WiscoExplorer and Comparison of the Wisconsin State Parks

Amnicon Falls showcases a wide and long series of waterfalls, a covered bridge, and several short hikes. There is a campground as well. You can see some waterfalls within a short walk from the parking lot.

Aztalan-This state park is small but has some very unique history. It is a national historic site and has remnants of an ancient Indian civilization. There are a couple of miles of hiking trails and river access as well.

Belmont Mound is a smaller state park in the southwest part of the state. It has a total of 2.5 miles of trails. There is an option for a fairly short trail from the parking lot to the high point either through the woods or on an old paved drive. The mound of the park is surrounded by mostly flat lands allowing for a great view. The observation tower that used to be in this park has been taken down.

Big Bay-The park features stoney beaches with crystal clear water. Plan ahead because you need to take a ferry to get to this park on Madeline Island. It includes hiking trails, a campground, a large swimming beach, and a boardwalk.

Blue Mound park has a campground, hiking, mountain biking, two observation towers, and a playground. As the highest point in southern Wisconsin, it offers great views.

Brunet Island has some of the best water-access camping I’ve seen. You can paddle right up to many of the campsites. It’s a great park for biking in that most of the trails are for hiking and biking, and the shoulders are wide. There is also access to the Old Abe State Trail for longer bike rides. There is a beach and boat launch as well.

Copper Falls State Park boasts several magnificent waterfalls. There are 17 miles of trails in the park, all of which are available for hiking. Several trails are also shared with biking. They have multiple camping options to suit all needs, from electrical hookups to a backcountry site with primitive resources only.

The best thing about Council Grounds is the water access! The Wisconsin River runs along the park, and a damn forms a lake where you can boat, fish, kayak, and swim. There are several short hikes along the water and plenty of great lake views. A campground is available as well.

Devils’ Lake is the state’s most popular park. It features hiking, a beach, lake views, steep rocky climbs/rock scrambles, rock climbing with ropes, and more.

Governor Dodge-With over 5,000 acres this is one of the state’s largest parks this place has something for everyone! There are over 40 miles of hiking trails and some trails are open for biking and horses. This park has a campground, beaches, boat launches and more!

Governor Nelson-This beautiful day park just North of Madison. It has a beach, boat launch, and over 8 miles of hiking trails through the prairie restorations and woodlands.

Harrington Beach has a mile of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline to enjoy, which directly abuts a wooded trail. There are another 7 miles of hiking trails around Glacier Lake and through the woods. There are horse trails and a campground as well. They have an updated playground as well.

Hartman Creek is a large park that has everything. It has six lakes with multiple places to fish or launch a canoe. There are several swimming areas and crystal-clear water! They have trails catering to hikers and horse riders and various bike trails, including paved, gravel, and single track. There is a large sandy swimming beach and a campground.

At High Cliff State Park, it is easy to find something for everyone. A few unique things about the park include Indian Effigy Mounds, the Niagara Escarpment, and a marina where you anchor your boat. There are also plenty of hiking trails, biking trails, horse trails, camping, and camping. Take advantage of the beach and the observation tower. This park features one of the best state park playgrounds we’ve seen!

If you want amazing views and enjoy traversing uneven terrain, look no further! Interstate State Park is also a fantastic place for paddling and boating. This park is especially great for short, beautiful, challenging hikes, rock climbers, paddlers, and fishermen.

Kohler-Andrae is a fantastic state park along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. The beaches almost make you feel you are a lot further south! There are large sand dunes abutting the beach, with a unique Kohler Dunes Cordwalk trail meandering along it. The park has a large campsite and several miles of sandy shoreline.

Lake Wissota has a large and wooded campground. Plenty of hiking and biking trails, which are both wooded and through meadows filled with wildflowers. It is adjacent to the beautiful Lake Wissota and has a beach, views overlooking the water, a fishing pier, and both a paved boat launch and another paddler-specific boat launch. There are also horse trails. Don’t miss this park in the winter; there are great options to enjoy Lake Wissota in the snow.

Lakeshore-This park is smaller than most but has great city access and a beautiful view of the lake. It is very close to the venue for Summerfest as well as the children’s museum.

Mill Bluff has two miles of hiking trails showcasing some of the area’s bluffs. It has a small swimming pond and camping.

Mirror Lake is a large park covering over 2,000 acres and less than 15 minutes away from Wisconsin Dells. Many people head to that area for tourist delights, but don’t miss out on this beautiful park! There is a calm lake with picturesque shorelines. The park has something for everyone and features camping, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and swimming.

Natural Bridge is a day-use-only park with a natural sandstone arch bridge and approximately 4 miles of hiking.

Nelson Dewey Park provides excellent views of the mighty Mississippi. There are over two miles of hiking trails, and it seems you have an amazing view wherever you go. There is a campground where you can enjoy the vast views overnight.

New Glarus Woods State Park is a smaller park with hiking and an awesome play set. There is also camping and bike trail access to the Sugar River State Trail.

Newport State Park is at the northern end of Door County. There are walk-in campsites available and plenty of hiking trails. It is beautiful and allows you to get away from the crowds of Door County.

Pattison has two main waterfalls. Big Manitou Falls is 165 feet tall and is an impressive site. Little Manitou Falls is just over 30 feet, and you can hike right next to both the top and bottom. There are miles of hiking trails, a campsite, and a beach.

As the name implies, Peninsula State Park is in fact, on a peninsula and has a large beach, a lighthouse, two boat launches, and a fishing pier. There are two campgrounds, plenty of hiking trails, and several playgrounds. There are excellent limestone biking trails, park roads to bike on, and some mountain bike trails. Several local bike rental companies help you take full advantage of the trails.

Potawatomi State Park is on the shore of Sturgeon Bay, which has several miles of shoreline to explore. There are plenty of boating opportunities in addition to a campground, eight miles of off-road bike trails, and almost 10 miles of hiking trails.

Rib Mountain State Park has a LOT to offer. You can hike or drive to the top to see the beautiful views. There are rocks to climb for the kiddos and the young at heart, as well as an observation tower. There are multiple hikes, from short ones around the top to longer, more challenging ones from the bottom. This is a great park to see the fall colors, and there is an option to ride the chair lift to take in the view. This park is the home of the Granite Peak Ski area, and you can also enjoy other parts of Rib Mountain in the winter!

Roche-A-Cri-It has old cave art only a short walk from the car. There is a wonderful stair climb to the top of the rocks which is over 300 stairs to the top! They have numerous hiking trails and a campsite.

Rocky Arbor is a small state park with a mile hike around the rocky ledge. There is a playground and a campground. It is very close to the tourist town of Wisconsin Dells.

Straight Lake, where you can find serenity, seclusion, and solitude. This park is a gem for those looking to get away from the crowds and enjoy the beauty of Wisconsin. Enjoy the sounds of nature! There are no motorized vehicles allowed in the park past the parking lots. What a wonderful park to find some peace and quiet.

Tower Hill features a small campground and plenty of backwater areas to explore by canoe/kayak. Approximately 2 miles of trails guide you around the shot tower and some local views.

Whitefish Dunes State Park features a 1.5-mile beautiful white sand beach, clear blue water, and rocky water edges. There are nearly 15 miles of hiking trails at this park giving various ways to enjoy the dunes.

The famous Kickapoo River cuts through Wildcat Mountain State Park. It is advertised as “the world’s crookedest river” and is a popular spot for beginners and experienced paddlers alike to kayak, canoe, or tube. The park has over 20 miles of hiking trails, including equestrian trails. There are family and equestrian campsites.

Wyalusing State Park overlooks the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. There are over 14 miles of hiking, with some trails leading to caves and other unique features. Two of the hiking trails are bike-friendly. There are campgrounds available, as well as a boat launch. There are 6 miles of marked canoe trails.

Yellowstone Lake State Park is along the edge of the lake. There is a beach, a boat launch, and great lake views from the road. They have hiking, mountain biking, and a campground.