N8327 Amsterdam Prairie Road
Holmen WI 54636
GPS: latitude 44.021240N, longitude -91.305982W
McGilvray Road is DNR property and all use is governed by DNR Rules. See Special Events information.
The trail is open year round but may be closed a day or two for maintenance. Announcements are also made on our Facebook page and our Facebook group.
During Spring flood season or periods of heavy rain upriver, parts of the trail may be under water and impassable. Read more.
Reminders
Dogs must be leashed April 15 through July 31
No horses or motor vehicles
No biking
Take all your trash with you when you leave
Clean up after pets
During certain times of the year it is advisable to bring insect repellent.
Avoid walking off of the path where some plants may cause irritation.
Wear protective clothing
Some parts of the trail may contain standing water after a heavy rain or recent flooding of the area.
Don’t forget your camera!
Van Loon Recreation
The Van Loon Wildlife Area (exit to DNR) contains about 6000 acres of land, much of it former farmland, along and through the Black River and its backwater. The purpose of the area is to provide fishing and hunting for waterfowl, upland game and deer.
Van Loon is a WBCI Important Bird Area noted for Yellow-crowned night-herons, Acadian flycatchers, cerulean warblers, and prothonotary warblers that breed there. The site also supports red-headed woodpeckers, blue-winged warblers, and field sparrows. Waterbirds congregate in late summer and thousands of landbirds migrate through, particularly in the spring. Van Loon is also featured in the Mississippi – Chippewa River Region of the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail.
Fishing
The maze of channels in the Black River bottoms provide not only a treat to the eye, but also fairly good catfish and walleye fishing.
The Van Loon Wildlife Area (VLWA) is one of the largest contiguous bottom-land hardwood sites in Western Wisconsin. It is used primarily for deer and waterfowl hunting. Many wildlife species are found including raccoon, squirrel, otter, beaver, snakes and amphibians. The area provides recreation in hiking, fishing, plant study, canoeing, geocaching, snowshoeing and birdwatching.
Van Loon Wildlife Area is also an important bird area for the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative (WBCI). The area is frequented by 100+ species of birds such as yellow-crowned night-herons, acadian flycatchers, cerulean warblers, and prothonotary warblers that breed there. The site also supports red-headed woodpeckers, blue-winged warblers, and field sparrows, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, herons, eagles, owls and songbirds. Waterbirds congregate in late summer and thousands of landbirds migrate through, particularly in the spring. Van Loon is also featured in the Mississippi – Chippewa River Region of the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail.
GEOCACHING
Geocaching is allowed on public lands in WI and currently happening at Van Loon WA. There’s an approval process folks need to go through but it’s pretty simple. Here’s a link to the WDNR website with more geocaching information.