Bubolz Nature Preserve
Bubolz Nature Preserve in Appleton, WI
Bubolz Nature Preserve is a 725-acre nonprofit outdoor space in Appleton, Wisconsin, featuring over 8.5 miles of trails, The Lodge, and Kenna’s Kabin. Located just 4.3 miles from Economy Inn, the preserve offers free, year-round activities including hiking, birdwatching, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing for all ages.
Local Spotlight
About This Attraction
Bubolz Nature Preserve sits in the northeast corner of Appleton and covers over 700 acres of mixed forest, prairie, wetland, and ponds, laced together by more than 8.5 miles of well-maintained trails. It's about 4.3 miles from Economy Inn, roughly a 10-minute drive via N Lynndale Dr and N Bluemound Dr, making it one of the easiest outdoor escapes to reach from the motel.
The trails themselves are flat, wide, and mostly packed dirt, so they work for hikers of nearly any ability, from a casual stroll to a longer loop through varied terrain. The preserve is run as a nonprofit, funded entirely through donations and memberships rather than city or state money, which is part of why locals tend to speak about it with real pride.
Hours & Contact
Trails are open daily, year-round, from dawn to dusk. The Lodge, the preserve's environmental center, keeps separate hours: Tuesday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM, and Sunday from noon to 4 PM. It's closed on Mondays. You can reach the preserve at (920) 731-6041 with questions before your visit.
Getting There From Economy Inn
At 4.3 miles and about a 10-minute drive via N Lynndale Dr and N Bluemound Dr, Bubolz is a quick trip from Economy Inn. Worth noting: this route has a stretch flagged for restricted usage or private roads, so it's a good idea to double-check your GPS directions once you're on the road, or follow the preserve's own posted directions (Highway 41 north to County OO, then north on Lynndale Drive to the entrance).
What to Expect
Bubolz offers five trail options, so you can pick a short loop or string together a longer hike depending on how much time you have. No pets or bikes are allowed on the trails, which keeps things quiet and low-traffic even when the parking lot looks full. Inside the Lodge, there's a small nature center with exhibits, a nature store, and an interactive play area for kids called Kenna's Kabin. In winter, the preserve also offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, including occasional evening candlelight events.
Who It's For
- Hikers and walkers looking for an easy, well-maintained trail system
- Birdwatchers and nature photographers
- Families with kids, thanks to the flat trails and the Lodge's play area
- Winter visitors interested in cross-country skiing or snowshoeing
- Anyone wanting a quiet, no-cost outdoor break from a busy travel schedule
Best Time to Visit
The preserve is worth visiting in any season. Spring and fall bring good birdwatching and mild hiking weather, summer is easiest for families with young kids or strollers, and winter opens up skiing and snowshoeing on the same trail network. Evenings can get busier during scheduled events like candlelight walks, so a daytime visit is your best bet for a quieter trip.
Pairing a Preserve Visit With the Rest of Your Trip
Bubolz pairs naturally with a slower-paced day outdoors. Some guests combine a morning hike here with a stop at Appleton Memorial Park later in the day, since both are on the north side of the city. Because it's free to visit and open dawn to dusk, it's also an easy addition to a trip even if you only have an hour or two to spare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Staying Nearby?
Economy Inn is just minutes from Bubolz Nature Preserve, a comfortable, affordable base for exploring the outdoors in Appleton. Check our available motel rooms, explore free amenities, or view guest FAQs and contact options.
Semantic Keynotes & Named Entity Recognition (NER) Tags▼
Semantic Keynotes
- Extensive Trail Network: Featuring over 8.5 miles of flat, well-maintained trails across 725 acres of forest, prairie, wetland, and ponds, suitable for hikers of any ability.
- Nonprofit, Donor-Funded Preserve: Operating independently through donations and memberships rather than public funding, reflecting strong community pride and stewardship.
- Four-Season Outdoor Access: Offering year-round activities from spring birdwatching to winter cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the same trail system.
- Family & Kid-Friendly Amenities: Providing an accessible nature center, a nature store, and an interactive kids' play area (Kenna's Kabin) inside The Lodge.
- Quiet, No-Cost Nature Escape: Positioning the preserve as a free, low-traffic outdoor break just 10 minutes from Economy Inn, ideal for travelers with limited time.
NER Tags
- Attraction/Venue: Bubolz Nature Preserve, The Lodge (environmental center), Kenna's Kabin
- Organization: Economy Inn
- Location/Address: 4815 N Lynndale Dr, Appleton, WI 54913, N Lynndale Dr, N Bluemound Dr, Highway 41, County OO
- Nearby/Cross-Referenced Attractions: Appleton Memorial Park
- Contact Info: (920) 731-6041
- Distance/Travel Metrics: 4.3 miles, 10-minute drive, $10–$18 one-way (rideshare estimate)
- Operating Details: Dawn to dusk (trail hours, daily), Tuesday–Friday, 8 AM–4:30 PM (Lodge hours), Saturday, 11 AM–4 PM (Lodge hours), Sunday, 12 PM–4 PM (Lodge hours), Closed Mondays, 725 acres (preserve size), 8.5 miles of trails, Five trail options, Nonprofit (funding structure)
- Activities/Features: Hiking, Bird watching, Cross-country skiing, Snowshoeing, Candlelight evening events, Nature store, Interactive play area (Kenna's Kabin)
- Restrictions: No pets allowed, No bikes allowed
- Audience/Use-Case Entities: Hikers and walkers, Birdwatchers and nature photographers, Families with kids, Winter visitors