DNR Parks And Recreation News
What’s Happening In Wisconsin's State Parks,
Forests, Trails And Recreation Areas
 Whether you're in the mood for a peaceful float with the family or the challenge of an exciting ride through whitewater, the 44-mile Bois Brule River in northern Wisconsin offers a water and woods experience, with portages, trout fishing and seclusion. / Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR
The first Saturday in June is recognized as National Trails Day, a day where we celebrate America's trails. National Trails Day highlights the importance of both the National Trails System and local trails. It's also a day of service to give back to the trails and move towards a world where everyone has access to trails.
There are 44 state trails across Wisconsin and thousands of hiking, biking and water trails across Wisconsin's state parks, forests, recreation areas and wild rivers and flowages.
Here are a few ways to get out and explore Wisconsin's trails:
Hiking
Wisconsin's state parks and forests protect the most beautiful parts of the state, offering some of the best trails for exploring the outdoors. Whether hiking for a short distance or a multi-day excursion, hikers can find more than 2,700 miles of trail at Wisconsin state properties. Hiking is allowed at all properties - search for the property where you would like to hike next on our Find-A-Park feature.
National Scenic Trails
Wisconsin is also home to two National Scenic Trails, the Ice Age Trail (which is located wholly in Wisconsin) and the North Country Trail (which travels from North Dakota to Vermont). Find hiking and cross-country skiing opportunities on these trails and camping in designated areas.
Biking
There are more than one thousand miles of great off-road bicycling opportunities on public lands throughout Wisconsin. There are three different kinds of experiences for bicyclists on Wisconsin's state trails: bicycle touring trails, off-road bicycle trails and constructed mountain bike trails. Learn more about state bike trails.
Water Trails
With more than 15,000 lakes, 43,000 miles of rivers and 800 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, there is no shortage of paddling opportunities in Wisconsin. Water trails provide a network of access points, resting places and attractions for users of water craft on lakes and rivers. In Wisconsin, some trails are interpretive routes, some take paddlers to campsites (like this kayaker site at Point Beach State Forest), some connect communities, but all allow visitors to experience the natural beauty of our state by this original mode of transportation.
Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
Horseback Riding
Horseback riders can ride on more than 700 miles of trails in Wisconsin state parks, forests, recreation areas and unsurfaced trails on former rail lines. This page lists places with a mile or more of horse trails. Six of these properties offer a total of 175 campsites where visitors can camp with their horses. Some trails may be closed seasonally or due to surface conditions.
Riders ages 16 and older must have an annual or daily state trail pass to use most horse trails.
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If you're looking to get involved with trails, there are several opportunities.
Volunteer
The Wisconsin DNR has a wide variety of volunteer options available at properties across the state. Our volunteer opportunities are listed in the Volunteer Impact System.
Volunteers may donate their time for what their schedule allows. Whether you're volunteering for a few hours at a property workday, or for a couple of weeks as a campground host, your service makes a world of difference.
You can volunteer as an individual or as part of a service project for a group, organization or business.
Get involved with a local chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance, the organization dedicated to conserving, creating and maintaining the Ice Age Trail.
Friends Groups
A Friends group is a group of people who have an interest in Wisconsin’s natural resources and who volunteer their time, services and support to enhance Wisconsin's state park properties. These groups have a formal nonprofit partnership with the DNR. There are over 60 of these Friends groups.
Trails Councils
Two trails councils provide studies, advice, consultation, advocacy and guidance on all matters related to nonmotorized and motorized recreation and transportation trails, including trail planning, acquisition, development, maintenance and management.
The Wisconsin State Trails Council and Nonmotorized Recreation and Transportation Trails Council both meet quarterly to discuss topics of concern to each group and share information and resources.
The councils are independent forums for finding solutions to trail problems for both motorized and nonmotorized groups and are a statewide advocate for public/private cooperation in funding and management of trail systems. Wisconsin is a national leader in creating partnerships that provide for state ownership coupled with county management of trails.
Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
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Wisconsin Bike Week Is June 3 - 10
Bike Week celebrates all things biking, whether for work, shopping, errands, exercise or fun. So, fill up your tires, strap on your helmet and get pedaling!
From commuter stations to community rides, workshops and even overnight camping trips, Wisconsin Bike Week is your chance to experience the best of your community by bike. Check out events across Wisconsin on the Wisconsin Bike Fed's website.
If you're in Dane County, DNR staff and the Friends of Military Ridge State Trail will be on the Military Ridge State Trail during your morning commute on June 7. Stop by and say hi, grab a cup of coffee and check out some cool giveaways.
Photo Credit: Travel Wisconsin
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Leave No Trace Comes To Peninsula State Park
Leave No Trace, a national non-profit outdoor sustainability and stewardship organization, has selected Peninsula State Park as a 2023 Spotlight site. As outdoor areas all over the country are being impacted by record use, this new initiative from Leave No Trace shines a light on communities rising to meet this challenge. From June 8-10, a Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Team will be in Fish Creek with Destination Door County and Peninsula State Park to deliver Leave No Trace education as well as partner on restoration and stewardship projects.
The following events are free and open to the public, and people of all ages are encouraged to attend. For more information visit Destination Door County online.
Thursday, June 8
Leave No Trace Spotlight Social, 4 - 8 p.m.
Friday, June 9
Leave No Trace Pop-Up at Eagle Tower, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Naturalist Guided Hikes, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Community Campfire: Campfire Safety 101, 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 10
National Get Outdoors Day Stewardship Workday, 8 a.m. - noon
Shakespeare In The State Parks Starts Soon!
Three witches visit brave warrior Macbeth with a vision of the future: he will be crowned king of Scotland. Determined to do whatever it takes to make this prophecy come true, he embarks on a ruthless quest for power. A web of secrets, trickery and danger entangles Macbeth, his wife Lady Macbeth, his rival Macduff and countless others as he claws his way to the top. Six actors play all the parts in this spooky, free, all-ages play.
Join the Summit Players Theatre troupe for Shakespeare in the State Parks! This traveling show includes a Shakespearean workshop followed by a performance.
Each Summit Players performance is an accessible 75-minute show preceded by a 45-minute educational workshop entitled “Inside Shakespeare’s Story: Macbeth,” offered to kids and “fun adults.” Both the performance and workshop are free. Vehicle admission into the state park property is required. See the full schedule on the DNR Events Calendar.
Photo Credit: Summit Players Theatre
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 Roche-A-Cri mound was formed about 15,000 years ago as an island in glacial Lake Wisconsin. / Photo Credit: Bob Queen
Happy birthday, Roche-A-Cri! This weekend we celebrate 75 years of Roche-A-Cri as a state park.
Although it's only been a Wisconsin state park for 75 years, Roche-A-Cri has a long history. The defining centerpiece of the park is Roche-A-Cri mound (above), a Cambrian sandstone remnant formed as an island in glacial Lake Wisconsin about 15,000 years ago. Visitors to the park today can make their way to the top of the 300-foot mound, where a platform offers views of the surrounding counties and mounds. This area of the state is known as the Central Sands Plains.
In addition to the topographic features here, this area is an important archaeological site. Roche-A-Cri State Park has the only interpreted rock art site in the state. Petroglyphs can still be seen today that were carved before A.D. 900 and pictographs painted 400-500 years ago. The observation area is west of the office on the main park road. The accessible ramp and observation deck allow all visitors to view the petroglyphs and pictographs. Rock art consists of a number of stylized birds, bird tracks and other bird symbols. One painting depicts a connection between a human and a thunderbird. The mound also has numerous more recent carvings from the mid-1800s to the 1950s.
Today, Roche-A-Cri is a 604-acre state park located outside Friendship. In warmer seasons, the park is used for picnicking, hiking, fishing, camping and archaeological and historical tourism.
The public is invited to join the Friends of Roche-A-Cri State Park in celebrating its 75th anniversary on Saturday, June 3. See details below.
Roche-A-Cri State Park is located in Adams County.
Free Fun Weekend Open Houses, Fishing Clinics And National Trails Day Events
- Buckhorn State Park
- Capital City State Trail
- Devil's Lake State Park
- Harrington Beach State Park
- Havenwoods State Forest
- High Cliff State Park
- Kettle Moraine State Forest - Pike Lake Unit
- Mirror Lake State Park
- Point Beach State Forest
- Red Cedar State Trail
- Rib Mountain State Park
- Wildcat Mountain State Park
- Willow River State Park
Find details and the full schedule of events on the DNR Events Calendar.
75th Anniversary Of Roche-A-Cri State Park
Roche-A-Cri State Park
Saturday, June 3
1 - 3 p.m.
Join the Friends of Roche-A-Cri at the picnic shelter at 1 p.m. to celebrate 75 years with cake and refreshments. Stop at the petroglyphs for a rock art and history presentation at 2 p.m.
National Trails Day On The Bearskin
Bearskin State Trail
Saturday, June 3
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
It's National Trails Day, and also this year, the Bearskin State Trail turns 50.
Come out for free cookies while supplies last, refill your water bottle, check out some information on the trails and pick up your OutWiGo merchandise. Cash only. Then, enjoy a walk or bike ride on the trail. It's also Free Fun Weekend, so no bike passes are required.
The event is rain or shine unless in the event of very inclement weather.
Meet at Bearskin Trailhead Park, 615 Bearskin Way (downtown Minocqua behind the US Post Office).
Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
Fishing In The Dark!
Willow River State Park
Sunday, June 4
7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Join us just before dusk and watch the sunset, as we cast our lines off into Little Falls Lake!
If the fish ain't bitin’, there will be plenty of other fish-related activities to keep you hooked! We’ll have a few fishing poles available to use during the event but feel free to bring your own fishing pole and tackle box along with you.
**This event costs $5/person or $10/family (cash or card) in support of the Friends of Willow River State Park's nonprofit mission. Events are free to Friends members, become one here.
Vehicle admission into the park is required. All outdoor events are weather-dependent.
Meet at the Little Falls Dam picnic shelter.
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We're Hiring
Still looking for that summer job opportunity that lets you get outside? Looking to be a part of the Wisconsin DNR this summer? Applications are still being accepted for summer seasonal positions.
Read more about open positions and the pay, hours and more information online. Applications are only accepted via the Wisc.Jobs website. To find all openings, search by agency and select Dept. of Natural Resources, or contact your favorite property to find out if positions are available.
Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
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