DNR Parks And Recreation News
What’s Happening In Wisconsin's State Parks,
Trails, Forests And Recreation Areas
 In the summer, the accessible fishing pier at Mirror Lake State Park is a perfect place to cast a line or enjoy the peaceful view. / Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR
Are you planning your summer adventures and looking for universally accessible outdoor activities for all? We have some special places here in our state that provide diverse outdoor recreation opportunities that are inclusive of individuals, families and friends of all abilities.
High Cliff State Park on Lake Winnebago is one of those special places. Perfect for a day trip or a camping trip, High Cliff has two accessible camping sites, the paved Butterfly Pond Trail (take a break on the bridge or fish from the accessible fishing pier), the limestone-surfaced Indian Mounds Trail (which takes you past effigy mounds built by Native Americans 1,500 years ago) and a new accessible playground courtesy of the Friends of High Cliff State Park.
Experience the state park side of Wisconsin Dells with visits to Buckhorn State Park, located north of Wisconsin Dells, and Mirror Lake State Park in Baraboo, just south of Wisconsin Dells. Both parks provide accessible outdoor recreation opportunities complemented by beautiful Wisconsin scenery.
Buckhorn State Park, right on the Castle Rock Flowage of the Wisconsin River, is home to oak barrens, a unique ecosystem you can experience on the Oak Barrens Nature Trail. The trail includes a half-mile long paved loop and boardwalk to overlook the barrens. See more of the park on the 0.6-mile crushed rock Buckhorn Campground Trail and stay at one of the three accessible campsites or reserving the accessible cabin, which still has availability into 2023 (but check the DNR website before making plans, as availability may change).
Check out the park’s beach wheelchair so you can spend your days on the sandy shores of Castle Rock Lake. Plan a picnic at either the south or north picnic shelters – both are accessible, or fish from the 90-foot accessible fishing pier by the north picnic area, one of the best places to fish in the park. Get on the water in an adaptive kayak and enjoy the 1.8-mile interpretive canoe trail.
At Mirror Lake State Park, fish for trout off the accessible fishing pier to the north of the boat launch – the lake is stocked in the fall and spring every year. Boating in the lake is slow and no-wake only, so fishing there is really peaceful.
After fishing, go right from the boat landing parking area to the Echo Rock Trail, a 0.6-mile paved trail that will take you past a scenic vista of the lake and to the Cliffwood Campground. Settle in for the night at one of the park’s two accessible campsites or the accessible cabin, which is fully booked for 2023 but could open up if there are cancellations (check availability on the DNR website or by calling 608-254-2333).
Learn more about universal outdoor recreation throughout Wisconsin. Plan your adventure today!
Check Out Wisconsin State Parks At Your Library on Thursday, April 6 For National Library Day!
Like parks, forests and other public lands, libraries are vital places of enrichment.
Last fall, we began the Check Out Wisconsin State Parks program. Through this pilot program, we got 1,000 day passes to Wisconsin state parks into the public library system for check-out by library cardholders. We are so excited to share that this program is expanding in May 2023! More info about additional libraries participating in this program is coming soon.
Through this program, we’ve provided an opportunity for Wisconsin residents to visit our state parks and forests without the financial barrier of the entry fee.
Check Out Wisconsin State Parks is a collaborative effort between the DNR, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries, with funding from:
- The C.W. Besadny Conservation Fund of the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin
- Friends of Wisconsin State Parks
- Nicolet Federated Library System
- Southwestern Wisconsin Library System
Find more information about Check Out Wisconsin State Parks on the DNR's OutWiGo webpage.
Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR
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State Trails Council Meeting
The quarterly meeting of the State Trails Council is Thursday, April 6. The meeting will be held in person in Brillion and via Zoom. The full agenda will be posted online.
 The Cambrian Overlook offers great views in every season. / Photo credit: Patrick Cieslewicz, Wisconsin DNR
In addition to the universal activities at Mirror Lake State Park listed above, Mirror Lake is a beautiful state park tucked away from the hubbub of the busy attractions in Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton. It should come as no surprise; it was the amazing natural resources that first made this part of the state a tourist destination.
Mirror Lake is surrounded by pine and oak woods, and beyond, there are sandy prairies and former farm fields that are now rich with natural wildflowers, shrubs and trees. The marshes, fields, open woodlands, lakeshore and steep valleys are home for different types of birdlife.
Many kinds of wildlife are abundant and easily observed here. Others are scarce or quite shy and require careful observation techniques to be seen. The most often seen mammals are deer, raccoons, squirrels, bats, chipmunks and muskrats. Less often seen are beavers, mink, red foxes, cottontail rabbits and coyotes.
Just a few miles from Mirror Lake, on a bluff top on the west side of the Wisconsin River, the Cambrian Overlook offers a sweeping vista of the Upper Dells and the high cliffs known as the Palisades. This day-use area has a small observation deck, restrooms and drinking water. The parking lot and restrooms are open seasonally between Memorial Day and Labor Day. During the off-season, the parking lot gate and restrooms are locked, but the area is still open. The Cambrian Overlook is a fee area - vehicles parked here must display a valid Wisconsin State Park admission sticker.
The Dells of the Wisconsin River encompasses over 5 miles of Wisconsin River corridor with a spectacular gorge, cliffs, tributary canyons, and rock formations carved into Cambrian sandstone. Formed between 510-520 million years ago, some cliffs rise over one hundred feet above the water and have been shaped by the erosive processes of water and wind.
With a variety of exposures and moisture regimes, the cliffs afford many different niches for plants, some of which are very rare in Wisconsin. One species is known only two places on Earth - here and in the Kickapoo Valley and grows on protected rock ledges. This area contains a mosaic of plant communities including northern and southern oak/pine forests, oak savanna, and moist and dry cliffs. Rare animals include six dragonfly species, six rare mussels and numerous birds.
While set aside to protect the rare plants and animals, the Dells also has an important cultural history that spans several thousand years. Various Native Americans, ranging from early Paleo-Indian people to the more recent Ho-Chunk, Sac, and Menominee, were attracted to the scenic waterway, and left behind archeological evidence such as effigy and burial mounds, camps and village sites, garden beds and rock art.
Dells of the Wisconsin is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1994. Learn more about the designation on the DNR's webpage.
Mirror Lake State Park is located in Sauk County. Learn more about it on the DNR's Mirror Lake State Park webpage.
 Hiking trails at Mirror Lake State Park take visitors past sandstone walls and the namesake lake. / Photo credit: Wisconsin Department of Tourism
Two race events at Blue Mound State Park are coming up in June! Sign up today!
Blue Mound Trail Run
Blue Mound State Park
Saturday, June 3
7 a.m.
The Blue Mound Trail Run has distances of 10K and 18K. This scenic and challenging run takes you to the low points and high points in Blue Mound State Park on beautiful single track and ski trail. Registration is open right now.
Horribly Hilly Hundreds
Blue Mound State Park
Saturday, June 17
6:45 a.m.
Registration for one of the Midwest's toughest challenges for the serious cyclist closes April 7! With up to 10,000 feet of elevation gain, riders participate in this challenging ride that serves as an important fundraiser for Friends of Blue Mound State Park. Choose between the 100K, 150K, and 200K routes. The day is capped with a meal featuring quality local food and beer. Register online today for the Horribly Hilly Hundreds.
Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR
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Work For Wisconsin State Parks
You can join our great crew this summer 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 agency, Dept. of Natural Resources.
You may also contact a property directly for more information.
Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
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Where are your favorite state park properties to read at?
What's your favorite outdoor-themed book?
Share your photos on Instagram and Facebook and tag us with #OutWiGo and #OutWiGoReads!
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