of different species of birds: great flocks of Canada Geese, one of the largest congregations of once-endangered Great Sandhill Cranes in the Midwest, elegant but noisy tundra swans, great blue herons, white egrets, osprey, an occasional bald eagle, ducks galore, songbirds by the score; bluebirds, orioles, thrashers, bob-o-links, towhees and more. Uncommon elsewhere, pileated woodpeckers are common here, but would rather be heard than seen. Pheasants pad through the marshes. Ruffed grouse, woodcock, and quail rustle in the grass. Wild turkeys gobble their way through the countryside while turkey vultures, "black hawks" to the American Indian people, circle effortlessly high in the sky.

Dotted by nearly seventy lakes and ponds, and crisscrossed by fifteen sparkling trout streams, Marquette County has some of the most varied and productive fishing spots in the Midwest. On the Fox and Grand River systems, monster catfish and Northerns lurk, just waiting to run out your line. Lunker Muskies, Northern, Walleyes, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Bluegills, Perch and Crappies abound in area lakes and mill ponds.

Marquette County's 15 spring-fed trout streams offer plenty of space to whisk out your line, and plenty of Brown, Brook and Rainbow Trout waiting to reward the effort. Public access and boat launching facilities are available on most county lakes and rivers, with many additional private access points at area resorts and campgrounds. Area resorts and outfitters also offer canoe, boat and motor rentals, along with tackle and fresh, live bait to bring in the catch of the day or the thrill of a lifetime.

In the county's more than 6,000 acres of public hunting grounds, hunters will find one of the best whitetail deer herds in the state; an abundance of small game including red and gray foxes, raccoons, coyotes, fox squirrels, ground squirrels, and cottontail rabbits; plenty of ruffed grouse, woodcock, quail, pheasant, wild turkeys, ducks; and, more than 200,000 Canada Geese in season.

Some of Marquette County's most fascinating animal life is raised and displayed by and for exotic animal lovers. Here visitors will find herds of American Bison, Elk and Red Deer, barnyards full of large flightless birds (ostriches and emus), resort grounds sporting peacocks strutting their stuff, and ranches with more than 100 of the most perfect miniatures around - miniature burros, horses and donkeys that stand only 12 inches tall at birth and less than 34 inches tall when mature. Despite their size, these tiny equines pack, pull, kick, gallop, whinny and bray as well as their full-sized relatives.

The County's two golf courses offer 36 holes and all the amenities needed for a perfect pair of outings. Five additional courses, available in neighboring Green Lake and Waushara Counties, give golfers a different course to play every day of the week. Miniature golf enthusiasts will find five courses scattered throughout the county; and bowling is on tap at the area's modern bowling centers.

Treasure hunters enjoy shopping Marquette County's flea markets, antique shops, craft outlets, artisans' workshops and homespun specialty stores for one-of-a-kind antiques, hand-crafted Amish Furniture, quilts, and decorative craft works, collectibles, heirloom jewelry, souvenirs, novelties and memorable gifts for every occasion.

Marquette County's family restaurants, grills, supper clubs, old-fashioned drive-ins, sandwich shops and tea rooms offer widely varied menus, including authentic ethnic specialties, steaks, chops, seafood, wild game and domestic fowl, all made to order with extra care; served with produce fresh from the farm, accompanied by desserts featuring fruits, berries and dairy products from local producers; served indoors, out on the deck overlooking the water, by candlelight under the stars, or around the campfire on the trail.

Marquette County visitors have great accommodations waiting at the end of every active day, including a number of delightful bed and breakfast inns, one in an historic 18th century mansion, full-service RV parks and campsites, primitive spaces under the stars, comfy family-operated motels, lodges and resorts with housekeeping cottages in the woods and on the water, and romantic cabins in secluded forest glens.

Marquette County's pristine beauty is easily accessible from every direction and by all modes of travel -car, public transportation, or by boat! The county's bicycle and snowmobile trails also provide connections to trails from all points of the compass, for those who prefer the less beaten path to this natural wonderland.  

Museums and Historic Sites

Marquette County Historical Society Museum
125 Lawrence Street, Westfield
Take a walk through Marquette County's historic past, brought to life in the Historical Society's extensive collection of artifacts, dating from the area's earliest pioneering days through the mid-twentieth century. The Museum's collection is exhibited in three separate buildings: the newly constructed Kerst Exhibit Building, and two historic structures, a railroad section house containing memorabilia of earlier railroad days, and the Cochrane-Nelson House, a stately two-story home with high-ceilings and filigree woodwork constructed in 1903, furnished from top to bottom with antiques and collectibles that were useful and fashionable when the county was young. The Museum is open every Wednesday and Saturday from 1:00 pm. to 4:00 pm., from the last Wednesday in May through the first Wednesday in September.

Montello Granite Quarry
Hwy. 23, Montello
The Montello granite quarry, opened in 1879, employed more workers and generated more income for Montello than any other single business. Montello red granite was used to build the tombs of U.S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, and decorates Wisconsin's magnificent State Capitol Building. The rapids that once provided the power to run the quarry machinery now form four sparkling waterfalls that cascade over granite outcroppings into the quarry that made Montello famous, and prosperous. The waterfalls and quarry can best be viewed from the Montello Granite Park, located on Hwy. 23 in Montello.

Historic Montello
State Hwy. 23, Montello
Located on Hwy. 23, just west of downtown Montello, are two historic buildings: Le Maison Granit, a Georgian Revival style mansion built of Montello granite in 1909, now operated as an historic retreat and bed and breakfast inn; and, the impressive Marquette County Courthouse, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. What may well be the oldest, but is definitely the largest tree in the State of Wisconsin, a 138 foot tall cottonwood with a crown spread of 132 feet and a 23.2 ft. circumference, stands in the park between these two historic buildings.

John Muir County Park
Co. Hwy. F, Montello
Recently designated a National Historic Landmark, 125-acre Muir Park was the boyhood home of internationally famous naturalist and the father of this country's National Park Service, John Muir. Restored and preserved, as it was 100 years ago when John Muir wandered its hills and meadows, Muir's Fountain Lake Farm still rings with the sounds of songbirds. The shores of Fountain Lake (now renamed Ennis Lake) still dance with the elegant mating rituals of the Great Sandhill Cranes in spring and harbor flocks of waterfowl on their twice-yearly migrations. 

Fishing
Marquette County
With 60 lakes and 4 millponds ranging from one to almost 5,500 acres, most with public access and boat launches; and, 5 rivers and 15 trout streams with miles of elbow room, all brimming with fish, Marquette County is one of the Midwest’s premier destinations. Here, fishing enthusiasts will find a lot of different fish to fry or catch and release. Area rivers and lakes yield Northern Pike, Walleyes, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, River Catfish, Bluegills, Crappies, Perch, White Bass, Bullheads and great big Lake Puckaway Muskies. Brook, Brown and Rainbow Trout patiently meander the streams, just waiting for the chance to strike at an easy meal.

Hunting
Marquette County
Marquette County offers some of the best and most varied hunting in the Midwest. The county’s lakes and wetlands, covering thousands of acres, attract hundreds of thousands of waterfowl – gadwall, mallards, pintail, scaup, teal, woodduck and especially the Canadian geese. Wild turkey stalk the county’s woodlands. The upland forests offer a mixed population of game birds, including bob-white quail, pheasants, ruffed grouse, and woodcock. The county also hosts a large concentration of whitetail deer and a variety of small game, including cottontail rabbits, red and gray squirrels, coyotes, red and gray foxes, raccoons and coyotes. Much of the county’s hunting land is privately owned, but available for hunting with the landowners’ permission. Most of the county’s lakes, wetlands and public wildlife areas are also accessible and available for hunting.

Scenic Country Bike Tours
Marquette County
608-297-7420
Marquette County’s backroad bicycle tours criss-cross the countryside, through woods, fields, hills and valleys, along wetlands and waterways. Bikers can view pristine pre-historic ecosystems and wildlife sanctuaries resounding with sandhill cranes, wild turkeys, and songbirds, to name a few, as well as see hawks, eagles and turkey vultures soaring overhead. Foxes, deer and cranes gather to feed in the meadows and fields. The county’s nine tours range from 9 to 17.5 miles in length and cover a total distance of 140 miles. Restrooms are available at the starting point of most circuits. Maps and information are available from local Chambers of Commerce and tourist information centers.

Canoeing Marquette County
608-297-7420
Whether it’s a short paddle around a forest-rimmed lake, or a three-day trek along the Fox River route traveled by Pete Marquette, the very best way to view the natural wonders of Marquette County is by canoe, like the French explorers did 325 years ago. On the Marquette County waters, canoeists can enjoy fishing in quiet areas, camp out along the shore, picnic, and enjoy an abundance and variety of birds and animals in their natural habitats. For guide maps and information about canoeing Marquette County, call, visit or write the Montello Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 325, Montello, WI 53949

Skiing and Snowmobiling
Marquette County
608-297-7420
When winter snows cover the countryside, Marquette County’s gently rolling hills and valleys, frozen lakes and wetlands are criss-crossed with more than 250 miles of well-marked snowmobile trails, groomed for smooth passage and easy riding. Established, managed and maintained by the nine clubs of the Marquette County Snowmobile Association, most of the trails are on private land. Maps and additional information are found in a brochure prepared by the Association, available throughout the county. Cross-country skiers have access to thousands of acres of public lands and lakes, as well as 215 miles of privately owned, well-groomed trails that wind through wood and marsh with flat land for novices and rolling terrain for advanced skiers.

Parks and Nature Centers

Mecan River Discovery Center
W3287 Dixie Ave., Wautoma
920-787-0842
Set in the midst of nature's outdoor wonderland, the new Mecan River Discovery Center provides educational field days, outdoor skills programs and professionally guided field trips and nature hikes. Center programs include "Discovery Weekends" where participants step away from modern life, stay in a rustic bunkhouse, cook over open fires and enjoy quiet nature adventures; "Wild Wednesdays" where participants meet and learn about a variety of wild critters; "Froggy, Froggy Nights" in spring; a Festival of the Birds, with wild bird displays, games, hikes, and live birds of prey; Butterfly Hikes and a "Spooky Harvest Festival" featuring spooky wild things, including owls that hoot in the night, harvest crafts, games, food, raffles and more.

Wetland Conservation Areas
Marquette County
From the air, Marquette County presents a mosaic of rivers, lakes, wetlands and muskeg, ranging in size from one acre to the 7,000 acre Grand River Wildlife Area. All are home to many kinds of waterbirds, amphibians, aquatic insect life, and mammals that feast on their abundance. Many host unique, rare, endangered and recovering plant life and the creatures that depend upon them for survival.

Grand River Wildlife Area
Cty. Hwy. B., Marquette County
The 7,000-acre Grand River Wildlife Area has become one of the largest Canada Geese staging areas in North America. Fed by the Grand River, Spring and Belle Fountain Creeks, about 3,500 acres of the Grand River Wildlife Area is surface water. Birds thrive here, with thousands of ducks visiting the marsh each year, many staying to nest and raise their broods. Herons, cranes, coots, rails, bitterns and other marsh birds are common residents and visitors, along with a variety of songbirds that thrive in the surrounding willows and uplands; and, osprey that fish the crystal waters of the area also called Grand Lake. Much of the Grand River area is open for public hunting. Grouse, pheasant, woodcock, quail and wild turkey are plentiful, along with deer, rabbits and squirrels. Hiking trails provide convenient access to the area's other major activities -- wildlife observation, birdwatching and photography. Part of the Wildlife Area is closed to hunting, offering refuge to many species of birds. This closed area is well marked and cannot be entered at all during certain designated times of the year.

Germania Marsh Wildlife Area
Cty. Hwy. N, Marquette County
The Germania Marsh Wildlife Area, which includes more than 2,000 acres of wetland and upland habitats, has been a popular destination for hunters, wildlife observers, conservationists and photographers for almost 35 years. The area is served by a number of public access points, boat launching sites (no motors allowed), hiking trails, and wildlife viewing stations. Abounding with a variety of fur-bearing animals, waterfowl, marsh birds, reptiles and amphibians, the marsh is a photographer's and wildlife observer's delight. Thanks to an abundance of grain and alfalfa for food along with trees and shrubs that provide winter and nesting cover, uplands surrounding the wildlife area teem with animals and game birds. Most of the Germania Marsh Wildlife Area is open to public hunting and available to all year 'round. A few well-marked waterfowl refuge areas are closed at certain designated times of the year.

Duffy's Marsh
State Hwy. 222, Montello
Recently restored, 3 sq. mile Duffy's Marsh includes 1,000 acres of open water area and 700 acres of grassy wetland and upland, providing habitat for waterfowl, wading birds and shore birds.

Summerton Bog
Endeavor Marsh
Summerton Bog, located on the west end of the Endeavor Marsh, is a throwback to the time when mastodons roamed the edges of the glacial lake and dinosaurs foraged among the treetops. Protected by the Nature Conservancy, this 160-acre patch of prehistoric bog contains many rare and endangered plants, including wild orchids, living fossils, descendants of species that pre-date human existence.

Page Creek Marsh
Marquette County
The Nature Conservancy protects 132 acres of the 456-acre Page Creek Marsh, a major staging area for Sandhill cranes and an important nesting area for many kinds of waterfowl. The preserve has a good trail and boardwalk system, making it a great place to birdwatch or just get close to nature.

Comstock Marsh
Marquette County
This huge area of floating bog and wetlands is a popular staging area for cranes and supports many rare plant varieties.

Fox River National Wildlife Refuge
Marquette County
Located across from Muir Park on Cty. Hwy F, the Fox River Unit of the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge is a major staging area for Great Sandhill Cranes as well as a migratory resting place for ducks, geese, herons, egrets, hawks and songbirds. Mostly marsh, with some upland prairie habitat, the Refuge hosts a wide variety of game, fur-bearing animals, reptiles, amphibians, shorebirds and upland game birds.  The refuge is closed to the public, with the exception of licensed deer hunters during designated time periods of the deer archery and gun seasons. Special refuge hunting regulations apply.