Wisconsin Outdoor Report as of July 23, 2009

Please check on the "Previous outdoor reports" link if it appears this is an outdated Outdoor Report. The DNR Outdoor Report is updated every Thursday at noon.

Click on State Park Current Conditions Reports to check on current conditions at various Wisconsin State Parks, Trails and Forests.

Click here to reach the Wisconsin Department of Tourism Web site (exit DNR).

GENERAL | Northern Region | Northeast Region | Southeast Region | South Central Region | West Central Region

Northwestern Wisconsin finally received receiving some much needed rain in the past couple of weeks. Roadside vegetation is starting to green up once again and current fire danger levels are now low or moderate statewide. The rain has also helped bring up river flows somewhat, but many rivers in the northern half of the state continue to run at very low summer levels. Canoeists have had to get out and drag canoes through many low areas on the popular North Fork of the Flambeau River. The Lower Wisconsin and Kickapoo rivers are at normal summer time flows. The sand bars on the Wisconsin River are in great shape for camping.

Three closely watched peregrine falcon chicks appear to have fledged from their nest on the Ashland Ore Dock, one of them thanks to a rescue by a wildlife and Ashland Fire Department staff. The rescue is documented in a Ashland falcon photo gallery available on the DNR Web site. The nest with the three young peregrine falcons represent the first time peregrines have been known to nest in Ashland. Ironically, the Ashland Ore Dock was slated for demolition within just a few days of their discovery in early June. Due to the federal endangered species and the migratory bird protection rules, plans for demolition had to be delayed until the birds had finished nesting.

Erratic and generally cool weather this week kept both fishing pressure and success at mid-summer lows. Water temperatures have been hovering in the upper 60s on most northern lakes. This has kept fish activity down and made for some tough fishing conditions. Largemouth and smallmouth bass have been providing the most consistent action but success could only be termed fair. Walleye fishing has been especially erratic with the best catches made in the deeper weed beds during the low light periods. Musky fishing has been fair, with many anglers reporting quite a few sightings and follows. Panfish action has also been fair with perch, bluegill and rock bass being found on deep weed edges and around mid-depth cover.

Windy weather again this week made it a challenge for Lake Michigan anglers, but those anglers venturing out on the lake reported more success this past week. Chinook salmon and steelhead accounted for much of the catch. Anglers found fish closer to shore and in shallower waters. Pier anglers have been catching decent numbers of brown and rainbow trout, and chinook salmon, along with an occasional coho at Algoma, Kewaunee, Sheboygan, Port Washington, Milwaukee, and Racine. Shore anglers in Port Washington and Milwaukee have been also catching perch.

The Mississippi River rose slightly late in the week and was at 7.3 feet at Prairie du Chien. Smallmouth and largemouth bass have been very active but panfishing has been spotty. Walleye and sauger action was generally good.

Young grouse are fledging. Blue bird boxes are actively being used by bluebirds and a number of different bird species. Turkeys have really active in the mornings during breaks in recent rain showers. White-tailed deer bucks are approaching peak size in velvet antler growth.

Milkweed is about to flower and monarchs are transitioning into butterflies. Blueberries, elderberries and thimbleberries are ripe and red and black raspberries are beginning to ripen. The harvestable fruit this week was rather small. Deer flies have been out in force in the north, pestering berry pickers, hikers and even slow moving bicyclists on bike trails.

Prairie flowers in bloom leadplant, early goldenrod, compass plant, prairie dock, rattlesnake master, wild quinine, butterfly weed, yellow and purple coneflower, bergamot, Joe-pye weed, Queen Anne's lace, black-eyed Susans, and blazing star.

NORTHERN REGION

Superior DNR Service Center area

Brule River State Forest - The area is finally receiving some much needed rain. In the past couple of weeks the Brule DNR office has measured 2.69 inches of rain. Roadside vegetation is starting to green up once again. The rain has also helped bring the river flow up on the Bois Brule River to 132 cfs (cubic feet per second). Camping at the Bois Brule Campground and the Copper Range Campground has been busy on the weekends lately, but so far has not filled up entirely. On the week days there have been plenty of openings.

Ashland DNR Service Center area

Three closely watched peregrine falcon chicks appear to have fledged from their nest on the Ashland Ore Dock, one of them thanks to an assist by a DNR wildlife biologist and the Ashland Fire Department. The rescue is documented in a photo gallery available on the DNR Web site [http://dnr.wi.gov/aboutdnr/specialreports/falcon/]. The nest with the three young peregrine falcons represent the first time DNR wildlife biologists know of that peregrines had nested in Ashland. Ironically, their nest was on the Ashland Ore Dock, which was slated for demolition within just a few days of their discovery in early June. Due to the federal Endangered Species Act and the Federal Migratory Treaty Act, plans for demolition had to be delayed until the birds had finished nesting. Since the nest’s discovery in June, DNR biologists have been monitoring the nest closely and working with local officials to protect the nest and making contingency plans with the Ashland Fire Department should the birds not fledge successfully. On July 20, one of the three chicks fledged out of the nest but ended up on the ground. DNR enlisted the fire department to help DNR wildlife biologist Todd Naas rescue the chick and place it on a high spot on the ore dock so the parents could attend to it and help it learn to fly. The two other chicks, both likely females, were still in the nest as of July 20, but Naas checked the nest July 23 and it was empty, and the previous day, Naas saw two of the chicks out on the ore dock and believe they heard the third up on the top of the ore dock. The chicks will still be under their parents’ wings, for another five to six weeks while their parents feed them, teach them to hunt and, essentially, to be a falcon. Once that time period ends, the chicks will go on their way, separately. Naas says during that time, it’s likely they’ll begin to demolish the ore dock, but he doesn’t expect that will have any negative effect on the birds at that point.

Hayward DNR Service Center area

Red and black raspberries look to be about two weeks out. The harvestable fruit this week was rather small. Riding slow on a bicycle would allow the deer flies to catch up on the mountain bike trails.

Spooner DNR Service Center area

Raspberries in Washburn County are better than the last couple years. They have been ripe for about a week in the sunny areas, the wooded areas are now ripening. Bucks are running around in velvet as the antlers continue to grow. Turkeys have really been out in the mornings during breaks in recent rain showers. The area finally got some rain, but the ground dried up quickly.

Park Falls DNR Service Center area

Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - The erratic and generally cool weather of the past week has kept both fishing pressure and success at mid-summer lows. River and stream levels in the northern part of the area have been very low - though this may have changed with the 1 to 2 inches of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 21-22. With almost constantly changing conditions and continuing cold fronts, water temperatures have been hovering in the upper 60s on most northern Wisconsin lakes. This has kept fish activity down and made for some tough fishing conditions. Largemouth and smallmouth bass have been providing the most consistent action but success could only be termed fair. The mid to late afternoon hours have produced the best catches, with top-water and soft-plastic baits being the most productive. Most bass have settled into their mid-summer habitats and have been found near woody cover, along deep bog edges and near thick weeds and bulrushes, but fair numbers are still being found in the shallow weeds and lily pad beds. Walleye fishing has been especially erratic with the best catches made in the deeper weed beds during the low light periods. Weedless jigs tipped with a leech or crawler piece dropped into open pockets in the weed beds have been the most successful method. Musky fishing has been fair, with many anglers reporting quite a few sightings and follows. Slower top-water lures, medium-size stick baits and bucktails have been the most productive lures and the weed edges have been the best spots. Panfish action has also been fair with perch, bluegill and rock bass being found on deep weed edges and around mid-depth cover.

Flambeau River State Forest - Both the South and North Forks of the Flambeau River are very low. Paddlers on the north fork report the need to get out and pull through fairly often. ATV trails are in good shape but please be aware there is some repair work being done on the southern end of the forest. Young grouse can fly. Milkweed is about to flower and monarchs are transitioning into butterflies. Raspberries are just turning. Blueberries and swamp dewberries are ripe. Both Lake of the Pines and Connors Lake campgrounds are open. Connors will close after Labor Day and Lake of the Pines on Dec. 15. Due to budget cuts it looks like Lake of the Pines will be closed next year.

Woodruff DNR Service Center area

Area fishing guides report that if anglers want to catch walleyes this summer, they should use crawlers for bait. Deep, natural lakes are holding greater concentrations of fish because of the cabbage weeds. Recent reports indicate that “Swimmer’s Itch” has begun on some area lakes. The following is a reminder to swimmer’s and beach bather’s alike regarding some precautionary measures that can be taken in order to reduce your chances of coming into contact with the organism that causes the skin irritation and, subsequent, itch:

• Don’t swim near the shoreline and avoid wading in shallow waters, especially on windy days when the organism can be carried in closer to the beach areas.
• After leaving the water, immediately and vigorously towel off and, if possible, shower once you are out of the water.
• If you do end up with Swimmer’s Itch, there are lotions and ointments available to help reduce the itch. Contact your doctor for further information and/or if your case appears to be severe.

Several lakes in the area have juvenile loons and boaters are reminded to keep a distance to ensure their safety. Boaters are also reminded to check their trailers, boats and other gear and remove any weeds from them in order to help prevent the potential spread of harmful exotic species. In addition there are rules in effect that prohibit the transport of live fish and water away from a water body. Both blueberries and raspberries are now ripe but beware; deer flies are also on the prowl and having good success in biting the wood-be hiker or berry picker.

NORTHEAST REGION

Peshtigo DNR Service Center area

Marinette County - - Fishing pressure has been light during the week with pressure increasing on the weekends. Temperatures at the landings are in the mid to upper 70s with good water clarity. Anglers launching from the Menominee River and Little River boat landings are starting to catch salmon. Fish seem to be in the 90 to 100 foot range 70 to 80 feet down. Boats are trolling north of Green Island at about 2 1/2 miles an hour, with purple being a good color. Some perch are being caught off Little River in 10 to 12 feet of water. Some raspberries are beginning to ripen although the overall harvest may be small due to the continuing dry weather. Whitetail deer are showing some growth of antlers in velvet. The Tommy Thompson State Park is open for day use. Enjoy the walking trails and picnic by the lake. A new outdoor shelter was added last fall.

Oconto County - Panfish and a few smallmouth are still being caught at the Stiles Dam location. Walleye fishermen out of the Oconto Breakwater report a few fish being caught in the 20 foot range using crawler/harness. Perch fishing success has been light. We are now under moderate fire danger, caution is recommended for outdoor burning. Inland trout waters are low due to little precipitation, expect trout to have moved up to feeder creek areas where temperatures remain cool.

Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area

Whitefish Dunes State Park - With the smaller open sand on the beach this year’s sand sculpture contest will face a challenge of providing enough space for participants. New rules have been established to limit the area in which contestants can build within allowing for all to enjoy the contest. The annual contest will be held on Saturday, July 25. Rule sheets are available at the park office. The blue bird boxes are actively being used by a number of different birds including one nesting pair of bluebirds. Others animals are bats, a flying squirrel and one mouse family. Other fledging birds are starting to come out. Turkey’s are off their nests and the young have been seen along the yellow trail by Old Baldy. The bald eagle makes a daily swoop past the nature center to check out the shoreline for a watery meal. Take a hike to the wetland along the brachiopod trail. Many changes have occurred during this year. Park staff and visitors are enjoying a large snapping turtle resting in the shallow water. Some Canada geese have been using the boardwalk as nightly resting spots; evidence of them can be seen in form of their scat. The color of summer is all about. Spring and early summer flowers are now showing their berries. White baneberry with their “doll’s eyes” can be seen along the Brachiopod trail. Red elder berries are common on the rocky shoreline and black trail. The thimbleberry are just beginning to ripen but are a bit later this year due to the cooler weather and lack of moisture. Other seeds are not as neat to see. Hounds’ tongue and burdock are sticking to pant legs, dog fur, shirts and even shoe laces. Please remember to put these seeds in the trash instead of on the ground to help prevent the spread of invasives. Help the park staff during the weekly work days to control these invasive plants from taking over our park. Dog owners are reminded that the first segment of the beach is now closed to dogs. The dog beach is still open. You can access it by hiking the red trail to the third beach access. Please remember to keep your dog on a leash for their safety and the safety of the park wildlife. A map to the dog beach is available in the nature center.

Kewaunee County - Weather this last week was nice temperature wise, but windy on most days. Another dry week as well, but there were a few light showers near the end of the week. Anglers have been reporting some success casting spoons for trout and salmon off of the piers in Algoma and Kewaunee. Only a few fish are being caught by these anglers in the mornings and evenings. Anglers that have been going out on the lake are having more success this past week than in some previous weeks. Kings and steelhead account for most of the catch with there being more kings than steelhead. Anglers have found that the fish have been moving in closer to shore and as such they are finding fish in shallower waters. Most fish are being caught in water depths between 60 and 120 feet. Steelheads are still hanging higher in the water column with the kings hanging out in the deeper water, but they appear to be mixing more this week. Most anglers have been using a combination of dipsies and flashers and flies, but spoons and J-plugs have also been having some success as well. The most common colors seem to be either a bright green or blue. Action this week started off slow, but the action really picked up towards the end of the week and many anglers were reporting good catches of fish.

SOUTHEAST REGION

Havenwoods State Forest - Trails are in good condition. Deer, coyote, mink, owls, turkey, hawks, ducks, bluebirds, herons, and kingbirds are being seen. Prairie flowers in bloom at Havenwoods include leadplant, whorled milkweed, early goldenrod, compass plant, prairie dock, rattlesnake master, wild quinine, butterfly weed, yellow coneflower, purple and pale purple coneflower, bergamot, and Joe-pye weed.

Kettle Moraine State Park - Pike Lake Unit - All trails are open to hiking and in good condition. The swim area is marked for the season. The lake water is tested four days per week for elevated bacteria levels. Any advisories will be posted. Swim area buoys will remain in place through Labor Day weekend. The campground is open for the season and all campground facilities are up and running. Join the volunteer naturalist on Saturday July 25 at 10 a.m. at the Nature Trail parking lot on Powder Hill Road for a habitat hike.

Lake Michigan fisheries team report

Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan anglers off the north and south piers have been catching decent numbers of brown and rainbow trout, and chinook salmon, along with an occasional coho. Spoons, crank baits, and alewives have all produced fish. Sheboygan trollers have been catching a mixed bag of chinooks, coho, rainbows, and some lake trout. Most fish have been taken from the surface to 45 feet down in 60 to 140 feet of water on a variety of spoons, flies, and J-plugs.

Ozaukee County - Shore anglers in Port Washington have been catching perch near the power plant and off the pier on jigs. Pier anglers have also been catching chinook salmon and rainbow trout on both spoons and alewives. Trollers out of Port have reported chinooks, coho, and rainbows taken in 60 to 170 feet of water, with flies, spoons, and J-plugs all producing at times.

Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee perch anglers off McKinley pier have caught fish on jigs early in the morning, although fishing has slowed somewhat. Cupertino pier continues to produce perch on minnows and shiners, but perch action at Bender Park has been hit or miss. Boats looking for perch have had decent catches on crab tails or shiners both at the boils and near the Oak Creek Power Plant. Shore anglers fishing McKinley pier for trout and salmon have been catching rainbows and chinooks, along with a few browns. Late night hours have produced the most, and alewives and spoons have both taken fish. Trolling out of Milwaukee continues to be relatively slow, although chinooks, coho, and rainbows have been taken 30 to 60 feet down in all depths of water.

Racine County - Shore fishing in Racine has been slow for perch anglers, but a few rainbow and brown trout have been taken off the piers on alewives and spawn sacs. Boaters have been able to find some perch on minnows and crab tails along the rock breakwall south of the harbor. Trollers out of Racine have been catching decent numbers of rainbows, chinooks, and coho. A variety of baits have produced, including white or yellow flashers coupled with aqua or green flies; spoons in cracked ice, orange, or green; and J-plugs in pearl or green & glow. Fish have been found in 50 to 70 feet of water early and out in 80 to 120 feet later in the day.

Kenosha County - In Kenosha shore angling has slowed, but trollers have been catching chinook and coho salmon, rainbow trout and some lake trout in 60 to 80 feet of water. Boaters fishing for perch have had success fishing at the bubbler and along the rock breakwall in front of the harbor. Minnows and crab tails have produced the most perch.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION

WEST CENTRAL REGION

Baldwin DNR Service Center area

Willow River State Park - Fishing reports have been few with the cool weather for the last couple of weeks. A 15-inch brown trout was taken below the dam in the last week. The Kids Fishing Contest had lighter than normal catches regarding numbers of fish. Non-summer appears to be over for a while with relatively average late July weather in progress. Wild fruit that is ready now includes red raspberry, black raspberry (thimbleberry) and sand blackberry. Look for these along forest edges. The trail runners have had great weather for fitness training at most any time of day. Visitors who find a recent repair on a trail are encouraged to walk or run on it to help pack it down! The rain we have had has been downpours the last few times including Tuesday afternoon. River and lake levels are at summer levels and clarity as of Wednesday afternoon. Camping availability is as usual for the peak of summer: full on weekends, a limited choice of electric sites during the weekdays, and a better choice of non electric sites on weekdays. Progress continues on the new loop of campsites due to open in 2010. When that loop opens, there will no longer be sites on the parking lot near the beach. The chain saw crew has been working once a week lately to cut down dead trees. Please stay clear until it is safe to pass if you encounter the workers. If you are camping, you may find a load of usable firewood right on your site or close by. Some of the group camp sites had a good supply of dry oak going into last weekend. Common wildlife sightings include white-tailed deer with fawns and wild turkeys with their young. The road between the campground and the boat launch is a good location to see the turkeys especially early mornings. Low light and overcast days is the best time for deer sightings. With the discovery of emerald ash borer nearby in Minnesota, it is critical that those coming to camp here from Minnesota do not bring firewood to Wisconsin. Kiln dried lumber and boards are okay. Anything else is not regardless of species or how long it has been “sitting in the garage” or even bought from a Minnesota vendor. That also includes pallets which are often made from rough cut boards or “slabs” with bark that never went in the kiln. Firewood is available at the park or nearby gas stations. Universe in the Park will be at the nature Center at 9 p.m. Friday, July 24. There will be a presentation inside then telescopes outside. There is no charge for the event but a park sticker is required on your vehicle.

La Crosse DNR Service Center area

During mid-summer, insects of all shapes, sizes, and colors are very abundant and active. Have you ever wondered what gives insects their wide array of colors? As you might suspect, there are a variety of factors that contribute. Colors are either structural or pigmental. Structural colors are due to anatomic peculiarities, such as grooves on the scales of butterflies. Grooves break up light into component wavelengths, acting much like a prism. The resultant colors are determined by the distances between grooves. Instead of grooves, some insects have small pits that function the same as grooves. Pigmental colors are produced by the reflection and absorption of the various wavelengths that compose light. Pigments may be taken directly from food, may be produced indirectly from food, or may be an excretory product. Many caterpillars and grasshoppers, for instance, are green due to the ingestion of chlorophyll, the chemical responsible for the green color of the leaves they eat. Insects that feed on blood of higher animals become red due to the ingestion of hemoglobin, the iron-containing respiratory pigment in red blood cells of vertebrates. The black and brown color of many insects, like some beetles, are due to nitrogenous metabolic by-products known as melanins. Reds and yellows of insects are derived from carotene and xanthophyll ingested with leaves. Anthocyanins produce red, blue, and purple colors in insects, as well as flowers, fruits, leaves, and stems. Dull yellows and browns are often derivatives of tannin found in leaves. The subject of insect coloration is extensive and further compounded by the effects that external factors like temperature, moisture, and light have on the formation of pigments and insect color patterns. So the next time you see a wasp, potato beetle, June bug, ladybug, monarch butterfly, or even a housefly, pause a moment to consider and appreciate the variety of insect colors. The final nests of many birds are being tended now. A few waterfowl nests have just started incubation. Those ducks may not be flying by the early part of October. Those nests usually represent a third nesting attempt after the previous two attempts were destroyed by predators, weather or other causes. Most game birds stop after a second unsuccessful attempt, often due to a lack of energy reserves by the hen. Most ducks and upland game birds lay clutches of 6 to 18 eggs. Ten seems common, although the number of eggs declines with each successive nest attempt. Some smaller birds like catbirds, thrashers and cuckoos use a very different nesting strategy. They lay only a few eggs, often about four, but may hatch two or even three broods per year. Their young usually are able to fly at an earlier age, often by two to three weeks earlier, than migratory waterfowl.

Perrot State Park - The trails are in good condition. Water levels are low. Fishing is slow. Currently blooming in the park: white wild indigo, harebell, butterfly weed, coneflowers, common yarrow, bouncing bet, tick trefoil, hoary alyssum, sweet clovers, Queen Anne's lace, fleabanes, black-eyed Susans, butter and eggs, liatris/blazing star, monarda, swamp milkweed and common milkweed.

Great River State Trail - The trail is open and in dry condition. Prairie wildflowers are really shining! White Wild Indigo, Coneflowers and Butterfly Weed are the current standouts! Raspberries are ripe along the whole length. Watch for frogs and turtles from the bridges as you ride along!

Crawford County - A new slow no wake zone is now in effect on the Mississippi River’s main channel. The slow no wake zone is approximately half a mile long and is located adjacent to the City of McGregor Iowa. The area is marked with slow no wake buoys that line both sides of the navigation channel. For reference the area affected is in the area of river mile 633.5. Therefore boaters must maintain a slow no wake speed through the entire length, shore to shore. The Mississippi River rose slightly late in the week. The current level is 7.3 feet. The forecast for the Mississippi River is for it to remain fairly steady. Boaters on the Mississippi River should use caution now that the river is hovering around that 7 foot mark. Wing dams, closing dams, and sunken logs are now dangerously close to lower units. Boaters unfamiliar with the area should stay in the navigation channel or slow down and trim up their motors. Boaters are also advised to use caution at some boat ramps as the water levels drop. Don’t back your trailer in to far as the tires might drop off the end of the launch pad. Some deep holes have developed at the end of the ramps too. This is caused by large vessels “power loading”. The Wisconsin and Kickapoo rivers are at normal summer time flows. The sand bars on the Wisconsin River are in great shape for camping. All trout streams in the area are in good shape with normal flow and water clarity is good. Bluegill, crappie and perch fishing remains slow. Many anglers are reporting that the larger bluegills are extremely hard to find. It appears that winter kill from the 2007/8 and 2008/9 winters have taken their toll on the bluegill populations in some area. In the Prairie du Chien area fishing for panfish is slow. Horseshoe (aka Sturgeon, aka McGregor), the Lower Bottoms, Garnet Lake and wing dams have been slow. The Ambro Slough complex and Spring Lake north of Prairie du Chien is slow too. The Ambro Slough, Black Slough, Fish Lake, the Upper and Lower Doubles and Big Missouri and Gremore Lake have been slow. The most popular bait has been a chunk of night crawler or garden worms. Panfishing at the dam has been spotty. Fishing at Cold Spring continues to be slow. Most of the bluegill are running on the small side. Cold Spring is considered inland water, not boundary waters. Different fishing regulations are in effect there and non-residents must possess a non-resident fishing license. Walleye and sauger action was generally good. Trolling and casting crank baits or drifting with live bait is the primary method of taking walleyes. Some of the hot spots have been on the Roseau Slough, Harpers Ferry Slough, and on the wing dams up and down the river. Nightcrawlers and leeches have been the best live bait so far. Walleye activity seems to be the best early and late in the day. Smallmouth and largemouth bass have been very active. Smallmouth were being found on closing dams and wing dams or rock shorelines. Largemouth bass were found in a variety of habitats. Plastics, spinner baits, and crank baits have worked well. Catfish, both flathead and channel, activity was pretty good. A variety of live baits have produced cats. Channel cats have been a bit more active than the flatheads. Sheepshead have become very active. A piece of night crawler fished off the bottom has been the best tactic. White bass action this week was spotty. Some moderate action was reported at the dam this week. Angler are casting small crank baits or using One-Eyes. Trout fishing has been very good even though vegetation and insects are staring to make fishing a bit more difficult. Many local streams produced some very nice brown and brook trout. Insects like mosquitoes and deer flies are out in large numbers. Mosquitoes are really a problem in the river bottoms while the deer flies are in the wooded areas. After last week’s rain another hatch of gnats showed up. Parsnip is starting to die back, but still can cause severe blistering. Stinging nettle and poison ivy are out too so outdoor users should take appropriate precautions.

Black River Falls DNR Service Center area

Black River State Forest - The section of the All-terrain Vehicle (ATV) Trail from Campground Road to the Clay School Parking Lot has been re-opened. It had been closed for several weeks after heavy rainfall resulted in sections of the trail being completely water covered. This section of trail was groomed this week along with a few other select areas of the trail. Within the past three weeks all sections of the trail have been groomed. Conditions are fair to good but of course very dusty. Ride with headlights at all times. Visitors who want to swim can go to Pigeon Creek Flowage swimming beach. This beach is only 3 miles from Robinson and features new playground equipment, better bathroom facilities, and more shade for picnicking. We plan on making additional improvements to this area. Just next to the swimming beach is an excellent nature trail with interpretive signage that makes for a good family hike.

Eau Claire DNR Service Center area

Brunet Island State Park - Birds seen or heard include: Belted kingfishers, loons, red winged blackbirds, bufflehead and mallard ducks, bald eagles, ravens, crows, phoebes, northern juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, flickers, red headed and pileated woodpeckers, great horned and barred owls, mourning doves, sandhill cranes, blue birds, Canada geese, great blue herons, robins and blue jays. The Canada geese goslings are quite numerous this year and are growing quickly. Dragonflies, damselflies, and fireflies are still active in lesser numbers. The turtles are frequenting the warm roadsides. The wild bergamot, rabbits foot clover, lesser daisy fleabane, the water lilies, some of the aster varieties, blue flag, dog violet, orange hawkweed, wild columbine, ox eye daisy, brown eyed Susan’s, and wooly yarrow. The raspberries and wood strawberries are producing fruit. The park trails are in very good condition. Hikers have many great opportunities within the park. Whether it’s using the island’s trail system, exploring the wilder areas of the park, or a brisk walk on the park road, you’re sure to enjoy these beautiful woodlands.

Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area

Buckhorn State Park - Campsites have been about half full during the week. The two beaches and picnic areas have been busy with people swimming and enjoying the warm weather . Earlier in the week the beach in the park was green with algae. This does move around the lake late in summer and we have two beaches for use. The accessible fishing pier is located by the north shelter. If you self-register for an annual it will be mailed to you There are still some openings for the handicapped cabin in Sept and Oct. There are two openings for the Youth Deer Hunt. Canoes and kayaks are available for renting at the park and many visitors have been enjoying them. Visitors on the weekend saw great blue herons and osprey while paddling the canoe trail. The park has an adapted kayak and beach wheelchair for use by people with disabilities. There are few bugs now so people have been hiking all over the park and taking pictures for the photo contest.

Roche-A-Cri State Park - The campground is open and we have had many sites open on the weekends. This Saturday, July 25 at 2 p.m. is a family "Learn to Geocache" event. Meet at the park office picnic area for tips and learn how to participate in this fun activity. GPS units are available to checkout for the day at Buckhorn and Roche-A-Cri.