DNR Parks And Recreation News
What’s Happening In Wisconsin's State Parks,
Forests, Trails And Recreation Areas
 Driving through fall color is a great way to see multiple sights each trip. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
Looking to see tons of red, yellow, orange and brown foliage? Many of our parks have phenomenal roadside views with plenty of parking available. Be sure to buy a 2023 admission sticker from the DNR admissions page if you haven't already.
Here are some tips on staying safe while enjoying the best fall colors from the road:
- With fall comes quickly changing weather conditions and reduced daylight hours. Stay ahead on vehicle maintenance and replace dim or burned out headlights. Cleaning or polishing headlight lenses can help with visibility too.
- Wet leaves stick to windshields, so clear these before heading out. Do not count on them blowing away while driving. A clean windshield and sunglasses reduce morning and evening glare.
- These beautiful fallen leaves also obscure hazards (below and above road level) and can be slippery with wet conditions. With this, ensure your tires have enough tread to channel water away from the wheels. Be careful with puddles, as some may be unexpectedly deep with seasonal rainfall.
- Be mindful of others. Watch for children near schools or along roads before and after school. Joggers, pedestrians and cyclists are also likely to be on the roads on comfortable cooler weather days. Keep an eye out for wildlife and deer, especially around dawn and dusk. Where there is one, there are likely more.
- Bring another person along for the drive. One person takes the wheel while the other relaxes and takes in the scenery. Swap roles throughout the drive and get the best of both worlds. As always, leave extra space ahead of the vehicle for stopping distance.
- When planning a drive to a forested overlook destination, consider which direction the overlook faces, and if that area would best better be viewed during sunrise, sunset or mid-day.
Now you're ready to take on the road and the leaves even safer than before. Read this article on 11 Scenic Drives to Experience Fall in Wisconsin by our friends at Travel Wisconsin. To find more parks near you, check out the DNR's Find a Park page.
Whispering Pines Day Use Area
On Sept. 17, Hartman Creek State Park and the Friends of Hartman Creek hosted a “Grand Reopening” of the Whispering Pines Day Use Area, which paid homage to the property’s past life as a private resort in the mid 1900’s while celebrating its newest additions.
Many of the public in attendance reminisced about their childhood years visiting the quirky resort, which included a souvenir shop, coffee hut, museum, tamed fish feeding and a small campground.
The project included new split rail fencing, construction of a new hiking trail with viewsheds of Pope, Marl and Manomin Lakes, an accessible gravel trail to a scenic overlook and seven interpretive signs highlighting the unique past and present features of the property.
Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
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 Polk Kames is one of many Ice Age Trail segments across the state. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
Polk Kames State Ice Age Trail Area
Continuing with our series featuring Ice Age Trail hikes on State Ice Age Trail Areas (SIATAs), this week we turn to the Polk Kames.
Located on the northeast side of Slinger in southeastern Wisconsin, this 2-mile part of the Cedar Lakes segment of the Ice Age Trail is located entirely on the Polk Kames State Ice Age Trail Area. (SIATAs are lands managed by the DNR Bureau of Parks and Recreation with the Ice Age Trail as the primary use.)
There is one parking area on the north side of the property along County Highway NN. There is also parking in various places along the IAT as it winds through Slinger.
The segment weaves around glacial features known as moulin kames, which formed where the melt water on top of a glacier carried soil and rocks that fell into vertical shafts in the glacier leaving conically shaped hills. Eastern Wisconsin is world-famous among geologists for its moulin kames.
As always, the Ice Age Trail is marked with yellow blazes. Other trails on this SIATA are marked with white or blue blazes.
Public hunting is allowed on parts of the property that are more than 300 feet from the Ice Age Trail. Wear some bright orange clothing when hiking this time of year.
The Ice Age Trail is a partnership project of the National Park Service, Wisconsin DNR and Ice Age Trail Alliance.
Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
Friday the 13th (Haunted Hike)
Friday, Oct. 13, 2023
6 – 9 p.m.
Friday the 13th is coming to Kettle Moraine State Forest - Lapham Peak Unit this October. Test your luck on this 1-mile+, dimly-lit forest trail, and see if you can spy all 13 static, iconic horror characters along the way.
Unlike our annual Fright Hike held later this month, there will be no live actors or jump scares on Friday the 13th. This new, one-night-only event might provide a milder opportunity to introduce older children to their first haunt.
The hike is held on Oct. 13, 2023, rain or shine. Limited tickets available online only. The cost is $13 per person. Lapham Peak State Park requires a $5 vehicle fee or an annual state park sticker to enter. Concessions will be available. All proceeds benefit Friends of Lapham Peak.
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Halloween Hike And Mystery Guest
Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023
6 – 7 p.m.
Take a self-guided hike in the woods on the trails lit by torchlight. Use your detective skills to guess who the mystery guest will be at the amphitheater. There will be four clue boxes along the path to assist you with your detective work. After or before your hike, enjoy some time by the campfire and enjoy some hot chocolate/cider and sweet treats.
Meet at the beach area of Mirror Lake State Park.
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Fall Colors Hike
Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Enjoy the fall colors and learn something new about Rib Mountain State Park. Join the park naturalist for a short hike on the Green Trail and explore the history, wildlife and plant life at the park.
The Green Trail is approximately 0.5 miles and is paved. This loop is considered an easy hike with little to no topographical change. This is a historical Rib Mountain trail that features rock steps built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
Hikes begin hourly at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m.
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Spider Hike
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Take a walk with our park naturalist to search for spiders, webs and other creepy crawlies at Lakeshore State Park.
Meet at the park’s north entrance, just west of Discovery World. The hike will end at the bonfire at the pebble beach.
All ages and abilities are welcome.
Find more information on these and other events on the DNR Events calendar.
Photo Credits: Wisconsin DNR
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