Things to Do at High Cliff State Park

Accessibility: High Cliff provides accessible camping, hiking trail and picnic areas for visitors with disabilities.

Accommodations, activities, dining, events, and more:

Calumet County [exit DNR]
Appleton [exit DNR]
Kaukauna [exit DNR]

For more information, see Calumet County Tourism [exit DNR].

Biking: Bicycles are allowed on all park roads. Mountain bikes are retricted to the horse trail and a portion of the Red Bird Trail. The bike trail is open for biking around May 1 through November 15.

Boating: Lake Winnebago offers unlimited opportunity for boating. The park marina provides slips for 100 boats and there are 4 launching ramps. Call 920-989-1349 for slip reservations. Occupants may remain overnight aboard boats moored in the marina.

Camping: The family campground consists of 112 campsites (32 with electric and two accessible) and 8 group sites. A sanitary dump station and recycling /garbage station is available. Reservations are recommended for weekend camping May through October. A specially designed cabin for campers with disabilities is available May through mid-October.

Cross-Country Skiing: The Red Bird Trail is a designated ski trail when snow covered. The trail is groomed for traditional skiing and is suitable for beginning to intermediate skiers. Pets are not permitted on ski trails.

Fishing: Fishing on Butterfly Pond may yield large mouth bass or panfish. Lake Winnebago provides the opportunity to catch walley, perch or white bass. Fishing poles can be signed out at the park office at no cost.

Friends of High Cliff: Friends of High Cliff State Park is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a greater appreciation of High Cliff State Park. Anyone can become a member. Your help in planning and staffing special activities in the park is always welcome.

Hiking: High Cliff hiking trails offer different levels of challenge to hikers. All trails are looped and vary in length. See map for more information.

Horseback Riding: High Cliff has 8.5 miles of bridle trails, looping the length of the park. Horse rentals are not available at the park.

Hunting: Hunting is not allowed in the park except during the gun deer season by permit only.

Nature programs: The general store museum/nature center is open from 1 to 5 p.m. on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day. High Cliff offers educational field trips for groups, by reservation, during the fall, winter, and spring.

Observation Tower: From the vantage point of the cliff, and especially from the 40-foot observation tower, you can see the cities of Appleton, Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, and Kaukauna.

Pets: Pets are welcome in the park when pet owners observe the rules. Pets must be on a leash (no longer than 8 feet), under control and attended at all times. Pet owners are responsible for removal and proper disposal of pet waste. Pets are not permitted in mowed picnic areas (unless indicated), buildings, cross-country ski trails when snow-covered, the beach, and on the observation tower.

Picnicking: High Cliff has four picnic areas with tables, grills, water, and rest rooms. Three open-air shelters and an enclosed pavilion may be reserved for a fee. Two picnic areas have swings, merry-go-rounds and slides and wooden playground equipment is available in the campground.

Snowmobiling: Approximately three miles of snowmobile access trail traverses the park and connects Lake Winnebago with the Calumet County snowmobile trail system. Call (920) 849-1494 for trail conditions.

Snowshoeing/Winter Hiking: Snowshoeing is permitted anywhere in High Cliff except on ski trail when snow covered. We recommend the Forest Management Trail for winter hiking and snowshoeing. Rentals are available on a first come, first served basis when the park office open.

Summer Sports: A baseball diamond, a sand volleyball court, a grass volleyball court, and two sets of horseshoe pits are available for summer sports enthusiasts. Volleyballs and nets and horseshoes can be signed out at no cost.

Swimming: High Cliff’s offers an unguarded sand beach. The bathhouse has flush toilets, showers, changing areas and open shelters..

Volunteer: High Cliff has volunteer opportunities in many aspects of park operations, including maintenance, invasive species control, interpretation and camphosting. Campground hosts are scheduled for a calendar month and are given free camping in exchange for 15 hours a week of cleaning out campfire rings, picking up litter, cleaning the accessible cabin and providing information for campers. Call today for more information on volunteering at High Cliff State Park!

Watchable Wildlife: The most common mammals observed here are fox and gray squirrels, raccoons, skunks, opossums, deer, woodchucks, 13-striped ground squirrels, chipmunks, mice, shrews, and bats. Present, but rarely seen, are red fox, weasels, and mink. High Cliff is a premier area to watch the warbler migration in the spring. The park is also home to several purple martin colonies.

For more information, ask:

High Cliff State Park
N7630 State Park Rd.
Sherwood, WI 54169
(920) 989-1106

Linda Guelig, Visitor Services
Jason Wiese, Park Manager