Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Camping

Camping along the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway in the Gateway is available on islands and sandbars, Tower Hills State Park and several private and municipal campgrounds. Camping is restricted to no more than three days on state-owned islands and sandbars. Camping at these locations is restricted to persons and their equipment arrived by watercraft only. […]

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Arena Pines and Sand Barrens State Natural Area

Arena Pines and Sand Barrens features a somewhat overgrown example of sand barrens vegetated with jack pine, black oak, and river birch. Found along the edge of numerous sand blows scattered throughout the site is the evergreen false heather shrub, which helps stabilize the shifting sands. Also present are a diversity of dry prairie species […]

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Devil’s Lake State Park

Founded in 1911, Devil’s Lake is the third oldest state park in Wisconsin, the largest and the most visited. Devil’s Lake offers magnificent views from 500-foot quartzite bluffs overlooking a 360-acre lake. Enjoy lakeshore picnic areas, sandy swimming beaches, 29 miles of hiking trails, a variety of camp sites, or ease into the backcountry solitude. […]

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Tower Hill State Park

Visit Tower Hill State Park to see how lead shot was made in the mid-1800s, hike challenging bluff trails and enjoy panoramic views. Tower Hill is a 77-acre seasonal park open from mid-May through Columbus Day weekend each year. The wooden shaft and the smelter house at the top originally built in 1831, have been […]

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Governor Dodge State Park

Governor Dodge State Park is one of the state’s largest parks, with 5,350 acres of steep hills, bluffs and deep valleys plus two lakes and a waterfall. Located in Wisconsin’s scenic Driftless area, Governor Dodge offers camping, picnicking, hiking, canoeing, biking, hunting, fishing, off-road biking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding opportunities. (Wisconsin Department of Natural […]

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Black Earth Creek Public Fishing Access @ Salmo Pond

Black Earth Creek Fishery Area is a pleasant mix of a high quality trout stream flowing within a wide green agricultural valley. The parcels typically mix stream stretches with adjoining riparian corridors that grade from a wet margin of jewelweed, aster, and reed canary grass into shrub, then sparse woodlot, then pasture or cultivated crop. […]

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Stewart Lake County Park

Stewart Lake County Park was established in 1935, making it the first county Park in Dane County. Within this 191-acre park is shimmering Stewart Lake, an artificial lake on spring-fed tributary of Moen Creek. The lake offers a challenge for trout and bass fishing. (Dane County Parks Department) […]

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Black Earth Creek Public Fishing Access @ Black Earth

Black Earth Creek Fishery Area is a pleasant mix of a high quality trout stream flowing within a wide green agricultural valley. The parcels typically mix stream stretches with adjoining riparian corridors that grade from a wet margin of jewelweed, aster, and reed canary grass into shrub, then sparse woodlot, then pasture or cultivated crop. […]

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Black Earth Creek Public Fishing Access @ Cross Plains

Black Earth Creek Fishery Area is a pleasant mix of a high quality trout stream flowing within a wide green agricultural valley. The parcels typically mix stream stretches with adjoining riparian corridors that grade from a wet margin of jewelweed, aster, and reed canary grass into shrub, then sparse woodlot, then pasture or cultivated crop. […]

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Vermont Creek Public Fishing Access

Vermont Creek is 6 miles long and joins the Black Earth Creek just west of the Village of Black Earth. Many of the banks of creek are lined with wetlands and wet meadows. The creek has been evaluated as a cold water stream that supports natural reproduction of brown trout. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) […]

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Phil’s Woods County Natural Resource Area

Phil’s Woods is named for Philip LaFollette, three-time Governor of Wisconsin. His widow, Isabel LaFollette, donated Phil’s Woods to the State of Wisconsin. It was too small for development as a State Park so the property was passed on to Dane County Parks as a natural resource area. You may park and walk to view […]

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Ice Age Trail Junction County Natural Resource Area

The 536-acre Ice Age Trail Junction Area, located just east of Verona, will create a Dane County link in the 1000-mile long Ice Age National Scenic Trail. This link, along with its connection to the Military Ridge State Trail, will connect the Ice Age Junction Area with statewide recreational trail networks. The area, which is […]

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Parrish Oak Savanna State Natural Area

Situated on a ridge of St. Peter Sandstone capped by a thin layer of Platteville dolomite, this prairie and savanna complex harbors a very diverse flora. Bedrock ledges, low cliffs, and a small pinnacle add geologic interest to the site. Sandy, dry to dry-mesic prairie occupies the steep, south-facing flank of the ridge. Prairie grasses, […]

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