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Are there any state parks in Wisconsin? If you know how beautiful the Badger State is, the answer might surprise you. One of the strangest things about America’s national park system is that it's unevenly spread.
Some states, like California, brim over with national parks: Yosemite, Sequoia, and Joshua Tree. California has nine parks in the US National Park system, while Wisconsin has none. However, Wisconsin isn’t exactly ugly either. Anyone who knows Wisconsin can wax lyrical about hiking through the north woods, the great stretch of forest that once covered half of Canada and the US, from Minnesota to Vermont. You’ll find moose up in the Wisconsin north woods, and a sense of peace that only comes from backpacking through true wilderness.
Fun Fact: Those insiders who know Wisconsin can also tell you about the lakes. People call next-door Minnesota “the land of 10,000 lakes”, but Wisconsin has more. For those planning a broader trip, check out our top 10 National and State parks to see for more inspiration. Read on for some of our favorite Wisconsin State parks and other attractions.
1.
Hike Through Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
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Image by Joshua Mayer on flickr[/caption]
What the State of Wisconsin might lack in national parks, it makes up for with the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Operated by the National Park Service, these islands in Lake Superior make up one of only three designated National Lakeshores in the United States.
There are 22 Apostle Islands, 21 of which make up the National Lakeshore. Each island has its own unique qualities, from Stockton Island with its black bears (the National Park Service says Stockton Island has one of the greatest concentrations of black bears in North America) to Devil's Island with its spectacular sea caves.
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Image by Mike Goad from Pixabay[/caption]
The Apostle Islands are also famous for its historic lighthouses, some dating back to the mid-19th century. The National Park Service looks after nowhere else in America with more lighthouses than the Apostle Islands. A lighthouse boat tour is one of the most popular things to do in the Apostle Islands.
Boats are important here, and boat tours make up a bulk of the activities. Other things to do on the water include kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and fishing. 19 of the Apostle Islands offer camping, with various levels of facilities at different sites.
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Image by Yinan Chen from Pixabay[/caption]
The National Lakeshore also includes some of mainland Wisconsin, where you’ll also find camping options and some great hiking along the Lakeshore Trail. Here, cliffs and caves abound. Hiking on the islands is also a popular activity for visitors. For those planning a broader trip, the Apostle Islands are a standout among the top 10 National and State parks to see in the region.
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is open year-round, although some remote islands can be inaccessible in bad weather. Bayfield, Wisconsin is the gateway town to the Apostle Islands, and home to the National Lakeshore’s main visitor center.
2.
Take A Boat Ride In Big Bay State Park
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Image by WikiCommons[/caption]
We mentioned there were 22 Apostle Islands, 21 of which make up the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. The 22nd island is Madeline Island, the largest Apostle Island, and the only one with a significant population. About one-fifth of this island comprises Big Bay State Park, a favorite recreation spot of Wisconsinites.
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Image by Mike Goad from Pixabay[/caption]
Big Bay offers an easier-to-reach Apostle Islands experience, with a beautiful Lake Superior beach, perfect for summer swimming and sunbathing. You’ll also find seven miles of hiking trails, with camping, fishing, and kayaking all popular. The park is also a favorite with birdwatchers.
Access to Big Bay State Park is easy once you’re on Madeline Island. You can reach the island by ferry from Bayfield, Wisconsin, where you’ll arrive in the main town of La Pointe. From here it’s a short drive counterclockwise on the Middle Road and two miles on the Hagen Road. Although camping is available at Big Bay State Park — 60 campsites in all — many people visit as a day trip and stay in La Pointe itself.
3.
Go Trekking Through The Wisconsin Ice Age Trail
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Image by Ryan Afflerbaugh on Flickr[/caption]
Alongside the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, the US National Park Service also has another jewel to take care of in the state of Wisconsin.
One of America’s 13 National Scenic Trails, the Wisconsin Ice Age Trail provides 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) of hiking. The trail begins in the state's northwest, heads east and down through Central Wisconsin, then does a u-turn and heads back north up into the Door Peninsula. On a map, it looks like the state of Florida.
The route roughly follows the limits of glaciation during the last Ice Age. Sites along the trail highlight the topography as affected by retreating glaciers over 12,000 years ago.
For more information on the Wisconsin Ice Age Trail, and to check out recommended hikes along the trail in your part of the state, visit the Ice Age Trail Alliance website.
4.
Hike The Devilish Trails In Devil’s Lake State Park
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Image by Ryan Afflerbaugh on Flickr[/caption]
Devil’s Lake State Park sits in the southern central part of Wisconsin, close to the Wisconsin River, and accommodates around 12 miles of the Ice Age Trail.
With over three million visitors a year, Devil’s Lake is the most visited state park in Wisconsin. With over 9,000 acres of pristine forest, rock formations, glacial features, and Devil’s Lake itself, it is one of Wisconsin's most popular state parks. The lake covers 369 acres and is popular year-round for fishing, boating, canoeing, and kayaking. During the summer months, Devil’s Lake is warm enough to swim in, and scuba diving is also popular here.
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Image by Bruce Schwierske on flickr[/caption]
Devil’s Lake State Park boasts almost 30 miles of hiking trails of all different levels, including 1.5 miles designated for disabled people. Mountain and trail bikers also come here to ride the Upland Trail Loop. The park has three designated campsites.
Open year-round, Devil’s Lake is also popular in the wintertime with cross-country skiers and snowshoers. About three miles south of the city of Baraboo, Wisconsin, the park opens from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
5.
Slide Down To Willow River State Park
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Image by Jenny Salita on Flickr[/caption]
Willow River State Park is an easy drive from the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area across the St. Croix River in Minnesota. This easy access makes it one of Wisconsin’s most popular state parks. The crown jewel is the Willow Falls Waterfall, sometimes described as a “mini-Niagara Falls,” nestled inside a 200-foot gorge. It’s a perfect spot to hike to and capture for Instagram. Rock climbers will like this park, too. Getting there is easy: it lies north of Hudson, Wisconsin, on I-94 next to the Saint Croix River. Once you come off I-94 heading east out of Hudson, turn north on US Highway 12. For travelers exploring the region, this park is a standout among the top 10 National and State parks to see.
6.
Explore Hemlock Draw State Natural Area
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Image by Joshua Mayer on Flickr[/caption]
This state natural area lies west of Devil’s Lake State Park and offers a less visited, more sedate experience. The small area is perfect for woodland hikes along its two-and-a-bit mile loop. Chances are you’ll find yourself alone here, with nothing but the sounds of nature to enjoy.
For true nature lovers who don’t need big spectacular sights, Hemlock Draw should be on your bucket list. Getting there isn’t the easiest — this is true rural Wisconsin. The closest village is Leland. From there, head north two miles on Hemlock Road to Reich Drive, then half a mile to the entrance.
7.
Venture Through Natural Bridge State Park
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Image by lindaruthless on Flickr[/caption]
And talking of Leland, Wisconsin, you can’t be in this neck of the woods without checking out the Natural Bridge State Park, which sits less than a mile out of town. This small, unstaffed, state park is where you’ll find Wisconsin’s largest natural arch, a magnificent sandstone formation.
Underneath this arch is a rock shelter used by native peoples as far back as 12,000 years ago when the glaciers were retreating from Wisconsin at the end of the Ice Age.
Outside of the natural arch and rock shelter, you’ll find a nature walk with signs offering information on how the native people around here used plants and another two-mile hiking trail. They do not permit camping in this state park. The Natural Bridge State Park is open from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM all year. For those planning a broader trip, this park is a highlight among the top 10 National and State parks to see.
8.
Float Down Wisconsin Interstate Park
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Image by Joshua Mayer on Flickr[/caption]
Wisconsin’s oldest state park lies on the St. Croix River, across from the Minnesota state park of the same name. Together, both parks protect a beautiful stretch of the Saint Croix River.
This stretch of the river, a gorge called the Dalles of St. Croix, is part of the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway system. The St. Croix runs fast and clear and deep through the gorge, with pine-clad cliffs either side.
This is also the western end of the Wisconsin Ice Age Trail, which provides a part of the over nine miles of hiking trails available in this state park. Two campsites cater to anyone who wants to overnight under the stars. For those seeking more adventure, the park is a great addition to any list of top 10 National and State parks to see.
9.
Have An Adventure In Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
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Image by Tony Webster on Flickr[/caption]
If you’re looking for a true north country experience, then the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest will steer you right. This 1.5-million-acre expanse of northern Wisconsin north woods is home to elk, moose, wolves, deer, black bears, and beavers.
You come here to hike, fish, hunt, camp, ski, and swim. It’s an outdoors person’s paradise and one of the best natural experiences you’ll find anywhere in the United States. For those planning a trip, consulting a month-by-month guide to the weather in Italy won’t help here—Wisconsin’s seasons demand proper gear. This forest is a prime entry on any list of top 10 National and State parks to see.
10.
See All Things Beautiful In Newport State Park
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Image by Amy Meredith on Flickr[/caption]
The Door Peninsula sticks out into Lake Michigan like a petulant lower lip, separating the lake’s main body from Green Bay. This narrow sliver of land boasts cliffs, sand dunes, and forests, with no less than five different state parks. While Peninsula State Park is more famous and receives more visitors, it’s the isolation of Newport that draws the more discerning visitor in.
Newport State Park is Wisconsin’s only state-designated wilderness, sitting near the tip of the Door Peninsula. Hike the 30 miles of trails available through thick pine forests and emerge onto rugged, rocky beaches. With 11 miles of lakeshore to play on, kayaking is also a popular pastime.
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Image by Ian Sane on flickr[/caption]
Another draw is Newport’s status as a “dark sky park,” meaning no light pollution gives astronomers and star lovers a place to look up and marvel at the solar system. People come just to view the sky at night, and if they’re lucky, they may get a good eyeful of the Northern Lights. Newport State Park is open year-round from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM with backpack camping available, meaning you have to hike into your campsite rather than drive.
From its 820-mile coastline on the Great Lakes of Michigan and Superior to hidden, nameless lakes deep in the North Country woods, Wisconsin has water lovers covered. Think pine trees and rocky shores with beavers and bears. So although there are no national parks in Wisconsin, consider that an oversight, not a reflection on the splendor of the state. There are so many more places, so many more state parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty. In the end, what's there is more than enough.
