Length: 2.7 miles
Surface: Crushed granite (through park) and paved roads
Parking: End of Hofmeister Dr (north), Iverson Park (middle), Patch St. (south)

Map: Click here to view a map of the trail [PDF]
Section Page: Click here for more information about this trail

The Iverson Park Trail starts at the end of Hofmeister Drive, crosses I-39, winds through quiet residential areas, crosses Hwy. 66 into Park Ridge, and turns east into Iverson Park. The Birding Trail continues south through Iverson Park to Patch Street.

Walking or biking through the residential area leading to Iverson Park can be fascinating. From May 1 to July 1, it is possible to be serenaded by the Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, and Brown Thrasher among others.

The real jewel of this trail is Iverson Park. More than 200 species of birds have been seen in the corridor along the Plover River and its flowage, McDill Pond. The Green Circle accesses the central and southern portions of the park, but be sure to also visit the northern portion to Hwy. 66. Explore the areas around the ball diamond, near the river, and east of the river in the mature pines. A trail winds through the area over to a city well and south toward the Stevens Point Country Club. Birds that are predictable in this area include Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Belted Kingfisher, Mallard, Pine Warbler (mature white pines), Baltimore Oriole, and Common Yellowthroat.

Back at the Green Circle, the trail going south splits in two. It is possible to continue birding on the lower walking trail near McDill Pond, or take the upper Green Circle trail which borders neighborhood homes. In the last quarter mile, both trails combine, go under the Canadian National Railroad, and end on Patch Street.

The assemblage of birds found on the upper trail can be quite different from that found on the lower. The upper trail has House Wrens, woodpeckers (hairy, downy, red-bellied), Chipping Sparrows, and Blue-gray Gnat-catchers (during migration). The lower trail often has Wood Ducks, Bald Eagles, Osprey, Song Sparrows, Yellow Warblers, and Red-winged Blackbirds. Of course, some overlap of species can occur.

The Patch Street bridge features one of nature’s most marvelous sights: a Cliff Swallow colony. These birds are cavity nesters and plaster their mud nests to the underside of the bridge. You can often find several hundred nests here in a season.

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The Green Circle Birding Trail is sponsored by The Aldo Leopold Audubon Society (ALAS)