Exhibits and Trails

In addition to learning about the design and construction of the Leopold Center itself, visitors can take self-guided tours of our exhibits; stroll through woods, prairie, savanna, and wetlands along our trails; and view a memorial to Aldo Leopold at the approximate spot where he died fighting a grass fire in 1948.

Exhibits

Explore interpretive displays in our exhibit hall to learn about Leopold’s story; understand the Leopold family legacy; see how the essays in A Sand County Almanac connect to the Leopold Shack and surrounding lands; and be inspired by the “green” building features of the Leopold Center. There is no admission fee to view exhibits.

Our deep thanks to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Sauk County UW-Extension Arts & Culture Committee for providing grant funding to support exhibits at the Leopold Center.

Trails

Hike, ski, or snowshoe in the diverse landscape surrounding the Leopold Center. Explore oak savanna, wetlands, and a high-quality, dry prairie remnant overlooking the Wisconsin River Valley on our 2.5-mile trail network.

Trails are open year-round during our visiting hours, and interpretive signs along the trail help tell the story of the landscape. Development of the interpretive trail was funded in part by grants from the Sauk County UW-Extension Arts & Culture Committee, the Natural Resources Foundation’s Besadny Grant Program, and the Greater Sauk County Community Foundation.

Leopold Memorial Site

The newest addition to the center’s grounds is the Leopold Memorial Site, located at the approximate place where Leopold died of a heart attack while fighting a grass fire in 1948.

Situated just off the northeastern corner of the Leopold Center, the site includes a memorial plaque; life-sized sculptures of bison that used to roam the area; and five redbuds – the favorite tree of Leopold’s wife, Estella – representing each of the couple’s five children.

Read more about the site, including the significant community effort that went into building it.

The site was made possible with support from the Kohler Trust for Preservation, the Sauk County UW-Extension Arts & Culture Committee, and Estella Leopold.

Additional support from: Marcia Peeters and Karen Vanderloo • Jane Strong • County Materials Corp. • Robert Morrison • Wisconsin Society of American Foresters • W. Jerome Frautschi • Jon and Peggy Traver • Leo and Kay Drey • Mary Kay, Inc. • Maria and Thom Gunn • Trees Forever • Marie McCabe • Harry and Susan Hutchins • Preston Helgren • Susan Carlson • Bruce and Amy Luebke and family • David and Christine Wesley • Sir Peter and Lady Crane • Emilio Bertagni • Kenneth Dubke • Hope Gladney Jessup • Marcy Huffaker and Half-Aker Designs • EC3 Environmental Consulting • Agrecol, LLC • and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.