Plan Your Visit

About Collins Marsh

Collins Marsh is a 4,200 acre state wildlife area located just 20 minutes west of Manitowoc. Our facilities include a nature center, screened in shelter, a 110-foot observation tower fitted with live camera feed of the osprey nest, and garage/workshop. Birders, hunters, photographers, kayakers, hikers and bikers will all find places to explore.

Heron Rookery

Collins Marsh Wildlife Area provides a haven for spring and fall migration of waterfowl as well as a variety of other wetland loving birds. Refuge areas such as Collins Marsh are vitally important to allow waterfowl a resting area to escape hunting pressure and pack in the necessary nutrition needed to sustain themselves during the long migration. 

A variety of birds make the marsh their home, including herons, black terns, marsh wrens, sedge wrens and yellow-headed blackbirds. Several pairs of osprey have territories in the marsh, as well.

Muskrats are abundant, while mink and otter are commonly observed. A large bottomland hardwood forest on the east side of the marsh is home to many forest-dwelling animals.

The uplands surrounding the marsh have been planted to grassland nesting cover which is home to ring-necked pheasants, cottontail rabbits, bobolinks, sandhill cranes, and northern harries. Some farming still takes place within the waterfowl refuge to help feed the large flocks of Canada geese that stop during spring and fall migration.

Location

Collins Marsh & Nature Center
20021 County Road JJ
Reedsville, WI 54230
Directions

Resources

Recreation

  • Birding
  • Canoe rentals
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Educational programs
  • Fishing
  • Hiking (5 “official” trails)
  • Hunting
  • Fishing
  • Nature Center
  • Observation tower
  • Photography
  • Screen room
  • Seasonal events
  • Snowshoeing
  • Summer workshops
  • Trapping
  • Wildlife viewing

Neustadter Nature Center

Conservation Education Inc manages the Neustadter Nature Center at Collins Marsh and provides an on-site naturalist. The Nature Center is open for public visitation by appointment, and has become a popular site for exploring the marsh. School groups from elementary to college level use the area to study the ecology of marshlands. Educational and community programs are also offered throughout the year. CEI partners with local school districts to create volunteer opportunities for area youth, as well.

The public is always welcome; however, the nature center does not observe regular business hours. To ensure that the facilities you want are available, please contact in advance by phone (920) 772-4258, or email collinsmarshnaturecenter@gmail.com.

Canoe Rentals

Canoes are available for rent at the nature center for only $10 per day (free for CEI Members) and offer a great opportunity to travel deep into the marsh. You may see sandhill cranes, osprey, yellow-headed blackbirds, and bald eagles, and more!

NOTE: Portions of the marsh are closed from September 1st – December 5th to protect waterfowl habitat, this includes the open water section of the marsh. See Marsh Map for details.

Observation Tower

The Observation Tower is a 110-foot structure open to the public free of charge. The top of the tower offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside.

History of the Tower

In 1969, the CEI board purchased a 110-foot forestry tower near Channing, Michigan. James Koeppel was responsible for the taking the tower down in the Upper U.P. and using three trucks to haul it down to Collins Marsh. R.D. Peters helped with the placing the tower back up at the location on Collins Marsh. In 2019, the tower was officially dedicated in the honor of James Koeppel and R.D. Peters for their work in obtaining and erecting this now famous landmark.

  • Observation Tower
  • View from top of tower

Osprey Cam

In 2012, a bird cam was installed on top of the Observation Tower at Collins Marsh. Today, you can view the live stream year around (press the play button on the video below). Osprey typically occupy the nest during the summer months; and snow owls have been seen here in the winter.

Osprey are a unique raptor that can be found in Wisconsin only during the summer months. These graceful birds can be seen soaring in the sky over Collins Marsh and diving into the water with tremendous speed to catch their next meal. Learn More…