3 minute read
Take The Path Less Traveled
Jonna Mayberry
Jonna Mayberry is a public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications.
Our most popular state properties sure are beautiful, but they’re also so well-known that everyone will be there. Looking for more space? Explore hidden gems to have plenty of elbow room and simultaneously reduce the stress of crowds on more frequented places.
During the busy summer season, visitors may experience long lines to enter, limited parking availability and crowded trails and picnic areas, especially at the state’s more familiar properties.
But with dozens of state parks, forests, trails, recreation areas, wild rivers and flowages to explore, there are plenty of places to find your adventure while avoiding the crowds. Head to one of these hidden gems for a little more breathing room.
Council Grounds State Park
Located along the beautiful Wisconsin River near the site of onetime Native American encampments, Council Grounds State Park is a favorite for water enthusiasts. The park offers many recreational opportunities, including family and group campsites, wooded trails, a beach area and an accessible fishing pier. A boat landing provides access to Lake Alexander and the Wisconsin River.
Harrington Beach State Park
Harrington Beach boasts more than a mile of beach along Lake Michigan. This 715-acre park also features a white cedar and hardwood swamp, old field grasslands with restored wetland ponds, and a scenic limestone quarry lake. You can camp, sunbathe, picnic, hike, bird watch and fish, or practice astronomy during public events at the park’s Jim and Gwen Plunkett Observatory.
Kettle Moraine State Forest-Loew Lake Unit
Situated along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, this spot has hiking, horseback riding, fishing and hunting opportunities. Loew Lake is a day-use property with no overnight camping. There are plenty of trails and access to Loew Lake for paddling adventures.
Kinnickinnic State Park
Located where the St. Croix and Kinnickinnic rivers meet, this park offers experiences in two types of worlds. Enjoy the quiet and solitude of the Kinnickinnic River Valley or partake in the many popular water-based recreational pursuits on the St. Croix River. A large sandy delta is found at the junction of the rivers. You can also explore 10 miles of hiking trails and 10 miles of newly constructed single-track mountain bike trails.
Nelson Dewey State Park
This park overlooks the Mississippi River from a 500-foot bluff. Camp, hike or picnic high above the mighty Mississippi. And combine your love of the outdoors with interesting history. Named for Wisconsin’s first governor, Nelson Dewey State Park features the Dewey home and nearby Stonefield, a Wisconsin Historic Site.
Newport State Park
Newport’s wilderness experience offers more than 2,300 acres of forest on 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline with 30 miles of hiking trails and backpack camping as a quiet alternative to bustling Door County. At the far end of the Door Peninsula, Newport is also designated as a Dark Sky Park, a perfect destination for stargazing.
Straight Lake State Park
Lake views and glacial features provide great vistas on the trails in this 2,000-acre park. Ten walk-in campsites along with carry-in boat launches and a picnic area with a reservable shelter are found on the south side of the park’s two lakes. A premier segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail meanders through the park.
Learn More
Use the DNR's Find a Park tool and plan your next adventure.
