There was a time when wild bison roamed freely in Wisconsin, but it was a very long time ago. The last two bison east of the Mississippi River were shot and killed in 1832, 16 years before Wisconsin was a state. But there’s still a place in Wisconsin where wild bison roam, and you can see these majestic creatures in a gorgeous natural habitat. Just head to the Trumpeter Trail in the Sandhill Wildlife Area – you’ll get an amazing look at what was once commonplace in Wisconsin.
The Sandhill Wildlife Area is a 9,500-acre state-managed property that’s located within the bed of ancient Glacial Lake Wisconsin, a lake that existed 14,000-18,000 years ago. The sandstone bluffs and sandy soil make the area’s terrain unique.
Google / Brian Pillar
The area is teeming with wildlife – visitors will encounter whitetail deer, Canada geese, ducks, loons, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, shorebirds, songbirds, hawks, owls, and more.
Google / Rebecca Connan
Visitors can also see an animal that’s larger than all the others – the bison, the largest land animal in North America. Today there are about 7,000 captive bison that live on farms in Wisconsin, as well as a herd in the Sandhill Wildlife Area.
Google / Ludimor B
A herd of about 15 bison live in a 260-acre enclosure along the Trumpeter Trail, a route that’s in the Sandhill Wildlife Area.
Google / Ludimor B
The herd was first established in the 1940s by Wallace Grange, who was the property’s owner then. The current bison on the property area all descendants of that original herd and they still enjoy life in this natural area.
Google / Ludimor B
The Trumpeter Trail is a 14-mile driving route that will take you past the bison and through some beautiful scenery. The trail also passes three observation towers that offer panoramic views of the property.
Google / Craig Winters
The Trumpeter Trail is open from sunrise to sunset, mid-April or May through the end of October. The road isn’t plowed in the winter but when there’s enough snow it can be a pleasant place to do some cross-county skiing. Learn more about the property on the state Department of Natural Resources website. Once you’ve taken in some incredible views of bison, head about an hour south to see the largest crane observatory in the United States.
Google / Brian Pillar
Google / Rebecca Connan
Google / Ludimor B
Google / Craig Winters
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Address: Sandhill State Wildlife Area, 1715 County Hwy X, Babcock, WI 54413, USA
