Wyalusing State Park
Where the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers Meet
At Wyalusing State Park, you can camp 500 feet above the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. One of Wisconsin's oldest parks, Wyalusing features Indian burial mounds, canoe trail, bird watching. It's a place to go for fishing, boating, bicycling, picnicking, and enjoying nature. There are an interpretive center and four historical markers within the park.
Sunlight and a distant shower create a rainbow visible from Wyalusing's
Wisconsin Ridge Campground
Photo © Randy Paske
Wyalusing's 2,628 acres include hardwood forests, pine plantations, bluffs, springs, waterfalls, wetlands, and backwaters. The park is home to deer, beavers, fox, and many other animals. More than 90 bird species live here during the summer and 100 more can be observed during spring and fall migration. They include wild turkeys, bald eagles, turkey vultures, hawks, owls, waterfowl, woodpeckers, and a colorful variety of songbirds.
Water recreation
A canoe trail through the river sloughs offers a unique way to see the waterfowl, aquatic plants, an diverse animal life of the river bottomlands. The trail begins and ends at the park boat landing. Canoes can be rented from the park concession.
A boat ramp is available in the park for launching trailered boats. Motorboats are permitted. Rental boats are available from businesses near Bagley an in the Prairie du Chien area.
The Mississippi and Wisconsin river backwaters offer excellent fishing for panfish, bass, northern pike, and walleye. There's an accessible fishing pier at the boat landing.
The state park doesn't have a beach, but Wyalusing Recreation Area, two miles south of the park entrance, has a beach as well as boat landing an picnic area. There's a municipal swimming pool in Prairie du Chien.
Camping
Two campgrounds have 109 regular campsites, 34 of them with electricity. There also are a modern lodge/dormitory complex with a capacity of 108 people and a group tent campground that accommodates 130 people.
There are showers and flush bathrooms in the Wisconsin Ridge Campground and showers and pit toilets in the Homestead Campground. A dumping station for camper holding tanks is near the entrance to the Homestead campground. Firewood may be purchased at the park concession stand.
Laundromats in nearby Prairie du Chien are open 24 hours a day.
To check availability or reserve a campsite, use the Web or call (888) WI PARKS ((888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275).
Trails
Note: Some of Wyalusing's trails are closed. See our current conditions page for details.
Wyalusing has 23.7 miles of trails, including:
- 22.2 miles of hiking trails
- 7.7 miles of mountain bike trails
- 6.9 miles of cross-country ski trails
- 2.4 miles of interpretive nature trails
- .8 mile of trail accessible for people with disabilities
The Old Immigrant Trail provides an hour of easy hiking.
DNR Photo by Neal Kephart
In the Area
In nearby Prairie du Chien, visit Villa Louis [exit DNR], one of the most authentically restored Victorian house museums in America. The 1870s mansion is operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Prairie du Chien [exit DNR]—Accommodations, activities, dining, events, and more
How
to get there
From US Highway 18 and State Highway 35, turn west on County Highway C about just south of the Wisconsin River bridge. Follow Highway C to Highway X. Turn right on Highway X and go one mile to the park entrance. Directional signs are at each intersection.
Related links
Friends of Wyalusing State Park [exit DNR]
More Information
For more information, ask:
Wyalusing
State Park
13081 State Park Lane
Bagley WI 53801
Phone (608) 996-2261
Fax(608) 996-2410
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