DNR Parks And Recreation News
What’s Happening In Wisconsin's State Parks,
Trails, Forests And Recreation Areas
 OutWiGo Green is the perfect opportunity to try a new activity, learn a new skill or sharpen an existing one. / Photo credits: Wisconsin DNR
Mark your calendars for OutWiGo Green – our spring extravaganza at the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit. OutWiGo Green is a play on words, 'green' meaning both being "new" and "conservation" focused. This event will be a big celebration of all the ways you can find your adventure at Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails and recreation areas.
The "new" is because we want you, your friends and your family members to find new ways to explore Wisconsin at OutWiGo Green. We have experts and enthusiasts from across southern Wisconsin lined up to share their favorite outdoor activities. With hands-on clinics, demonstrations, panels and one-on-one talks with experts, you'll be able to take part in water and land-based activities.
Plus, we want to share more information about conservation with you: air quality, Green Tier programs, Leave No Trace principles, stormwater runoff, sustainable forest practices, water quality, wildlife management and more.
Events will be spread across four locations in the state forest. Ottawa Lake Recreation Area will have children's activities, boat and camping activities, food trucks, music and Wisconsin recreational equipment to try out. At Scuppernong Trail Head, take a guided hike, learn about the Ice Age Trail, embrace the senses in the forest and learn other forest-based activities. The Dog Trial Field Grounds and John Muir Trail System are also hosting activities as part of this event.
Who should attend? Anyone! Activities are geared toward children, young adults, adults and seniors. Adaptive opportunities are available.
What does it cost? All vehicles entering the state forest must have vehicle admission (pay for a day pass, an annual sticker or check out a day pass from some public libraries). Adults 18+ are $5 each.
What can I do? Here are a few of the activities for you to explore:
- Archery
- Astronomy
- Backpacking
- Birding
- Camping
- Dog Trailing
- Equestrian
- Fire building
- Fishing
- Forest Bathing
- Geocaching
- Hiking
- Insect Collection
- Kayaking & Standup Paddleboarding
- Motorized Sports
- Mountain Biking
- Nature Crafts
- Nature Photography
- Orienteering
- Rock Climbing
- Stream Ecology
- Trail Running
- Trout Fishing
- Wilderness First Aid
You can learn more on our website and by following along at our Facebook event page. We'll have a schedule of events coming soon.
Participating organizations include:
Access Ability Wisconsin, Badger Orienteering Club, Badger Trails, Inc, Driftless Curiosity, Friends of Wisconsin State Parks and groups, Hike it Baby Southeast Wisconsin, Ice Age Trail Alliance, Insect Ambassadors, Southern Kettle Moraine Horse Trail Association, MKE Urban Trail Connectors, Master Naturalists, Milwaukee Astronomical Society, Milwaukee Recreation, National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA)/ GRiT (Girls Riding Together), National Park Service, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, Off-Highway Motorcycle Association, Office of Outdoor Recreation, Southeast Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Southern Kettles Off-Road Riders, The Arc Dane County, Trail Sisters, Travel Wisconsin, Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center, UCP of West Central Wisconsin, Wisconsin ATV Association, Wisconsin Bike Federation, Wisconsin Coalition of Four Wheel Drives, Wisconsin Geocaching Association, Wisconsin Horse Council, Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, Zoological Society of Milwaukee
Additionally, DNR experts from a variety of programs will be there to answer your questions and discuss the many different ways we work to protect and enhance Wisconsin's natural resources.
Plus, local bike stores and gear outfitters, outdoor gear manufacturers, climbing gyms and guides, food trucks/vendors, musicians, photographers and nature-based practitioners.
Be Like The Deer
Follow the steps of the deer and stay on the trail! Sidestepping the mud can lead to crushed vegetation and erosion. While we're in mud season, horse trails and off-road bike trails are closed.
The Ice Age Trail Alliance offers more mud season hiking tips for the Ice Age Trail:
“As the snow melts and ground thaws, the Ice Age Trail softens up, and it’s easier to create ruts in the Trail. Ruts fill with water and form puddles, and people avoid them by going around them, which widens the trail," says Dave Caliebe, Ice Age Trail Alliance Trail Program Manager. "Heavy use on the Trail in really wet conditions causes more vegetative disturbance, soil disturbance, and erosion. If you see a wet area or a puddle, hike through it, don’t hike around it."
“The nice thing about the Ice Age Trail is you are always near one or two other segments, so you can always pick and choose which segment you want to hike," says Caliebe. "Areas that are more upland are going to be drier and will shed water better. Areas with sandier soil also dry out quicker, such as places like Waushara County, Waupaca County and a lot of the Central Sands counties.”
Find more spring hiking tips on the Ice Age Trail website.
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 Lake views and glacial features provide great vistas on the trails within this 2,000-acre park. Considered a rustic, or quiet, property, Straight Lake State Park has what some would say to be the most scenic segment of the Ice Age Trail.
No motorized uses are allowed here, and the park is open to the public for foot traffic only. The eponymous Straight Lake has two carry-in boat launches, one on the east side and one on the west side near the camping parking area. It was originally created for logging before being dammed. Anglers can find different fish species, such as northern pike, bass and panfish.
Rainbow Lake is a seepage lake, meaning there is no inlet or outlet. All water in Rainbow Lake is from precipitation and groundwater. Because of this, rainbow trout are stocked each year in spring and fall. Both lakes are entirely undeveloped and provide critical habitat for a variety of species.
Hikers can enjoy about 8.5 miles of trails throughout the park. Additionally, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail winds through the middle of the park along the Straight River and Straight Lake. It's about 20 miles from here to Interstate Park, the western terminus of the Ice Age Trail.
About 1.1 billion years ago, the area that is now Straight Lake State Park was part of a mid-continental rift. Magma oozed out of the rift forming basalt, which can still be seen in several areas of the park. Many years later, during the last Ice Age, several of the park's features, still seen today, were formed. The most distinctive glacial feature in the park is the tunnel channel – formed when pressured water flowed under the glacier to cut the channel. This channel can be seen on the Ice Age Trail to the east of Rainbow Lake.
There are ten hike-in campsites, and some of the campsites feature beautiful water views. The park has opportunities for canoeing/kayaking, picnicking, fishing and hiking. However, bikes are not allowed here. This great little hidden gem property has also been nominated as an important bird area by the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative.
Make plans to get to a quiet place this summer to visit Straight Lake State Park. What birds do you see and hear? Take note of wildlife you hear, see or see evidence of. What remnants of the Ice Age do you see, or think you see, as you hike around this park?
Straight Lake State Park is located in Luck, in Polk County. Learn more about it on the DNR's website.
Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR
Esteemed primatologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, who was the first scientist to observe the human-like behaviors of chimpanzees, will share her story and hope for the environmental future at a free Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS) Committee-hosted talk at UW-Madison.
The event includes a 90-minute speech and Q&A with Goodall. The event is free. In-person tickets are sold out, but the event will be livestreamed. Registration is required.
Mondays At Mead: Quality Wetland Habitat And Impact Of Invasives
Mead Wildlife Area Center
Monday, March 27
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Join us for Mondays at Mead: Quality Wetland Habitat and Impact of Invasives with Chris Hamerla, Golden Sands RC&D. This event is both in-person and virtual. Register online for the Zoom link.
Spring Into Fitness Hike
Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Thursday, March 30
5 - 6 p.m.
The after-work hikes continue! Depending on trail conditions, we will either walk Rhodes Road (paved road north of 142) or the Blue Trail. This event is weather dependent; it will be canceled in the event of rain. Pets on a leash are welcome.
Photo credit: Board of Regents of University of Wisconsin System
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Seasonal Work At Wisconsin State Parks
It's not too late to apply for a position at Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails and recreation areas! Applications are still being accepted for summer seasonal positions.
Pay, hours and more information are available online. Applications are only accepted online. Search by entering the keyword "parks" or by agency, Dept. of Natural Resources.
You may also contact a property directly for more information.
Photo: Seasonal worker at Big Bay State Park, which is currently hiring! / Photo Credit: Dave Lindsley, Wisconsin DNR
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Where do you OutWiGo in spring?
Share your photos on Instagram and Facebook and use #OutWiGo!
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