DNR Parks And Recreation News
What’s Happening In Wisconsin's State Parks,
Trails, Forests And Recreation Areas
 Get out and explore beautiful Wisconsin state park properties in 2023! / Photo credit: Bayli Christorf, Wisconsin DNR
As we settle into the new year, the Wisconsin State Park System thanks all of the visitors for exploring Wisconsin's state parks, forests, trails and recreation areas in 2022 and looks forward to another great year of conservation, recreation, exploration and adventure.
In 2022, about 20 million people visited the state park system, which includes 50 parks, 15 forests, 44 trails and nine recreation areas. There were over 276,000 camping reservations made at the 6,000 campsites across Wisconsin state park properties. Several playgrounds and boat launches were made universal to all users.
This year is looking to be just as full, fun and busy as last year. The unpredictability of Wisconsin weather is keeping us all on our toes and ready for all conditions! Here are a few things coming up to note.
Free Fun Weekend
The first weekend of June is always Free Fun Weekend and Free Fishing Weekend. You can explore all the state parks, forests, trails and recreation areas with state park admission fees, fishing licenses and trail pass fees waived.
Building Improvements
With just about 700 vault toilets and over 1700 buildings in the Wisconsin State Park System, and thousands of bridges and culverts as part of the trail network, there is continual work to be done to keep up our infrastructure. This year, we have bridge replacements, campground shower facilities and vault toilet upgrades, dock repairs, boat house renovations, road repairs and accessibility improvements in the works at properties in all corners of the state. Property notices can be found here as work unfolds throughout the summer.
Friends Groups
Friends of Wisconsin state park and trail groups are actively working towards improvement projects across the state, including mountain bike trail additions, interpretive center construction or expansion, shelter repairs, expanding fleets of rental recreation equipment and so much more. Friends groups are vital partners to Wisconsin state park properties. Find a Friends group here to learn more.
Events
This year, the state park system offers several events in addition to events organized by individual properties. Here's a sneak peek of some events the first half of the year:
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Check Out Wisconsin State Parks At Your Library continues in April. Stay tuned for more details about new library participation.
- In April, celebrate Earth Day and National Volunteering Month with Work*Play*Earth*Day events and volunteering opportunities.
- Participate in the Happy Little 5k, a virtual race for the trees, with participants completing their 5ks anytime between Earth Day and Arbor Day (April 22 - 28).
- OutWiGo Green comes to the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit on May 13! This day of hands-on learning, exploring and celebrating the great outdoors offers attendees opportunities to experience a wide variety of recreation and conservation activities.
Events will be added to the DNR Events Calendar and added to the DNR's OutWiGo webpage as more details are available.
We look forward to welcoming you, your friends, your family, your neighbors and your visitors to the Wisconsin State Park System in 2023! See you outside!
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State Park System Now Hiring
Work where you recreate! The Wisconsin DNR is now hiring for summer seasonal positions. Working for a state park, forest, trail or recreation area means you get to engage in a wide variety of hands-on activities. Every day is different, and every day brings new challenges and thrills. Work with other nature-minded individuals and see our park system from a new perspective. Specific job duties vary, but work may include greeting and directing customers, selling annual and day passes, mowing and landscaping, campground reservations and organization, maintenance, mechanical equipment use and repair, public safety, invasive species removal, educational programming and so much more. Learn more about open positions, job descriptions, pay and hours.
Apply online for positions starting this spring at state park properties across Wisconsin.
Potawatomi Observation Tower Feedback
The observation tower at Potawatomi State Park is closed due to significant wood decay. The DNR is committed to finding a path forward and is looking for feedback on the Tower Concept Report. Comments may be submitted through Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. Learn more here.
Trail Conditions Updated
Snow conditions across Wisconsin are varied right now. State park properties update trail conditions using this report. Travel Wisconsin also maintains a trail report for cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and snowboarding and snowmobiling here.
Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR
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Lake Kegonsa State Park
Lake Kegonsa State Park, outside of Madison in Stoughton, offers a variety of recreational activities set along a 3,200-acre lake. Fishing opportunities are excellent, while hiking trails weave among oak woodlands, prairies and wetlands.
How Lake Kegonsa Came To Be
During the last Ice Age, four distinct glaciers originating in Canada moved into what is now the northern United States. The last of these great ice blankets, called the Wisconsin Glacier, overrode much of Wisconsin. Around here, the Wisconsin Glacier slid over the old river valley that many geologists believe was the "Ancient Wisconsin River." The glacier created a wide terminal moraine only a few miles south and southwest of Lake Kegonsa. Thus, this park once lay under thick glacial ice.
As the glacier melted and retreated, its meltwaters carried vast amounts of sand, gravel and boulders into the old river valley, partially filling it. The melting ice also dropped huge loads of glacial rock and debris on the park lands.
The old valley, now dammed in places by glacial debris, holds the famous "4-Lakes" of the Madison area: Mendota, Monona, Waubesa and Kegonsa. This string of beautiful lakes has existed only during the last 12,000-15,000 years and is perched on glacial debris many feet above the old, buried valley floor. The present-day Yahara River connects the four lakes.
How Lake Kegonsa Got Its Name
Early area settlers referred to Lake Kegonsa as "First Lake" because it was the first of the four Madison lakes that they encountered traveling north up the Yahara River.
The name Kegonsa is attributed to the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) Indians who once lived in this area. Kegonsa means "Lake of Many Fishes." Today, Lake Kegonsa is still one of Wisconsin’s most productive fishing lakes.
Winter Recreation
Cross-country skiing is popular in the park. About five miles of trails, including the 1.2-mile White Oak nature trail, are groomed and tracked when weather and snow conditions permit. The trails are tracked for diagonal-stride skiers and groomed for skate skiers. When the trail is too narrow to skate, please ski in the set track.
Hiking, snowshoeing and pets are prohibited on all designated cross-country ski trails when they are groomed and skiable. There are 1.2 miles of designated snowshoe and hiking trails in the park. These trails travel along the lakeshore and through the woods, prairie and wetland areas.
Lake Kegonsa offers excellent ice fishing. Panfish provide most of the fishing action, but some northern and walleyes are also caught. The park does not monitor ice conditions on the lake. Be extremely cautious of ice conditions at all times. Access to the lake from the park in the winter months is by foot only. There is no ATV or snowmobile access to Lake Kegonsa in the park.
A sledding hill is available at the park's beach area. When using the sledding hill, please be aware of the surface conditions. Icing will occur after moderate use. Steering is difficult under icy conditions.
Lake Kegonsa State Park is located in Dane County. Learn more about it here.
Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR
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Free Ice Fishing Weekend
and
Candlelight Events This Weekend
Learn To Ice Fish
Brittingham Park (Madison city park)
Saturday, Jan. 21
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Learn to ice fish with Madison Parks and the Wisconsin DNR with this Free Fishing Weekend event.
Participants will learn ice fishing techniques and how to properly and safely ice fish. This is a free event offered during the Free Fishing Weekend, and no fishing license is required. Advanced registration is required. This event is open to adults and children and is ideal for people ages 7 years and older. Children must be supervised by a parent or adult guardian. Participants will be asked to sign a waiver for themselves and their children upon arrival.
Ice Fishing Adventure
Kettle Moraine State Forest - Pike Lake
Saturday, Jan. 21
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Join the Ranger for insight into the world of ice fishing on free fishing weekend! There will be knot tying, tip-up fishing, pan-fish jigging, and demonstrations of several types of ice fishing equipment. All ages and skill levels are welcome! Equipment will be supplied but may be limited. Vehicle admission is required. This event will take place on the beach.
Candlelight Events
Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR
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What state park property are you most looking forward to visiting in 2023?
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