The first stop for visitors should be the Ralph H. Wise Nature Center, where our volunteers will welcome you, collect your fees, offer information about the entire reserve and provide maps of our hiking and skiing trails. Overlooking the Beaver Creek bottoms and surrounding hills, the Nature Center is the gateway to exploring the wonders of the Reserve’s natural setting.

Inside the Nature Center you'll find a discovery room with hands-on learning stations, interpretive displays of local fauna and flora, live animal exhibits, an auditorium, classrooms, reading and reference library, laboratory and a gift shop. In the winter, snow shoes and skis are available for rent from the Nature Center.

The miles of scenic trails that begin at the Nature Center allow you to experience the natural beauty of the Eau Claire River valley first-hand. Keep your eyes and ears open: You might catch a glimpse of some of its inhabitants like deer, bear, beaver, wild turkey, golden-winged warblers, a tufted titmouse, a lady slipper or jack-in-the-pulpit. The self-guided interpretive trails, wildlife/photography blind, butterfly garden, feeding stations and boardwalks are designed to enhance your outdoor experience.