4.5Willow River State Park(354 reviews) - Our A day trip to amazing state park and water fall Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM State Parks
This is very nice park close to Twin city and neighboring area. Best part is water fall. Water fall is quite wide can feel cold and warm water same time. You beed to buy state park permit and due to COVID-19no single day pass was available we have bought year pass online for 38$. You can visit any park in Wisconsin.See more..
This popular lakefront state park was established in the 1920s.See more..
4.5Whitefish Dunes State Park(297 reviews) - grateful to have peaceful places like this that are clean, cared for and protected. Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM State Parks
absolutely stunning walk along the lake with ample trails in park and nearby. Nice little history about sunken ship in park area, bathrooms clean, and in various points throughout park, lush colors last week of October. Well marked trails with maps at various locations. Some of trail is rugged with tree roots (not as extensive as in cave point, county park which is adjacent), and paved, dirt and gravel trail which was not rugged at all. Through the woods in parts, it was bumpy but you could run with a dog and not break an ankle. The terrain does change in various locations. Over all, it was gorgeous. Late in October the beach area was closed.See more..
This park was amazing! You can rent the cabin for $20 a night if you are considered handicap. Doesn't have to be a wheelchair only. I use a cane and am partially impacted. Anyway, there's a beach. Trails and water falls. They will give you a map of all the waterfalls in the area. Staff was wonderful and helpful. Park is clean. And the showers too. Loved this place. There's other handicap accessible cabins at other state parks also. We went to Bailey and the took ferry to the Island. It cost to drive on or walk on. I can't wait to go again.See more..
Fantastic hiking trails with spectacular vistas and unique habitats, nature programs for the family, Summer concerts, and Winter snowshoe events. Reserveable shelters, and a beautiful outdoor event venue. Park concessions open daily during Summer season (Memorial Day weekend - Labor Day weekend), and weekends during Fall (through mid October) with gifts, snacks and more.See more..
4.5Pattison State Park(221 reviews) - Camping with the family Wednesday: 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM State Parks
This park features a beach on Lake Superior, waterfalls, and miles of hiking trails.See more..
We made a stop in this park to see the beautiful Stephens' Waterfall, but a scenic drive through the park is a worthy goal, too! My parents took us to this park decades ago and we swam in the lake and chased the minnows. It's good to see some things haven't changed much. If you have a WI DNR patron license as I did, you can get in free with a printout of your state parks "sticker," which they will trade for an actual windshield sticker at the front gate. Otherwise it's about $8 admission for your carload. Many nice picnic areas and hiking trails, plus a concession stand by the lake. See more..
First off, since everyone writes about waterfalls and nature - yes, it's stunning in this park. One of the few parks in Wisconsin with sizable waterfalls, and mature Northwoods forest around, this is a nature's gem that is a must to visit. On top of that, Covered Bridge inside the park is an attraction on its own terms. You can find books on covered bridges of such and such state. But those are mostly gone. The covered bridge in this park is one of the few left in the state of Wisconsin, if not the only one. It's in a great shape tooSee more..
4.5Newport State Park(175 reviews) - Dark Sky Park Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent More than 3 hours State Parks
There are many hiking options in such a beautiful environment. Some of the options include hiking hear the water and enjoying the beautiful lake view. This is a "Dark Sky" Park and has the best views of the stars, and constellations around. We hike at this park every time we visit Door County because it isn't very crowded and is serene and enjoyable. This is truly a well hidden Gem.See more..
4.5High Cliff State Park(151 reviews) - Great campground and trails Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM State Parks • Parks
Stopped here on our way back to Chicago from the north woods. Very pleasantly surprised by the spacious, wooded campsite. Enjoyed a great hike on a trail right by our campsite. Beautiful park, some interesting history too. See more..
We fortunately came upon this somewhat hidden gem, while exploring Door County. Being that it was the last week of March; there was little foliage, but also little crowding. There are beautiful views of the Lake; and a few trees bisecting the road, adds to the charm of this natural refuge. Whether one enjoys slowly driving, hiking and/or just sightseeing; it's definitely worth the effort to seek out this area. See more..
A favorite with families and nature enthusiasts, this 271-acre park on the shore of Lake Geneva, offers wooded campsites, a sand beach and plenty of picnic areas.See more..
This is an amazing state park. Bathroom and shower facilities are generally clean, and most camp sites have sufficient trees and bushes to give some sense of privacy. Sites on the east side of the loop are much closer to the lake. My husband and I went there to celebrate our anniversary. We truly felt like we got away because even cell signal was poor or nonexistent. While we saw some larger RVs, we noticed that these had trouble navigating the narrow road and pulling into their site. Concession stand in original lodge had excellent ice cream. Overall, a great park!!See more..
I was surprised at how much fun we had at Wyalusing State Park. We took a little day trip and just had the afternoon to spend, and hiked the sand cave trail and the bluff trail with the overlooks and treasure cave. It made us nervous in some spots to have little kids hiking along steep areas, just in a couple spots along little sand cave loop, and then with the steep climb into treasure cave. The bluff trail is an easy stroll along a path to see the lookouts. There is a parking lot right next to Point Lookout, and you can take a stroller or a wheelchair down there to see that overlook; it is definitely a view you don’t want to miss! We drove through Wisconsin Ridge campground, and the sites on the ridge are truly beautiful. There was someone sitting at their campsite, reading a book in the sunshine, taking in the view, and it looked like the quintessential perfect vacation moment. We’ll be back. See more..
An amazing living history “museum” with beautiful views of the river and surrounding area. Expansive grounds that you should budget a few hours for. Beautifully preserved buildings that allow you to step back in time. Many events scheduled throughout the year. Call ahead if wanting to visit when the interpreters are there.See more..
4.5Big Bay State Park(84 reviews) - DO NOT MISS! Spent More than 3 hours State Parks • Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
This was the highlight of our summer! We made a last minute decision to travel to Madeleine Island from our cabin about 2 hours away. The weather was supposed to be beautiful and, lo and behold, we were on the ferry the next morning at 9:30, We made Big Bay our first stop. Many hiking opportunities with views that are second to none. We hiked a trail from the Big Bay lookout back to a picnic area and took the boardwalk from there in the opposite direction to the beach. Next time, I am bringing my suit and towel! While I did go wading, the protected area of the beach disguises Lake Superior's sometimes tumultuous behavior. Bring your camera, your suit and towel, and lunch because you will want to make a day our of this stop!See more..
4.5Big Bay State Park(83 reviews) - Good fall color walk in the park. State Parks
Year-round park located on Madeline Island, offering camping, swimming, hiking, fishing and picnicking.See more..
Visited this park Sept 25th, 2020 for my first time. While a good portion of the beach is closed to the public, I still was able to access a small open portion for some sunrise photos. I walked the loop south around a part of Quarry Lake. This is an easy, peaceful walk, no mosquitos, but not much for birds either. I did see one deer. But the park is clean, and it is a really beautiful walk.See more..
We love Lake Wissota State Park for camping, which we've done twice in the past year. The people at the office (especially Diane!) are just great--super helpful and friendly. It's not a fancy campground; you're not going to have events organized for you, and you'll swim in the lake, not a pool, but it has decent showers, space between most sites, and a beach. You can rent canoes and kayaks for $15 for an hour or $50 for three hours. They have some great sites that would be nice for groups. Oh, and they have a dump station, which is nice. The only thing I would say could be better is the aesthetics of the water at the beach; it has stuff floating in it, so the dogs wouldn't drink from it, but they had a ball swimming next to the people beach. Very nice park, and we'll be back!See more..
4.5Wildcat Mountain State Park(65 reviews) - Fantastic park, stunning views Wednesday: 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM State Parks
We camped here based on a friend's recommendation. I'm really glad we did! It's a beautiful park with the best showers I've had in any state park. The observation point near the campground is truly a sight so see. It has sweeping views of the Kickapoo River valey. Many of the trails are a good workout, climbing 300-400 from the valley floor to the peaks. This place is a great hub for floating/canoeing/kayaking the river.See more..
4.0Aztalan State Park(62 reviews) - Unusual bit of history Wednesday: 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM State Parks • Ancient Ruins
This place is very unusual for the State of Wisconsin. Wisconsin is home to overwhelming majority of Native American Mounds, but of different kind - Effigy and Conical and others left by so-called Woodland culture. Aztalan has some of those too. But the bigger attraction here is mounds left by so-called Mississippian culture.The place most associated with those people is Cahokia, Illinois. However from there on, Mississippian people traveled to Lake Mills, Wisconsin, and established outpost here (as well as Trempealeau, Wisconsin). The platform mounds are astonishing, if you're interested in that period of history, complemented here by Conical Mounds, stockade, Princess burial and more!See more..
Visitors to this recreation area have a wide choice of activities including cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, camping and swimming.See more..
This is a beautiful state park! It's pretty small, so I'd recommend visiting when you're in the area rather than going out of your way. However, the scenery is lovely, particularly the rock formations. You can get a quick hike in and this would also be a nice place for a picnic. My only complaint is that the trail was not as well-maintained as it could be -- it was a little overgrown in places and there was a downed tree across one part that looked to have been there a while.See more..
4.5Pike Lake State Park(46 reviews) - Great place for hiking and swimming Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours State Parks
Welcome to Pike Lake Unit, a beautiful unit of Wisconsin's Kettle Moraine State Forest! ADMISSION: ~$8 daily, $5 hourly for Wisconsin Residents. ~$3 daily for senior Wisconsin Residents over 65. ~$28 annual admission sticker for Wisconsin residents. ~$13 annual admission sticker for senior Wisconsin residents. ~$38 annual admission sticker for non-residents. CAMPING: We have a full campground with 33 sites, including electric. We also have three, primitive backpacking sites along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, about a 15-20 minute hike from the parking lot. There is a shower, bathroom building as well as a dump and water filling station. Reservations are made online with Reserve America. Walk-in, first-come-first-serve sites are #32, #33 and backpacking site #B1. ~$18 per night, non-electric for Wisconsin residents. ~$28 per night, electric for Wisconsin residents. ~$23 per night, non-electric for non-residents. ~$33 per night, electric for non-residents. Check out our 'Friends of Pike Lake' Facebook page for up-to-date information on park and naturalist events like guided kayaking tours, sunset standup paddleboarding, campfires, star gazing and nature hikes. OFFICE HOURS: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 8am-4pm Fridays 12pm-8pm Saturdays and Sundays 8am-4pmSee more..
Most of the sites are spacious and secluded. I would not recommend for small children, due to drop offs and poor visibility as you leave your site. The ground is covered in a mix of gravel and sticks, so bring a rake. 128 sites and 6 showers is hardly adequate. There are only flush toilets in 1 location, remainder are vaults. The sites are not good if you are camping with a group due to the isolation of each site. Be prepared to spend an extra $38 if you intend to stay more than a couple days. You cannot drive anywhere without the sticker. You pay for use of a site you cannot access without the sticker.See more..
Excellent hiking trails, nice campground, swimming pool & splash pad, and close to Mount Horeb & Cave of the Mounds. Nice vistas from the two towers as well. Great park for a day visit, will try camping here sometime soon.See more..
5.0Brunet Island State Park(37 reviews) - Pretty campground; excellent for kayaks and fishing State Parks • Parks
VERY pretty campground with direct access to water on *each* campsite in the north campground. The flowage area makes for lovely kayaking conditions. The water is still, cool, and clean. Also clean? All the facilities and campsites. My only complaint is that a nearby road has some traffic noises, but nevertheless, this was a great trip. If you're tent camping in the north campground, try to get spots 38/40/42. You'll thank me later.See more..
We camped at Council Grounds for 3 nights this week. It's a small park with well-marked hiking trails, none of which is very difficult. The gem of the park is the Wisconsin River. The campground is along the river below the Alexander dam, and there's a nice beach on Alexander Lake above the dam. There is also boating, kayaking and canoeing on the lake. The park had just opened due to COVID 19, and the bathrooms were cleaned twice a day with signs limiting the number of people allowed in each at one time. That was not a problem, as only those without bathrooms in their RV's were generally using the bathrooms. There are flush toilets, hot water and showers. The camp sites are big and quite spread out with lots of shade. It's a great place to camp or for day use. Take mosquito spray.See more..
4.5Nelson Dewey State Park(35 reviews) - Quiet, Wooded and Secluded...and TRAINS! State Parks
It gets buggy and humid here, this is the Mississippi River basin, but the View! The four walk-in sites on the bluff have gorgeous views. Reserve early! The park is lightly used, bathrooms were cleaned well daily (if they're dirty it's fellow campers' fault). Even during 4th of July week, nearly half the sites were available. Underbrush separates most of the sites, giving a sense of privacy. There's a beautiful day use/picnic area with stellar views, hiking trails, and one strategically placed bench for sunset watchers. Stonefield Village is just outside the entrance to the park & is worth spending a day. There's also the Anker Inn Smokehouse (serving food Thu-Sun 4-9), Cassville Ferry, tubing on the Grant River, and an inexpensive city pool just minutes from Nelson Dewey. Potosi Brewery is an easy drive on the Great River Road. In other words, plenty of low key amusement. For no-see-ums try this old river rat trick: vanilla, the cheapest you can find, and keep applying it. It really helps, even if you do smell like cookies. See more..
Took the family here for a late afternoon hike. The fee is self service when you pull into the parking lot. Our kids enjoyed reading all the various plaques and walking the cared for trails. We did the steps all the way to the top which was amazing and exhausting! The view was incredible. There’s also camping on the property and a small playground. Very enjoyable afternoon outdoors!See more..
Beautiful layout with multiple trails. Some grass, some hilly dirt trails. Smaller park but plenty to do for the day. Many, many picnic areas with tables and grills. Sandy beachfront with small swimming area; separate pet area for swimming. Two boat launch sites. Very clean restrooms with plumbing and hot water. Effigy mounds need some imagination, but still cool to see.See more..
4.0Buckhorn State Park(31 reviews) - Plenty to do and great camping. Spent More than 3 hours State Parks
The park has a few hiking paths. It also has a kayak interpretive trail you can follow in the water. The lake is beautiful. The campsites are large and level. The flush toilets and shower building looks completely new. Really nice campground showers with individual doors and therefore privacy. Tons of bugs, but that is a Wisconsin problem, not a park problem.See more..
It was a great short hike. My wife and I weren't nearly as prepared as we should have been but it was still great. It probably goes without saying but be wary of the rain and weather up to a week before hand. Some places on the Mamoth trail was wet and some was under water at the waters edge.See more..
4.0Governor Thompson State Park(28 reviews) - Great park, quiet camping Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM State Parks • Parks
Great quiet campground. Few electric site and some were a little underwhelming but we had a great site. Park has access to a small lake with a beach which we enjoyed kayaking around. Also access to lower cauldron reservoir which is good for boating, kayaking. And fishing . We did a little biking on the park road and enjoyed hiking. We saw deer with their fawn and mama bear with two cubs. You can also go tubing and whitewater rafting nearby. we plan to come back.See more..
This was our first visit to Hartman Creek State Park. We drove around the property initially and decided to park by the lake. On the walk to lake we came across an old restored cabin that was neat to look at. We ventured to walk around the entire lake and had to be very careful at certainly points because of the grade and ice/snow was still on the ground. There were plenty of scenic spots to relax and enjoy the view. As spring time was nearing there we plenty of Canadian geese’s on the lake along with a sole ice fisherman. There are plenty of trails for hiking, snow shoeing, skiing, and horseback riding. There is a visitors center, camping, playgrounds and picnic tables. We be back in the summer to see the beat of the area in a different season. See more..
This was our first stop on a cross country road trip/move. We loved that we were able to book the campsite in advance. The campground was really lovely. The sites are pretty private and there's plenty of nature surrounding. It's a great no frills campground and I would recommend it to anyone looking for great tent camping just outside Madison.See more..
New Years Eve visit with the kids while we were passing through the area. Natural Bridge isn't too far from parking. Kind of hard to get to in snow, but not a bad hike. It would have been easier with our trekking poles, but the kids had no issues. Absolutely beautiful! We will definitely come back in the summer.See more..
3.5Mill Bluff State Park(22 reviews) - Nice sandstone formations, too bad the park is bysected by the Interstate State Parks • Parks
This park offers some of the nicest sandstone formations in this area, called either Buttes or Mesas or Bluffs. There are several in the vicinitu, including the Camel Bluff that has a stairway to the top, from which you can see others. Also, if you take the trail around the bluff, you will find Cleopatra's Needle and Devil's Monument - smaller, but gorgeous formations. Highway noise is annoying though. However, across the highway you will find a wayside with another interesting sandstone Butte.See more..
4.0Virmond Park(22 reviews) - Lovely unknown park in Mequon Spent 1-2 hours State Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
Virmond park is a lovely, unknown park in Mequon. It has a picnic shelter, clean restrooms, a large play area, and beach access. It is on the shore of Lake Michigan.See more..
4.0Kinnickinnic State Park(17 reviews) - Pretty small as State Parks go, but not too busy Spent 2-3 hours State Parks
This park has several trails - you can walk them all in one day if you choose so. Beach is pretty small but pleasant. The park was created to protect the confluence of Kinnickinnic River and St.Croix river, as part of the preservation of St.Croix valley.See more..
Good food, fair prices and grest pies! Owner is a retired school teacher with lots of smiles. We eat here regularly.See more..
4.0Merrick State Park(13 reviews) - Camping Delight Spent More than 3 hours State Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
My husband and I were hosts there for two years. This is an excellent park. We enjoyed meeting all the people that came in as campers. Chris is an outstanding ranger and manager. Very clean park well kept park. Fishing is excellent. Fish off shore and get as many fish as those in a boat. Yes the trains go through a lot. You just kind of get used to it. Fountain City has excellent restaurants lot of places to go wine tasting. There is a new place up on highway 95 that has some amazing food., So many places to go sightseeing. Going to Alma and go up to Bueno Vista Overlook. It is beautiful.. There are two many things to list on here for places to go and things to doSee more..
A nice park and nature area. There are trails for hiking and birdwatching; and a trail to the lake. Fairly primitive, I've been going there all my life. I tried to review Point Creek Preservation area a little north of Fischer Creek; but TripAdvisor wouldn't cooperate. I prefer Point Creek as it is wilder and less used; and there is more wildlife. The old silo at Fischer's has a legend of a man hanging himself there. We called it the spooky place. Fischer is a nice place; but I suggest going farther north and going to point Creek instead.See more..
36 holes of disc golf that are very challenging. Lots of trees and hills. The "old" 18 is much more hilly but with very developed fairways, while the new course is flatter and a bit shorter but still fun. The area also has X-country ski trails with a warming house. See more..
This visit we specifically did the Sandrock Cliffs Trail. It was mighty cold with a fresh snow, so we bundled up and gave it a go! We were the only ones there, so it was very quiet, peaceful, and tranquil. The trail was easy although the marking when you get near the campsites wasn't as good. Either way, it was not a difficult hike though there are inclines. You can get down to the river level if you want. Overall, we covered just over three miles in an hour and 20 minutes. I would recommend this as more scenic than other trails in this state forest area.See more..
Fun place to stop in the middle of Wisconsin! This makes it a place that is on the way to lots of places. Park has a good flow and is always improving. Kyle Little and Portage family Skatepark crew are making sure this place is growing. Kids sweep it out and take care of it too. Take 5 when you get there and help pitch in and keep it clean :) Happy shredding. -LambrechtSee more..
3.0Kettle Moraine State Forest(2 reviews) - Family Friendly Spent More than 3 hours State Parks • Forests I live in Milwaukee, Wisc which is about 45 minutes from Lake Ottawa. I was recently introduced to the beach due to a triathlon that will be held there July 2019 and boy, am I glad I now know about this area. Upon entering the actual area you are required to pay a parking fee of $8.00 unless you have the recreation pass. This was one of the cleanest beaches I have visited in a long time. There are several covered areas to keep you out of the suns heat, changing stations to accommodate those who are looking to swim and then change back into dry clothes afterward; picnic tables surround the area, there is a small dock and the wildlife will most definitely surprise you. While swimming this past weekend, I noticed both hot and cold spots in the lake which was refreshing. So many families were out on this day and the children of all ages were enjoying a great summer day.See more..
