Willow River State Park Conditions

Conditions as of Wednesday, August 20, 2008:

• Admission Stickers
• Camping
• Events
• Fishing and Boating
• Nature
• Trails

Events

On Saturday, August 23, Mike Reiter will be showing his collection of animal skulls and bones at the Nature Center at 7 p.m. Reiter is an avid outdoorsman and quite knowledgeable about the various pieces in the collection. A fairly recent addition is the deformed deer feet - ask how they got that way. Reiter can also tell a fishing or hunting story too. In good weather, Reiter will likely set up the display outside. The event is free with a vehicle admission sticker.

Nature

Summer is still exerting itself with plenty of daytime heat and morning humidity. The prairie trails will be relatively dry underfoot while the forested areas hold more dew in the mornings. Coming out of the canopied forest into an open prairie, there is a noticeable change. The humidity drops but the heat rises.

It’s relatively quiet for bird songs but the prairie sings with crickets in the morning.

Yellow coneflowers are in bloom on many areas of the park. Some green leaves are already down probably due to lack of rain. The silver maples near the office are dropping leaves and some of the green ash trees are showing a little color.

Trails

 In a ski training session on a Saturday from 9to 11 a.m., a visitor saw 5 people. Even with a full campground, it is still possible to find un-crowded trails.

A regular schedule of ski training sessions will start in October.

Fishing and Boating

The lake has been running a light shade of green, which is normal for this time of year.

Fishing reports have been few. One smallmouth bass was reported by anglers fishing from a canoe Wednesday morning.

Canoes and kayaks are available for rent.

Campgrounds

The family campground is open. All bathroom buildings are open and all water faucets and the dump station are on for the season.

Camping on weekends remains full while the weeknights offer a good selection of sites, including a few with electricity.

Trailer camping is available at the six sites (73-78 with electricity) by the beach, no tents. There are three grills for outdoor cooking but no fire rings.

Reservations may be made for dates two days from now through October 31 by calling (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275 or using the Web.

Campers making reservations on the web site are reminded that campsite # 26 requires that someone in the camping party must have a disability. It is clearly marked on the web site. Campers without a disability in their party should not be reserving this site under any circumstances.

Please self register for camping and vehicle admission as needed outside the office if it is closed when you arrive. If you are going to be late arriving for your reservation (after 3 p.m. on the second day of your stay) please call the office, (715) 386-5931, to let us know you are coming, or you will forfeit the reservation.

Firewood is for sale in the park from 7 to 8 p.m. daily. Convenience stores nearby also have firewood. Campers will find dry wood (oak) along the trail from the campground to the beach. Cutting trees that are already down is allowed with hand tools only, no power saws. 

Protect Wisconsin’s trees; leave the firewood at home! Any firewood brought into the park from a state other than Wisconsin or from more than 50 miles away will be confiscated and not returned upon your departure. There will be no refunds for commercially packaged firewood confiscated by park staff. Kiln dried lumber and boards are acceptable. Pallets will be confiscated.

Vehicle Admission Stickers

A vehicle admission sticker is required to park on state park property. The 2008 stickers are valid through December 31, 2008.

If the office is closed when you arrive, please self-register for vehicle admission and camping fees as needed. There are self-registration boxes at several outlying parking areas. Pay for your sticker at the box and we will mail the sticker to you. Complete information is posted outside the office.

Reminder: if you are a Wisconsin resident and you enter the park in a vehicle with Minnesota or other out-of-state plates, non-resident vehicle admission fees apply. Self-registration camping is limited to only two nights until reservable dates end.

Nature Center hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

Other Conditions

Road Conditions [exit DNR]
Weather [exit DNR]

For more information, ask Willow River State Park office, (715) 386-5931; Nature Center, (715) 386-9340. When the office is closed, the answering service has optional messages include seasonal topics like camping, skiing, and special events.