Wisconsin State Park System
Governor Dodge State Park

Park Info

Welcome

Governor Dodge State Park is one of the state's largest parks, with 5,350 acres of steep hills, bluffs, and deep valleys plus two lakes and a waterfall. Located in Wisconsin's scenic driftless area, Governor Dodge offers camping, picnicking, hiking, canoeing, biking, hunting, fishing, off-road biking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding opportunities.

• Camping and Reservations
• Activities and Recreation
• Trail Descriptions
• Reservable Picnic Shelters
• Park History

Directions

Take US Highway 18 to Dodgeville, which is about 48 miles west of Madison, Wisconsin. Then go north on State Highway 23. The park entrance is on your right about 3 miles north of Highway 18. You also can take the scenic Highway 23 south from Spring Green or north from Mineral Point to reach the park. Geographic coordinates are 43° 0' 58.5" N, 90° 8' 29.0" W.

By foot or bicycle, you can get to Governor Dodge by way of the Military Ridge State Trail. There's a surfaced access trail from the Military Ridge to the park just east of County Highway Z.

Hours

• The park is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Park Fees

• A vehicle admission sticker is required.
• A state trail pass is required for bikers and horseback riders 16 years of age and older.
• Hunting and Fishing Licenses apply.

Concessions and Rental Equipment

The Dodgeville Kiwanis Club operates a concession stand at the Cox Hollow Beach area. The stand offers boat and canoe rentals, soda, coffee, ice cream, pizza, ice, charcoal, T-shirts, and miscellaneous snack items. The concession is open daily Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Friends Group

• Friends of Governor Dodge State Park [exit DNR]. There are numerous volunteer opportunities available at Governor Dodge. Volunteers serve as camp hosts, adopt a trail sponsors, naturalists, maintenance helpers, and Friends Group members.

Explore the Outdoors

Explore the Outdoors

• Nature at Governor Dodge
• Geology at Governor Dodge
• Wisconsin Explorer Program

Maps/Publications

Park Maps

• Governor Dodge State Park Map [PDF]
• Campgrounds [PDF 163KB]
• Winter trails [PDF 237KB] (ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, and winter hiking trails)
• Deer hunting areas [PDF 209KB]
• Small game hunting areas [PDF 317KB]
• Turkey hunting areas [PDF, 85KB]

Park Planning

• Master Plan [PDF, 1.9MB]

Wisconsin State Park System (WSPS)

• WSPS Plans and Reports

In the Area

Department of Tourism Listings

• Mineral Point and Dodgeville [exit DNR]
• Mount Horeb, Blue Mounds & Barneveld [exit DNR]

More In the Area

• American Players Theatre [exit DNR]
• House on the Rock [exit DNR]
• Taliesin [exit DNR]
• Blackhawk Lake [exit DNR]