UW-Green Bay Cofrin Arboretum

The Cofrin Memorial Arboretum covers 290 acres on the campus of UW-Green Bay. The main trail encircles the university, traveling through diverse ecosystems. Forests, prairies, ponds, and creeks are found along the path. The beautiful arboretum landscape supports an array of native Wisconsin plants. Various animals and birds are often seen from the trail.

The surface of the 4.7-mile main trail alternates between asphalt and compacted, crushed limestone. The trail is narrow, but can easily accommodate cyclists. In some places, the trail is bumpy due to tree roots and frost upheaving the asphalt.

The Cofrin Memorial Arboretum is located on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment. This long ridge of dolomitic limestone runs through Canada and the United States, from New York’s Niagara Falls through Ontario, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Because of the arboretum’s location along the Escarpment, the trail gently climbs and then falls 110 feet.

The arboretum’s circular main path contains several trailheads. The best starting place is the Lambeau Cottage parking lot, at 2487 Nicolet Drive. Another parking area is alongside S. Circle Drive. A third potential trailhead is the Laboratory Sciences parking lot, off Laboratory Sciences Drive. No trailheads have facilities, other than information kiosks and maps.

By car, the Arboretum at UWGB is reached from Interstate Highway 43. Take exit 185, and go north on Wisconsin State Highways 54-57. Then take the Nicolet Drive/University Avenue exit. Follow Nicolet Drive north 0.6 mile to the S. Circle Drive entrance to UWGB. The entrance to the Lambeau Cottage parking lot is another half mile north on the left (west). To reach the two other trailheads, turn right (east) on S. Circle Drive. After about 400 feet, a pull-out parking area is located next to the trail. The Laboratory Sciences Parking lot is a half mile further east.

Before heading out on the trail, cyclists parking at the Lambeau Cottage lot may want to observe a beautiful view of Green Bay. The shoreline offers a stunning scene of the bay and city of Green Bay. Bay Beach Amusement Park and Leo Frigo Bridge may be seen in the distance to the left. American white pelicans, seagulls, and other waterfowl are frequently found in the water nearby.

Trail-goers may also want to visit Lambeau Cottage. In 1919, Curly Lambeau founded the Green Bay Packers and coached the team for three decades. He built this waterfront cottage in 1941, and stayed there when the Packers trained at Rockwood Lodge (Bayshore County Park) by Dyckesville. The cottage now belongs to UW-Green Bay.

The Cofrin Arboretum Trail begins on the south side of the parking lot, marked by a large information kiosk. The path winds through the lowlands of Bayshore Woods for 0.6 miles. The forested area contains cottonwood and water maple trees, and a sign indicates tiny Bayshore Pond. As the trail approaches Nicolet Drive, it divides. Cyclists have two options: a path crossing Nicolet Drive, or under a bridge next to Mahon Creek. A trailside interpretive marker is found east of the bridge. Trail-goers may want to stop at all trailside interpretive markers to learn more about all the arboretum offers its visitors.

After crossing Nicolet Drive, the trail divides again. Cyclists should follow the path to the left. This is the main path leading to the roadside parking area off S. Circle Drive. The trail to the right better serves hikers, as it enters the shaded forest of Mahon Woods.

The main bike trail heads east and uphill, past the trailhead. It passes prairies and stands of oak, cedar, and pine trees. The trail gently climbs in elevation for nearly 1.5 miles, traveling by Keith White Prairie, Les Raduenz Woods, Upahki Pond, and an oak savanna.  

Near the intersection with Leon Bond Drive, the hiking path from Mahon Woods rejoins the main trail. On the north side of the road, another hiking trail leads up the ridge to the cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment. The main trail crosses the road, and journeys north past UWGB’s former soccer field. It then divides again. While a paved path leads west to E. Circle Drive by the soccer field, cyclists should continue north on the main, crushed limestone trail. The path is now at its highest elevation, cutting through prairies, meadows, and outcroppings of cedar trees.  

Beginning a downhill descend, the trail advances toward Ledge Creek. Nearly a mile from Leo Bond Drive, the trail crosses the creek between upper Ledge Creek Ponds. A new bridge paid for with private donations, was installed here in 2022. The bridge between the two ponds is a peaceful place to pause and enjoy the beauty of the landscape.

The trail continues descending in elevation. After crossing E. Circle Drive near campus housing, the trail skirts an old golf course. It crosses a forest of oak and hickory, next to old fairways and putting greens. A small section of the trail follows Highwood Lane. One highlight is found here: crossing on a tall wooden bridge that spans a deep ravine.

After passing a parking lot, the trail goes down a steep hill to Nicolet Drive. It drops about 35 feet. Although paved, the surface there has bumps from bulging tree roots. The entrance to the Lambeau Cottage parking lot is directly across Nicolet Drive from where the trail emerges. Caution should be used when crossing Nicolet Drive. It is a busy road.

^{Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.}

Several nearby attractions are worth visiting. Bay Beach Amusement Park and Wildlife Sanctuary are only two miles from the arboretum on East Shore Drive. Bike lanes support a pleasant and relatively safe ride to the two parks. Just north of the Lambeau Cottage parking lot is Communiversity Park. It has park benches, picnic tables, and is known for its outstanding sunset views on Green Bay.

Trail-goers may also want to visit UW-Green Bay’s campus. The Cofrin Library is the central landmark, and the Weidner Center offers performing art productions. The Kress Events Center is a multipurpose athletic facility that hosts UWGB’s women’s basketball and volleyball teams. The University Student Union includes The Phoenix Club, a pub featuring bar and arcade games. Pizzas, sandwiches, and beverages are served there.

Trail last ridden and documented in May, 2022.