Wisconsin State Parks

Wisconsin has 66 state parks — covering the Driftless Area, the Lake Michigan shore, the Northwoods, and the Lake Superior coast.

Devil's Lake State Park (Baraboo)
Wisconsin's most visited state park — a 370-acre glacial lake trapped between two quartzite bluffs (500 feet above the lake), with exceptional hiking on the East and West Bluff Trails. The East Bluff Trail's rock formations (Balanced Rock, the Devil's Doorway, the Potholes) are among the finest quartzite scenery in the Midwest. The park attracts 3+ million visitors per year; arrive early on summer weekends.

Peninsula State Park (Fish Creek, Door County)
Wisconsin's second most visited state park — 8 miles of Green Bay shoreline, the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse (1868), the Eagle Tower (a 65-foot observation tower above the treeline), and one of the finest mountain biking networks in the Midwest. The fish boil tradition at local restaurants adjacent to the park makes an overnight camping experience here the fullest Door County experience.

Pattison State Park (Superior)
The home of Big Manitou Falls — the highest waterfall in Wisconsin (165 feet) and the fourth-highest waterfall east of the Rockies. The Black River plunges over a basalt ledge into a narrow gorge. The Little Manitou Falls (30 feet), accessible by a short trail, is the secondary attraction.

Parfrey's Glen State Natural Area (Merrimac)
Wisconsin's first State Natural Area — a narrow glen cut through quartzite in the Baraboo Hills, with mossy walls and a clear cold stream. The glen is accessible by a 2-mile round trip trail; the slot-canyon character of the upper glen is the finest non-Dells sandstone scenery in Wisconsin.

Copper Falls State Park (Mellen)
In the Northern Highlands near Ashland — the Bad River and Tyler Fork create a series of waterfalls through a gorge of basalt and agates. Copper Falls (25 feet, with copper-colored water from tannins), Brownstone Falls (30 feet), and the gorge views from the suspension bridge are excellent.