Tours
Opening to the public May 1st. First Public Guided tour is May 6th!
The landscape surrounding the shack was the chief inspiration for Aldo Leopold’s essays in A Sand County Almanac and continues to be a living classroom for exploring ecological relationships and conservation history. We offer three ways in which you can tour the Leopold Shack and Farm. Choose which shack experience is right for you from the list below!
Shack tours are occasionally canceled due to holidays, inclement weather, or special events, Please call ahead: 608.355.0279.
See our visitor policies for more information on making your tour safe and enjoyable for all participants.
Self-Guided Tours
Self-guided visitors explore the exterior of the Shack and surrounding land guided by a brochure that includes a trail map, points of interest, historic photos of the land, and background information on Aldo Leopold’s legacy. The trail loop is approximately one mile in length. A side trail leads to the Wisconsin River through a beautiful floodplain forest, where bald eagles, cranes, and other wildlife are frequently spotted. Visitors should also feel free to explore our newly-renovated exhibits and trails.
Self-guided tours of the Leopold Shack are available anytime during our visiting hours. Please check in at the Leopold Center to buy tickets, and to receive your tour brochure.
Self-Guided Tour Dates: During our visiting hours.
Self-Guided Tour Fees: $7 per person. Tours are free for children aged 10 and younger.
Open Shack Fridays
We have added a new way to connect with the Shack! Enjoy the self-guided tour experience with a twist. One of our incredible future leader fellows, or guides will have the Shack open and ready for you to explore from 1:00-4:00 on Fridays, May through October. Get to know the Leopold Shack and surrounding landscapes through our guide’s unique perspectives. Visitors will use our updated self-guided tour pamphlet to meander amongst the historic landscape with the added bonus of an inside look at the Leopold Shack and Farm.
Please check in at the Leopold Center to buy tickets, and to receive your tour brochure.
Open House Dates: Fridays, May-October
Open House Fees: $7 per person. Tours are free for children aged 10 and younger.
Guided Public Tours
Come hear the stories about the pioneering restoration work initiated by Leopold and his family, experience the inside of the Shack, and stroll through restored prairie and woods along the Wisconsin River. Public tours are offered on Saturdays at 10:00 May through October. Public tours last approximately two hours and are led by knowledgeable guides. We ask that purchase of Public tour tickets are restricted to groups of 10 or less. We appreciate advanced registration.
Guided Tour Dates: Saturdays, April (by registration only), May-October
Guided Tour Fees: $15 for adults; $10 for seniors (62 and older) and young adults (ages 11-17). Tours are free for children 10 years old and younger.
Private Group Tours
Do you have a large group of Aldo Leopold enthusiasts? Schedule a private Shack tour or field trip!