Public Tour Options

Note: all tour programs are free for members of the Aldo Leopold Foundation. Join now!

Guided Tours

Only offered on Saturdays, from Memorial Day through the end of October each year. Please note that on special event days, there may not be a formal guided tour going on. Take a look at our calendar to help plan your visit, and then use our online form to make a reservation to attend. Guided tours are the only way to access and view the inside of the Leopold Shack. Can't make it on a Saturday? Self-guided tours are available anytime we are open.

Guided tour fees:
Adults: $15 / Seniors (Age 62 or older): $10 / Children (Age 11-17): $8 / Children (Age 10 or under) and Aldo Leopold Foundation Members: free.

Shack tourGuided Shack Tours for the public
1:00 - 3:00pm
Saturdays, May 26 - October 20, 2012

The land surrounding the Shack provides a living classroom for exploring dynamic ecological relationships and conservation history. Guided Shack tours last approximately two hours and are led by Aldo Leopold Foundation education staff. Come hear stories about the incredible land restoration initiated here by Aldo Leopold and his family, visit the inside of the famous Shack, and stroll along restored prairie, woods and river trails with our guide. Reservations are recommended. If you are coming in a group of 10 or more participants, we request that you schedule a separate tour date and time in advance.

Tours of the Leopold Center green building

Leopold CenterInterested in learning more in-depth about the Leopold Center green building? After your guided Shack tour, you can take advantage of complimentary access to our self-guided audio tour of the Leopold Center. Guided Leopold Center tours are offered for groups of 10 or more by appointment.

 

Reservations for guided tours are recommended. Please use our online form to make a reservation to attend a guided public tour.

Self-Guided Visits

Available anytime during our public open hours, there are several self-guided tour options to explore the site on your own. Use this program guide to determine which option is best for you!

Basic Self-Guided Tours (free)

Visitors can explore interpretive exhibits and signs throughout the Leopold Center that share basic information on both Aldo Leopold, and on green building features of the center. You can also view our photography exhibit "Changes in the Leopold Landscape: Photography Through Time," and watch two short welcome videos that give a nice overview of Leopold's history, life, and legacy. Visitors are also welcome to explore the grounds around the center, though there are no hiking trails on the property at this time. There is no charge for basic self-guided tours of the Leopold Center.

Exhibit hall

Advanced Self-Guided Tours

Are signs, exhibits and photos just scratching the surface of what you want to experience here? Do you want to get outdoors and walk the trails Leopold walked? Do you want to know what kinds of wood we used in different parts of the building, or hear more detailed information about the geothermal and solar systems? An advanced self-guided tour is for you! As a non-profit member supported organization, we do charge a modest admission fee for these tour options. Tour fees help fund the operation of our education program, and help to maintain and preserve the site.

Self-guided tour fees:
All ages: $7 per person / Aldo Leopold Foundation Members and children age 10 or under: free
The fees above cover your choice of one or both of these two options:

Self-Guided Shack Tours

ShackSelf-guided tours of the Shack are permitted during all months without significant snow cover, during our public open hours. Self-guided visitors will explore the site with a brochure that includes a trail map, historic photos of the land, and background information on Aldo Leopold’s history and legacy. The trail loop at the property is approximately one mile in length. A side trail leads to the banks of the Wisconsin River through beautiful floodplain forest, where bald eagles, cranes, and other wildlife are frequently spotted. The Shack itself is shuttered and locked during self-guided tours.

Self-Guided Tour of the Leopold Center Green Building

Mp3This 42 minute audio tour takes you from room to room in the Leopold Center, describing in detail all of the design techniques, alternative energy technologies, and green building materials that we used to make the Leopold Center one of the greenest buildings in the nation, and a 21st century reflection of Aldo Leopold’s land ethic. Education staff will show you how to operate the mp3 player, and give you a map and guide to accompany the recording. This tour was made possible by a grant from the National Association for Interpretation, Region 5.

 

Visitation policies:

Private Property. The Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm is not open for recreational use, and visitors may only access the property on a formal guided or self-guided tour. Visitors must always check in at the Leopold Center first for permission to access the Shack.

Pets. We're sorry, pets are not permitted on any of our properties.

Accessibility. The 300 yard dirt driveway leading to the Shack itself is accessible by wheelchair, but the rest of the trails are not. Tour routes follow rustic trails which may have occasional obstacles such as tree stumps, exposed roots, or downed branches.The Aldo Leopold Foundation assumes no responsibility for any injury and/or accident to a person or persons while visiting the Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm.