Wyalusing State Park Conditions
Conditions as of Thursday, September 4, 2008:
Trails and Roads
Trails that are open are in good hiking condition. Trails at Wyalusing State Park that were closed since mid-July 2007 due to heavy rainfall remain closed.
Map of open and closed trails [PDF, 176KB]
Trails that are open are:
- Walkway to Point Lookout
- Whitetail Meadow Trail
- Turkey Hollow Trail, one of the longest trails in the park (3.5 miles loop)
- Sentinel Ridge Trail, one of the most scenic trails at Wyalusing State Park. It can be reached from Point Lookout and follows the bluff all the way down to the Mississippi River (a drop of about 500 feet). Indian mounds, nature labels, the Passenger Pigeon Monument and Green Cloud Picnic Shelter are on Sentinel Ridge Trail. An outstanding view of the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers can be seen from the Green Cloud Picnic Area and the Passenger Pigeon Monument.
- Mississippi Ridge Trail
Trails that are partly open are:
- Bluff Trail is open to Treasure Cave. To reach Treasure Cave, take the walkway from Point Lookout (as you are looking at the rivers) to the right. Take a left down the trail to Bluff Trail (through the opening in the rocks). Treasure Cave is on Bluff Trail just below Point Lookout. The rest of Bluff Trail is closed.
- You can hike from the parking lot for Sugar Maple Nature Trail to Pictured Rock Cave Cave and cool off under the small waterfall, but the rest of that trail is closed.
Trails that are closed include:
- Sand Cave Trail
- Flint Ledge Trail
- Old Wagon Road Trail
- Walnut Springs Trail
- Indian Trail
The road to the boat landing has been repaired and is open. Homestead Hill Road is closed.
Camping
The Wisconsin Ridge, Homestead, and Outdoor Group campgrounds are open for camping. Showers are available in both the Wisconsin Ridge and Homestead campgrounds.
Reservations are recommended for weekend camping and for anyone who would like a bluff site or an electric site during the week. To reserve regular or outdoor group sites for dates through October 31, 2008, use the Web or call (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275. There are 22 first-come, first-served, nonreservable sites including eight electric sites and six bluff sites.
Because of the threat of the emerald ash borer and other harmful pests and diseases, no one may bring firewood from more than 50 miles away or from outside Wisconsin into the park. Firewood can be purchased in the area.
River
The Mississippi River level is 7.1, up .2 from yesterday. This is close to the normal summer river level in this area. Nice catches of bass, catfish, and bluegills are being reported by local anglers.
The concession stand, open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., rents canoes. The concession stand also sells firewood, ice, camping supplies and a variety of tee shirts and sweatshirts.
A marked canoe trail starts at the park’s boat landing where the canoes and kayaks are kept. The 6-mile loop winds its way through the Mississippi River backwaters, down the main channel, and through another area of backwater, ending at the boat landing.
Nature
Birds
Park bird feeders have been removed for the season due to raccoon destructiveness.
Hummingbird [exit DNR] at the park office continue to delight park visitors. The heyday of the hummingbirds is certainly here now. Hummingbirds are most active right before dark.
Recent sightings in the park include: red-bellied [exit DNR], downy , and hairy [exit DNR] woodpeckers; purple finches; cardinals; blue jays; chickadees; nuthatches; tufted titmice [exit DNR]; prothonotary [exit DNR] and cerulean warblers; goldfinches; mourning doves; tree sparrows; crows [exit DNR]; flickers [exit DNR]; bluebirds; robins; meadowlarks; orioles [exit DNR]; rose-breasted grosbeaks [exit DNR]; indigo buntings [exit DNR]; Henslow's sparrows [exit DNR]; eagles; wild turkeys; turkey vultures; and red-winged blackbirds.
Indigo buntings [exit DNR] are seen daily near the intersection of Turkey Hollow Trail and State Park Lane. Henslow's sparrows can be seen (heard) near the astronomy center. Yellow-throated warblers may be found near the north loop of Turkey Hollow Trail by Homestead Picnic Shelter and also near the stand of pines before you go up the hill to Green Cloud Picnic Area. On Monday evening, dozens of cliff swallows feasted on insects near the park office.
There are 30 new bluebirds enjoying Wyalusing State Park. Many thanks to Dorothy Messner for monitoring the bluebird boxes and for her reports!
Flowers
The native prairie garden at the park office is beginning to show that fall will soon be here. It is still beautiful, but many flowers are beginning to fade and go to seed. Flowers in bloom now include: purple coneflowers, black-eyed Susan, Joe-Pye-Weed, purple prairie clover, nodding onion, prairie onion, cardinal flower, great blue lobelia, side oats grandma, bottle brush grass, St. John’s Wort, butterfly milkweed, white aster, coreopsis. Thanks also to Dorothy Messner for her hard work in the garden to keep it looking so beautiful. Wildflowers in bloom in the area include: cow parsnip, chicory, Queen Anne’s Lace, mullein, lobelia, evening primrose, and bergamot, jewelweed (touch me nots).
Coming Events
The Starsplitters of Wyalusing State Park present astronomy programs on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month through October at the Lawrence Huser Astronomy Center, just past the park office on the right side of the road. Program times will vary each month as the days get shorter. Please contact the park office at (608) 996-2261.
Spirits of Wyalusing Past. Saturday, September 27, join characters from Wyalusing’s illustrious history along a luminary lit trail. Sponsored by the Friends of Wyalusing State Park.
Park Admission Stickers
Each vehicle parking in the park must have a vehicle admission sticker. If the office is not staffed, use the self-registration tube just past the drive-up window at the park office.
The 2008 stickers available now are valid through December 31, 2008.
Several new infomational kiosks arrived and have been installed throughout the park. Purchase of the kiosks was made possible through the Friends of Wyalusing State Park [exit DNR] and a matching grant.
For more information, ask: Wyalusing State Park, 13081 State Park Lane, Bagley, WI 53801, Phone (608) 996-2261.
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