Governor Thompson State Park
Crivitz, Wisconsin

• How to Get There
• Plans for the Future
• More Information

The 2,800-acre Governor Thompson State Park is 15 miles northwest of Crivitz in Marinette County, part of Wisconsin's Northeast Sands ecolocigal landscape. The site protects 5,300 feet of shoreline on Wood and Huber Lakes and protects Handsaw Creek and Woods Lake Outlet. The main parcel creating the park is the former 1,987-acre Paust Woods Lake Resort and about 200 acres of wild-looking lakefront bought from Wisconsin Public Service Corporation on Caldron Falls Reservoir.

The park is a quiet setting for canoeing.
DNR Photo

The park includes about 6.5 miles of undeveloped shoreline on Caldron Falls Flowage, backed up by forested uplands, and frontage on Woods Lake and Huber Lake, as well as several streams. Visitors will find an atmosphere that is perfect for solitude, reflection, recreation, and education.

The park was established in 2000, the Wisconsin State Park System's centennial year, and is open as a day-use park. While the park is developing more recreational areas there are many things for visitors to do such as boating, hiking, berry picking, fishing, swimming, picnicking, relaxing, and deer gun hunting.

The park has developed a picnic area and enclosed shelter on Woods Lake. The park has also rebuilt Boat Landing 13 on Caldron Falls Flowage with additional ramps, parking, and restrooms.

A Wisconsin state park sticker is required on all vehicles stopping in the park from the Ranch Road entrance. Stickers can be purchased in the park office. The park is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and the office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the summer. There is a self-registration box near the office for hours when the office is closed.

Plans for the Future

Future development will include some modern conveniences, but in keeping with the master plan, the park will preserve an “informal northwoods style” and provide a wide variety of opportunities for public recreation in a rustic, forested setting. The plan calls for developed and primitive campgrounds; trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, bicycling and snowmobiling; picnic sites and swimming areas; and restored pine barrens—a plant community once common in Wisconsin but now rare.

See the master plan for more about facilities planned for the park.

How to Get There

From Crivitz, travel northwest on County Highway A to County Highway X (four-way stop). Turn left on County Highway X. Continue on Highway X past the High Falls Reservoir bridge and then turn right on Parkway Road. Go north about .5 mile on Parkway Road and then turn left on Ranch Road. Go west on Ranch Road about 1 mile to Paust Lane. Turn right (north) on Paust Lane to enter the park.

Geographic coordinates are 45° 19' 11.72" N, 88° 13' 13.7" W.

More Information

Friends of Governor Thompson State Park [exit DNR]

For more information, ask Park Manager Maggie Kailhofer, (715) 757-3979.

Governor Thompson State Park
N10008 Paust Lane
Crivitz, WI 54114