DNR Parks And Recreation News

What’s Happening In Wisconsin's State Parks,
Forests, Trails And Recreation Areas

Wisconsin is home to thousands of beautiful beaches along our lakes and rivers. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

Beach Season Is Here

On these warm, sunny days, it's hard not to daydream about being outside near some water. Wisconsin's state parks, forests and recreation areas provide plenty of opportunities for swimming, sunbathing and building epic sandcastles. Here are a few recommendations and a few tips to make your day at the beach drama free!

Beach Tips

• Find your spot: During busy times, bring a blanket or towels for picnicking when tables are full or to pick a spot for your party.
• Universal accessibility: Several state park properties have equipment that makes beach terrain more accessible to more visitors. Specialized beach wheelchairs have large inflatable tires that allow for easy maneuvering on sand and entry into the water. Beach access mats provide a stable surface for people in wheelchairs or those with difficulty walking. Check our website often for existing and upcoming additions.
• Pack snacks: Nuts, fruit, veggies, granola bars and other non-meltable snacks are good for balancing out all of the energy expended.
• Sunscreen: All skin types are susceptible to the sun's UV rays. Remember to apply and reapply sunscreen often.
• Pack in, pack out: Wisconsin state park properties are pack in, pack out, meaning you must take out any waste you bring into the property. This includes pet waste.
• Pet beaches: Pets are not allowed on people beaches, but they do have their own swimming areas in some park properties. Check the list before heading out.
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: Always bring water and a water bottle. The sun can cause our bodies to need more water.

Ready To Swim? Try One Of These Park Properties:

• Big Foot Beach: It has "beach" in its name! What more could you ask for? Let us know if you see Big Foot.
• Brule River State Forest: Discover one of the Brule River's beaches where the river meets Lake Superior.
• Copper Falls State Park: Check out the famous waterfall, then hit Loon Lake for a fun time.
• Harrington Beach State Park: Take a break from Lake Michigan and a head to an inland lake to cool off.
• Hartman Creek State Park: Hartman Lake has a 300-foot sand beach and large marked-off swimming area adjacent to 3 acres of multi-use lawn area with picnic tables, drinking water and a combination changing and toilet building.
• Kohler-Andrae State Park: Stake out a spot on the sand dunes along Lake Michigan and enjoy the beach. Take a water break with a walk along the cordwalk or forested, universally accessible nature trail.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest - Pike Lake Unit: There are a wide range of recreation activities at Pike Lake. Go for a boat ride or paddle, hike or take a dip at the beach.
• Lake Wissota State Park: Enjoy the swimming beach on this 6,300-acre human-made lake. Boating, canoeing, kayaking and water skiing are also popular summer activities on the lake.
• Yellowstone Lake State Park: One of a few lakes in southwestern Wisconsin, 450-acre Yellowstone Lake has a beach and boat landing just a short walk from a large family campground and group campground.

Outdoor News And Announcements

Leave No Trace: Rock Stacking Have you been out hiking and come across stacks of rocks? These stacks of rocks are often used for wayfinding, called cairns. Cairns that exist for wayfinding are official trail signage and should not be tampered with. Some national parks have specific styles of cairns. Rock cairns as trail signage are specifically constructed to be self-draining, and any tampering, such as adding or removing rocks, can impact their effectiveness. Rock stacks made by individuals for fun or to express artistic creativity can harm the environment by disturbing insect or animal habitats, leading to erosion or removing attached organisms like lichens and algae, which serve important roles like filtering pollutants from the air. The visual impacts of human-made rock formations can detract from the solitude that many visitors to state parks, forests and other protected areas seek. In the spirit of leaving no trace, please, do not build rock formations in Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails, recreation areas and other park properties. You can learn more about rock stacking on the DNR's website.  Photo Credit: Neal Herbert, National Park Service

Whitefish Dunes State Park

The beach at Whitefish Dunes is a great place to spend a summer day! / Photo Credit: Sarah Stepanik, Wisconsin DNR

Whitefish Dunes is located on the Lake Michigan side of Door County. This day-use park protects the fragile dune environment on the eastern side of the peninsula. Take a meander on one of the many trails throughout the sand dunes and forest, or go for a swim in Lake Michigan.

Beach
A sandy beach provides a great place to set out an umbrella and lay down your towels. Swimming is welcome here, but please use caution. No lifeguards are present, and rip currents can be dangerous when large waves are present. 

A beach wheelchair is available for people with disabilities. Be sure to ask about it inside the park office, but please note that due to high water, the universally accessible beach access is currently unavailable.   

Kayak tours are available on the second beach (reservations are required).

Please remember that no campfires, glass, grills or metal detectors are allowed on the beach.

Pets are not allowed on the section of beach from the nature center to the third beach access through Nov. 1. The pet beach access is about a 0.75-mile walk from the parking lot. 

Nature In The Dunes
You may notice flowers blooming later at Whitefish Dunes than in other areas. The proximity to Lake Michigan keeps their timetable as much as two to four weeks behind the western shore of Door County. The cold lake temperature cools the climate, which explains this phenomenon.

Living conditions are harsh on the dunes. The wind-driven sand and the hot sun make life difficult. Plants and animals living in this hostile environment have special adaptations to cope with extremes. These special adaptations make plants and animals unique to the dune environment. Another special environment is the rocky shoreline. Shallow soil and temperature extremes make life challenging for plants to grow. Both of these environments hold unique life. Please stay on the trails at the park to help protect rare plants like dune goldenrod, dune thistle, dwarf lake iris and sand reedgrass.

The universally accessible Brachiopod Trail contains a boardwalk over the park's wetland, crushed limestone and flat natural surface. There, enjoy the chorus of frogs and toads. Snakes are a rare find but worth the wait. Over a dozen reptiles and amphibians make their home at Whitefish Dunes. Whitefish Dunes is also home to many kinds of animals without backbones: insects, spiders, crayfish, worms and more. By closer observation, you will find that these creatures are fascinating and beautiful to observe and very important members of our world. For example, antlions make their traps in the sand while crayfish hide under rocks in the water. Butterflies are prevalent on sunny days after the heat has warmed their bodies. Find moths near lights at night, and beautiful spider webs become visible the morning after heavy dew. The only known Wisconsin population of Lake Huron locust is found in Door County, making it a state-endangered species. This species is found at Whitefish Dunes State Park. These insects prefer to live in open dunes and upper beach areas with very little vegetation. Without habitat protection, the grasshoppers could become extinct. Please protect them by staying off the dunes. For a spectacular Door County day trip, head to Whitefish Dunes State Park this summer! Whitefish Dunes State Park is located in Sturgeon Bay. Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

Upcoming Events

Natural Resources Careers In Wildlife Mead Wildlife Area and Sandhill Wildlife Area Monday, June 12 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. For high school juniors to university freshmen. Come to Sandhill Wildlife Area and the Mead Wildlife Area to learn from the Department of Natural Resources experts themselves. This event is part of a series. Meet at the Mead Wildlife Area. 10 – 10:45 a.m. | Presentation with hands-on career activity 10:45 – 11 a.m. | Snack and break 11 a.m. – noon | Career-related volunteer project Registration is required as space is limited. To register, email Quinn.Brownell@wisconsin.gov or Sandra.DeRoche@wisconsin.gov.

Summer Naturalist Class Willow River State Park Wednesdays through June 29 10 a.m. Summer is here, join us and embrace it with exploration, observation and a whole lot of fun! In June, we’ll focus on plant and animal ID hikes on various trails throughout the park! Come to one class or join us weekly. Classes are open to individuals and families with children of all ages (though some classes may not be suitable for children under 6-8). Cost: $5/person for each individual class OR you can purchase a season pass for the entire month for $20/person. Vehicle admission into the park is also required. Learn more and register online. Stargazing At The Dark Sky Park: Constellations Newport State Park Friday, June 16 9:30 – 11 p.m. Join us at Wisconsin’s only designated Dark Sky Park for a night of star gazing. We’ll start with a brief talk about some of the summer constellations, then move on to some deep sky viewing of star and globular clusters (if conditions allow). Local astronomy enthusiasts will be on hand with telescopes and other equipment. Flashlights or headlamps with red lens covers are recommended. Though volunteers will be on hand to assist you, it is always a good idea to come during daytime hours to familiarize yourself with the area. As conditions are unpredictable, the date for this program will be decided as weather conditions are assessed. Check with the park office or the Newport Wilderness Society Facebook page for updates. This program will be canceled if viewing conditions are poor. Park at Lot 3 and follow the marked path. Pre-register for these upcoming events: Exploring Nature: Learn To Fly Fish, Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit Saturday, June 17 | Register by June 10 Wausau Wayfarers Hiking Meet Up, Rib Mountain State Park Saturday, June 17 | Register by June 14 Find more DNR events at our online events calendar.

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