Do you have a sweet tooth? Visit this great timber area along the river. Home to the “Sugar Shack”, The Conservation Board staff conducts a maple sugar operation here in March and April. Staff and volunteers put in long hours turning sap into syrup, a practice that has been going on here for more than a century. (Tours are offered to the public and to school groups in the spring. Check out their website at www.watersedgenc.com to find out the schedule).

If you hike through the mixed oak, sugar maple, black walnut and silver maple forest in May, you will hit prime wildflower viewing time. Consider a visit in the fall for great leaf color.

River Corridor

Woodland birds like the Northern Oriole, Eastern Bluebird, Screech and Great-horned Owl, and a variety of thrushes and woodpeckers live in this forest. The oxbows flood seasonally, with nesting Wood Ducks and Canada Geese nearby.

Location Description

Smith Wildlife Area is located S of Algona along the East Fork of the Des Moines River.

Driving Directions and other Information

• Drive located off of Hwy 169, S of Algona.
• GPS Coordinants - N 43 01.643 W 094 13.651
• 144 acres. Kossuth County Conservation Board
• Hiking, Hunting, Fishing, Birding, Wildflowers

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Take a short visit to Smith Wildlife Area via the video below!