DNR Parks And Recreation News
What’s Happening In Wisconsin's State Parks, Forests, Trails And Recreation Areas
 Jump into the new year with winter camping!
Never Too Cold For Camping
Don't let cold weather, snow or a lack thereof keep you from taking an outdoor adventure this winter. Celebrate 125 years of the Wisconsin State Park System with early-year camping – a challenging and rewarding winter activity.
Winter camping is a more primitive camping experience, a challenge many enjoy taking head-on. Water systems (flush toilet buildings, shower buildings, drinking fountains and dump stations) at state parks and forests are turned off for the winter season, and depending on staffing, campsites may or may not be plowed.
There are tons of ways to enjoy winter camping, from the warmth of a fire to connecting with the landscape and preparing plenty of hot drinks! Have children with you? Consider winter crafts, a nature scavenger hunt, campfire stories and wildlife viewing and tracking. Our other favorite activities include winter photography, cooking over the fire and stargazing. Pro tip: s'mores taste better on cold nights!
Many of these camping opportunities will specify where to park as part of a permit or reservation process. In other cases, campers should follow guidelines for overnight parking on DNR lands. Reminder: as of Jan. 1, 2025, for all outdoor campsites, the check-in time is 3 p.m., and the checkout time is 1 p.m. Save time and purchase your vehicle admission pass online.
Read more about how to stay cozy when winter camping in the latest issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine.
Note: Not all properties offer camping during nonsummer months, and camping seasons vary by property. Reservations are required for all standard sites. Explore the Wisconsin State Park System Going To Camp website for all available camping options for your selected dates.
Outdoor News And Announcements
 Record numbers of people got outside across the state for 2025 First Day Hikes.
First Day Hikes 2025
New Year's Day 2025 provided little or no snow across most of Wisconsin, but that didn't keep people indoors. Limited snow flurries in some areas and enthusiasm for the outdoors fueled record numbers across the Wisconsin State Park System for our annual First Day Hikes. Overall, 2,264 people participated at 24 different state properties in Wisconsin, with 3,910 miles hiked!
The largest showing occurred at a park that has not hosted a First Day Hike in over 20 years – High Cliff State Park, where 325 people hiked a total of 910 miles. Other especially busy properties included the Pike Lake and Southern units of the Kettle Moraine State Forest.
Mirror Lake State Park's First Day Hike in Baraboo marked the official kick-off of the 125th Anniversary of the Wisconsin State Park System. This anniversary celebration included a brief speaking program and a guided hike along Echo Rock and Cliffwood Coulee trails. Participants enjoyed refreshments around a bonfire supervised by Smokey Bear! A big thank you goes out to the Friends of Mirror Lake for supporting this keystone event!
First Day Hikes are part of a national effort organized by the National Association of State Park Directors. This year, there were 1,478 First Day Hikes held in all 50 state park systems. See America's State Parks webpage for more information about national events.
Governor's Proclamation
Governor Evers has proclaimed 2025 as the Wisconsin State Park System 125th Anniversary throughout the state of Wisconsin. To celebrate this occasion, we invite all Wisconsinites, outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs and state park aficionados to celebrate 125 years of adventure with us.
Bald Eagle Watching Days
Celebrate our national bird with Bald Eagle Watching Days! Jan. 18 and Jan. 19, 2025, mark the event days, which are free and open to the public in Sauk Prairie. Bald Eagle Watching Days celebrates eagles as they gather in winter areas, providing fantastic viewing opportunities as eagles from northern Wisconsin, Canada, northern Michigan and Minnesota move south in search of food. When hunting, they congregate in open water areas below dams along the Wisconsin, Mississippi and Fox rivers, where their growing presence has turned the sites into birdwatching destinations and inspired community events.
The best time to see foraging eagles will be in the early morning (8-10 a.m.) as they depart their nighttime communal roosts to feed along the river and two hours before dusk as they return to their roosts.
When viewing eagles at these events or on your own, biologists advise onlookers not to venture too close as it will cause the eagles to fly off. Guests are encouraged to stay in their cars unless they are at a staffed viewing site.
Find more information at the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council's website.
Buy Your Trail Pass
A state trail pass is required for all people age 16 or older who bike, cross-country ski, horseback ride or inline skate on certain trails. A state trail pass is not required for walking or hiking. State trail passes are valid for the calendar year. These passes can be purchased online, at individual properties, at DNR service centers or from state trail pass vendors. Purchase a Wisconsin state trail pass online by selecting "Trail Pass" under "Product Type."
Upcoming Events
Winter Nature Journaling (5-Week Course) Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, Willow River State Park 10 a.m. – noon
Join us on Thursdays at Willow River State Park as we explore the art of nature journaling, guided by the park's naturalists. This program, inspired by John Muir Laws's renowned work, will help deepen your appreciation for the natural world and guide you in creating a meaningful, personal journal filled with observations, questions and reflections.
All participants will receive a nature journal and art supplies, but feel free to bring items from home, too. Children ages 8 and up are welcome to join the course accompanied by a parent or guardian. Come dressed for the weather and be prepared to spend time outdoors for each session.
This 5-week course costs $25/person, and seats are limited.
A vehicle admission pass into the park is a separate and required fee.
Learn more and register online.
Ice Fishing Adventure Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit 9 a.m. – noon
Join Ranger Justin to learn the basics of ice fishing during the DNR's Free Fishing Weekend. There will be knot tying, tip up fishing, panfish jigging and demonstrations of several types of ice fishing equipment.
Equipment will be supplied, but the amount is limited. A vehicle admission pass is required.
Meet at the South Shelter.
Snowshoe Tracking Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit 10 a.m. – noon
Join us for a series of tracking adventures! Learn how to track in our forest. In dirt or snow, the creatures go! Warm clothing is recommended. Limited snowshoes are available if enough snow is present. There is no fee, and child sizing is included.
Bringing your own snowshoes is encouraged.
We will be on the Stute Springs Nature Trail, a 1.5-mile trail with moderate hills. Meet across from Emma Carlin Trails – Hwy Z, a half mile south of Eagle, Wisconsin. We recommend parking here if snowy conditions prevent parking at the Stute Springs lot.
A vehicle admission pass is required.
Bike Repair Workshop Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, Havenwoods State Forest 1 – 3 p.m.
Learn some basic repair skills at Havenwoods. The first part of this bike repair series will focus on changing tires and tubes.
Winter Bird Hike Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, Devil's Lake State Park 10 a.m. – noon
Head out into a wintery landscape in search of birds. Regardless of the weather, the birds are still out there, and we’ll see what we can find.
Be sure to dress for the weather and bring your binoculars and field guides; we’ll have some binoculars to share, but we cannot guarantee there will be enough for every participant.
This program is best for kids nine and up and adults. Please leave your dogs at home for this hike.
Meet at the Steinke Basin parking lot.
Candlelight Hike and Ski Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, Point Beach State Forest 5 – 7 p.m.
The Friends of Point Beach State Forest invite you to a magical evening of candlelit recreation. The forest and trails will be glowing with hundreds of luminaries.
Skiers and hikers can take an easy 1-mile loop on a candlelit trail groomed for classic skiing and hiking. The trails lace through the pine and hemlock forest.
The nature center will have a warming fire and hot chocolate. The trail starts at the northwest side of the Nature Center parking lot. Dogs are allowed only on hiking trails and not in buildings.
A vehicle admission pass is required and can be purchased at the office on the day of the event.
Winter Birds Bus Tour Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, Horicon Marsh Education Center 3 – 5:30 p.m.
Whether you are a new or experienced birder, this guided bus tour offers an exciting chance to spot some of Horicon’s winter bird visitors.
DNR staff and members of the Horicon Marsh Bird Club will take you to all the hotspots as we search for beautiful birds like horned larks, snow buntings, rough-legged hawks, possibly snowy owls and more.
Dress warmly, as we may have the opportunity to get out and put some of these star birds on a spotting scope.
This event has a limit of 30 participants; register in advance and pay the $15 nonrefundable fee online. You must register and prepay to secure your spot.
Winterfest Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, Merrick State Park 5 – 7 p.m.
Please join us at the Merrick State Parks Nature Center for our annual Winterfest! We will have an easy candlelit loop that can be used for hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. Inside the Nature Center, we will be providing hot cocoa and s'mores with a bonfire to roast them right outside.
The contact station will be open during the event to purchase passes, or you can skip the line by purchasing it online. Pets welcome.
Find more events at properties near you on the DNR Events calendar.
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