| |
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
PO Box 708
St. Croix Falls, WI 54024
Phone: 715-483-3284 or 715-461-3284
Fax: 715-483-3288
Overview. The spectacular, 252-mile-long Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, one of the first to be so designated under the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers act, has been an important waterway for centuries. Native Americans, specifically the Dakota and Ojibway, traded along it, and it was lifeblood to 18th and 19th century fur traders and the lumber industry. The only river to be protected along its entire route, the St. Croix passes through rich wildlife habitat, between steep cliffs, and down several dams before it meets up with the Mississippi at Hastings. The National Riverway also includes scenic Namekagon River.What to see and do. Ride the river in a boat or canoe, or hike one of the seven National Park Service trails that follow the river's path. Two of these trails are groomed in winter for cross-country skiing. Wildlife is abundant and bird-watching is excellent. Primitive camping is allowed, but most campsites are only accessible from the water. You may stay one night only in campsites above Nevers Dam. Below Nevers Dam, there is a seven-day limit. All trash must be packed out. Landings and campsites are open at all times. The visitor center at Headquarters in St. Croix Falls, WI is open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM daily, May through September, and on weekdays from October through April. Other visitor centers, located in Stillwater, MN, Trego, WI, and near Pine City, MN, are open seasonally. All visitor centers have audiovisual presentations and other exhibits. Educational programs can be arranged through the Park Service. Seasonal Note. Thunderstorms are frequent in summer. Take proper precautions when you are on or near the water. Sub-zero temperatures and substantial snowfall make for severe winters along the St. Croix. Dress in layers and be sure all gear is suitable for winter use.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Address: 415 Washington Ave Rte 1, PO Box 4
Bayfield, WI 54814
Phone: 715-779-3397
Fax: 715-779-3049
Overview. Hemlock and hardwood forests and sandy beaches greet visitors to these 21 islands located off the Wisconsin shoreline in Lake Superior. Bald eagles and black bears make these islands home, while lake trout, whitefish, and herring fill the surrounding waters. During a storm, wild Lake Superior waves lash the islands, but soon the sun breaks out again on a typical summer day. At least six lighthouses, the largest collection in a National Park System site, dot the islands. Visitors enjoy a wide range of activities in the islands, from sailing to camping to touring historic sites. What to see and do. In the charming mainland town of Bayfield, you'll find the lakeshore headquarters and visitor center. Open from 8 AM until 6 PM during the summer (until 5 PM in the fall and weekdays to 4:30 in winter), the handicapped-accessible center offers several exhibits and audiovisual programs on the islands' history and natural resources. Pick up a schedule for the cruise service and water taxis, which provide access to the islands if you don't have your own boat. The Apostle Islands Cruise Service boat is accessible. If you have only one day, take a three-hour inter-island cruise after checking out the visitor center. If you'd like to spend more time exploring the islands, reserve a backcountry campsite for your tent. Backcountry camping is permitted on 18 of the 21 islands. Once on the islands, take advantage of hiking trails leading you through the forested interiors. The park service maintains over 50 miles of trails, mostly on Stockton, Oak, Basswood, and Outer Islands. With permits and according to state regulations, you can hunt in some areas. Miles of lakeshore offer other kinds of activities. Take your sea kayak into dozens of inlets wrinkling island shorelines, or sail between the islands before the playful Lake Superior breezes. The area hosts one of the Great Lakes' largest charter sailing fleets. Scuba diving has lately become popular; this part of Lake Superior contains over 15 known shipwrecks, including schooners from the late 19th century, turn-of-the-century freighters and salvage tugs, and early 20th-century steam barges, which lie in waters that are anywhere from 6 feet to over 50 feet deep. Obtain a permit before you dive in. Commercial guides and charter craft are available. During summer, be sure to take a ranger-guided tour of at least one of the lighthouses and the Hokenson Brothers Fishery, a commercial fishing museum on the mainland at Little Sand Bay. Rangers also lead informative nature walks on some of the islands. Check in Bayfield or at the Stockton Island Visitor Center for exact locations. If you visit during winter, bring your cross-country skis and plenty of warm clothing. Even summertime can be chilly in northern Wisconsin. Lake Superior's waters remain quite cool throughout the summer, so swimmers should be prepared and kayakers should wear wet or dry suits. Because weather can change rapidly, you're advised not to take small open boats between the islands. Fill gas tanks at mainland marinas because there are no facilities on lakeshore islands. Summertime biting flies and mosquitoes make insect repellent a must.
North Country National Scenic Trail
Address: 700 Rayovac Dr Ste 100
Madison, WI 53711
Phone: 608-441-5610
Fax: 608-441-5606
Overview. From Crown Point, New York, on the shores of Lake Champlain, to the banks of the Missouri River in North Dakota, the North Country National Scenic Trail stretches 3,200 miles through some of the nation's most picturesque countryside and past numerous historic points of interest. On its way from the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York to the tallgrass prairie of North Dakota, it winds its way through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Its western terminus is Lake Sakakawea State Park. The trail finds its path through a number of different means: established trails, old canal tow paths, and obsolete railroad grades. Established by Congress in 1980, over 1,575 miles of the trail, a cooperative effort between the National Park Service, the National Forest Service, state and local municipalities, and private land owners, have been completed. What to see and do. Trail users will find a wide diversity of scenic terrain and trail difficulty on the North Country Trail. From marshy bogs to waterfall-studded river gorges, and from Ohio's prehistoric Indian earthworks to Revolutionary War forts, there is something for every interest along the trail. You can marvel at the five-mile-long Mackinac Bridge, which connects Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, or study the handiwork of nature as you skirt the shore of Lake Superior and its dunes, beaches, and beautiful Pictured Rocks cliffs. Although it is primarily intended for hiking, limited portions of the trail allow horseback riding, primarily in North Dakota. Bicycling, including mountain bicycles, is discouraged or prohibited except on those portions of the trail that have been specifically designed to withstand such use. Winter activities, such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, are allowed in most areas. There are opportunities for all types of camping along the route, from primitive backcountry sites to developed campgrounds at state parks and private sites along the trail. Both small towns and urban areas are included in the route, providing trail access and accommodations for those who wish to take a short backpacking trip or a day hike, and an opportunity to replenish supplies for those who are engaged in longer treks. For more information on the trail, contact the National Park Service office in Madison, WI, or the North Country Trail Association, 49 Monroe Center NW, Ste 200B, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616-454-5506).
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Address: 700 Rayovac Dr Ste 100
Madison, WI 53707
Phone: 608-264-5610 or 800-227-0046
Fax: 608-264-5615
Overview. For over a million years a vast glacier spread from the Arctic Circle southward to cover much of the northern hemisphere. In North America this glacier had at one time reached as far south as Nebraska and grown to over one mile in thickness! Geologists name the periods of the glacier's recession by the present-day states that the glacier moved across--Nebraskan, Kansan, Illinoian and Wisconsonian. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail links various regions throughout Wisconsin that are the sites of geologic formations and other evidence of the Wisconsonian stage that took place between 70,000 and 10,000 years ago. When completed, the trail will span over 1,000 miles. Currently, the National Scenic Trail covers 475 miles from southeast to northwest Wisconsin. Although the trail was first conceived in the 1950s, it wasn't until 1971 that the nine-unit Ice Age National Scientific Reserve was established and not until 1980 that development of the first segments of the National Scenic Trail began. The trail is maintained jointly by the National Park Service, the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, along with a number of other public and private organizations. Eventually, the trail will link together the units of the Scientific Reserve. What to see and do. Observant visitors and hikers will be able to catch a glimpse, like tell-tale footprints, of one of the most pivotal periods in North America's geologic history. The nine units connected by the Ice Age National Scenic Trail each feature some telling evidence of North America's extraordinary epoch of ice. At Kettle Moraine in southeastern Wisconsin, you can see kames, eskers and massive moraines that have given geologists evidence of the direction in which the massive glacier moved. Kettle Moraine Ice Age Unit also offers swimming, camping, boating, and hiking. Other Ice Age units include Devil's Lake, Mill Bluff, Chippewa Moraine, and Interstate. All, except for Chippewa Moraine, offer camping. Call the park service for details on each particular unit. While the trail is primarily a footpath, some segments accommodate backpacking, bicycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and even snowmobiling. Call the Department of Natural Resources at 608-266-2181 for information about other state parks along the trail. Or call the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation at 800-227-0046 for more information. The Foundation offers detailed individual segment maps for a nominal price.
 |
Ice Age National Scientific Reserve
Address: 700 Rayovac Dr Suite 100
Madison, WI 53711
Phone: 608-441-5610
Fax: 608-441-5606
Overview. The Ice Age National Scientific Reserve was established to preserve evidence of one of the most pivotal periods in North America's geologic history. For over a million years a vast glacier spread from the Arctic Circle southward to cover much of the northern hemisphere. In North America this glacier had at one time reached as far south as Nebraska and grown to over one mile in thickness! Geologists name the periods of the glacier's recession by the present-day states that the glacier moved across -- Nebraskan, Kansan, Illinoian, and Wisconsonian. The Ice Age Scientific Reserve preserves kames, eskers, kettles, moraines, and other geologic formations and evidence of the Wisconsonian stage which took place between 70,000 and 10,000 years ago.What to see and do. The Ice Age National Scientific Reserve consists of nine units that range from southeastern Wisconsin to the state's northwest border. Each features some telling evidence of North America's extraordinary epoch of ice. At Kettle Moraine in southeastern Wisconsin you can see kames, eskers, and massive moraines that have given geologists evidence of the direction in which the massive glacier moved. Kettle Moraine Ice Age Unit also offers swimming, camping, boating, and hiking. Another unit, Horicon Marsh just west of Kettle Moraine, features an extinct glacial lake as well as some of the finest wildlife viewing (come here for seasonal geese watching!) Wisconsin has to offer. Other Ice Age units with visitor facilities include Devil's Lake, Mill Bluff, Chippewa Moraine, and Interstate. The units are connected by the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which generally follows the outline of the Wisconsonian Glaciation. In addition to Kettle Moraine, Devil's Lake, Mill Bluff, and Interstate all offer camping. Call the Department of Natural Resources at 608-266-2181 for information about the location of individual units, recreational facilities offered by the units, and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
|
Search All National Parks
|
Explore a city in Wisconsin
|
|
|
