Parks' Almanac '87

What's new?
Recent new construction at 15
Wisconsin state parks, trails and
recreation areas has upgraded their
people-pleasing capabilities. Included are
a combination shooting center and cross-
country ski facility, a concession building,
campsites, toilet and shower buildings
and other improvements.
Here are the locations:
Kettle Moraine Southern Unit, McMiller
Sports Center - New, enclosed shelter
building to serve as shooting center and
cross-country ski facility.
Governor Dodge - new concession
building. Located in the heart of
Wisconsin's driftiess area near Dodgeville,
this park offers hiking and horseback
riding trails, swimming in two lakes and
fishing. Only electric motors are allowed.
Kinnickinnic State Park - Initial
development is under way at this park on
the St. Croix River. An entrance road and
160 parking spaces have been roughed in.
Hoffman Hills - new observation
tower. The park has two rustic outdoor
group camp areas for youth groups, a

nature study area and eight miles of
hiking/skiing trails.
Campground improvements were made
at the following sites:
Devil's Lake - about 200 new
campsites on the north shore replace the
old south shore campground, which has
been converted to a day-use area.
High Cliff - 54 new family campsites
double campground capacity.
Big Bay - 60 new family campsites
replace the current 17-unit campground,
which will be converted to day use.
Merrick - a new toilet/shower building
at the north campground.
Terry Andrae and Point Beach - new
toilet/shower buildings in the family
campgrounds.
Governor Nelson State Park - This day-
use park on the north shore of Lake
Mendota features a 500-foot beach,
bathhouse, picnic areas, boat launching
site, fish cleaning facilities, roads, parking
and administrative facilities. Will open in
midsummer.
Great River Trail - features good views
of Mississippi River bottomlands from

Wisconsinites enjoy their parks on or near water.

Undiscovered Gems
Looking for a real gem of a park that
may be a little off the beaten track?
Consider the following:
* Lofty ridges that overlook the
confluence of the Wisconsin and
Mississippi rivers at Wyalusing State Park.
* The fourth highest waterfall east of
the Rockies at Pattison State Park.
* A ferryboat that takes visitors to
secluded Big Bay State Park on Madeline
Island in Lake Superior.
These and seven other quiet state parks
- Council Grounds, Amnicon Falls,
Merrick, Tower Hill, Copper Falls, Nelson
Dewey and Wildcat Mountain - are
featured in DNR's Undiscovered Gems
brochure. (See list of books, brochures

and fact sheets with special order coupon,
back page.)
Because of tradition, proximity and
familiarity, half of all state park users visit
just six of Wisconsin's 74 parks. The
"undiscovered gems" provide less
crowded alternatives. Each of these less-
visited parks has unique attractions, and
they all offer camping, nature trails and
fishing. Why not include one of the
"undiscovered gems" in your vacation and
travel plans?
Remember, too, all state parks, even the
busiest ones, are less crowded on
weekdays - and during spring and
autumn seasons. All are open to
pedestrian traffic year-round. At "closed"
parks, services such as water, toilets and
parking are not available.

Onalaska almost to Perrot State Park near
Trempealeau. The trail is surfaced to
about 6.5 miles north of Onalaska. The
remaining 15.5 miles are not surfaced, but
open to pedestrian use.
Glacial Drumlin Trail - 47-miles long, it
was named after glacially-formed features
along the trail called drumlins. Most is
surfaced, but there are two short gaps
where users are rerouted. The trail runs
from Cottage Grove to Waukesha.
Paradise Springs, Kettle Moraine
Southern Unit - Especially designed to
accommodate park visitors with physical
disabilities, the unit includes a large cold-
water spring, a fieldstone springhouse,
trout pond, meandering brook, wooded
areas, and interesting wildlife. For more
information phone (414-594-2135).
State park history
Wisconsin has one of the finest state
park and forest systems in the nation-74
state parks and four recreational forests
that consist of 125,430 acres. They break
down into historic, scenic and roadside
parks, state recreation areas, recreational
forests, state trails, and units of the Ice
Age National Scientific Reserve. Many
trace Wisconsin history and early
settlement.
Heritage Hill State Park in the Town of
Allouez near Green Bay has preserved
some of the oldest buildings in Wisconsin.
Included are the Tank Cottage, built in
1776; the Cotton House, from the 1840s; a
trapper's cabin, 1820; the Baird Law
Office, 1835; and three original buildings
from Fort Howard, the US Army's frontier
outpost at Green Bay. President Zachary
Taylor and Confederate President
Jefferson Davis both served at Fort
Howard. Heritage Hill is open to the
public from May 1 to mid-December.
Other historic buildings are found at:
* First Capitol State Park near the
Village of Belmont. This is the site of
Wisconsin's first state capitol and
Supreme Court. The original buildings
have been restored and are open to the
public from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
* Tower Hill State Park near Spring
Green. Preserves the "shot tower" used to
produce lead shot for the Civil War.
Open from May 1 to October 31.
* Nelson Dewey State Park near
Cassville in Grant County. Home of the
state's first governor and site of
Stonefield Village, a reproduction of a
typical Wisconsin village at the turn of the
century. Open May 1 to November 1.
* Old Wade House in the Village of
Greenbush, Sheboygan County. An early
stagecoach inn, it was located on the old
plank road midway between Fond du Lac
and Sheboygan. Open from early May to
October 31.