Pine Island Wildlife Area

Pine Island is located just east of Baraboo on Levee Road off of Highway 33. Within the property, there are approximately 1,200 acres of wetland habitats, 1000 acres of grasslands, 1500 acres of oak/savanna habitats, and 1,900 acres of wooded habitat. Much of the property is open to hunting, and there is allowance for off-leash dog training as well. Parking is easy to find; however, there are no hiking trails per se. There are a few gravel and dirt roads that can be walked, but mostly, you are free to wander.

Pine Island is a mix of publicly and privately managed land in this floodplain. Some areas are in much better condition, such as those managed by the Aldo Leopold Foundation. However, access in these sections is limited to the foundation’s business hours or simply not allowed to the general public.

To the casual visitor, Pine Island can seem rather unattractive and is often trashed up, especially the further east you travel on Levee Rd. This has a lot to do with inconsistent management. There’s just nobody out there to monitor use. Disrespectful users leave a lot of trash, tear up the roadsides and parking areas, and generally abuse the land. Much of the property also suffers from pollution, both physical and noise, due to its proximity to an interstate highway. Regular flooding from the Wisconsin River also tends to bring in and trap whatever might have found its way into the river.

That said, we do recommend visiting Pine Island for a couple of reasons. First, Levee Road from County Rd T all the way to Hwy 33 near Portage is a great place for a bike ride. Pack a picnic, lunch on the levee, and do a round trip. Second, wildlife lovers can find a lot to enjoy, especially during the bird migrations. You simply have to explore and be prepared to get your feet wet.