Wyalusing State Park Conditions
Conditions as of Thursday, October 29, 2009:
With the rain and wind of the past week, many of the leaves have fallen. The oak trees, which retain their leaves through much of the winter, are still boasting various shades of brown, copper maroon, and bronze. The tamarack trees at the park entrance now wear their fall coat of pure gold, before they lose their needles for the onset of winter.
Trails and Roads
Trails that are open are in good hiking condition.
Repairs to the Sugar Maple Nature Trail have been completed, and the trail is open.
A segment of Sand Cave Trail is now open, including a spur leading to Big Sand Cave. The trail crew is working on the south half of Sand Cave Trail. This portion of the trail is rough-cut. It is hikeable to Little Sand Cave. Sand Cave Trail will be closed to hiking if we get significant rainfall. Get to Sand Cave Trail from Walnut Springs Trail near the old park office. Trail crew members are making steady progress on Sand Cave Trail and will work as long as the weather permits. When completed, Sand Cave Trail will offer a beautiful view of Walnut Eddy.
Other rails that are open are:
- Walkway to Point Lookout
- Whitetail Meadow Trail
- Turkey Hollow Trail, one of the longest trails in the park (3.5 miles loop)
- Sentinel Ridge Trail, one of the most scenic trails at Wyalusing State Park. It can be reached from Point Lookout and follows the bluff all the way down to the Mississippi River (a drop of about 500 feet). Indian mounds, nature labels, the Passenger Pigeon Monument and Green Cloud Picnic Shelter are on Sentinel Ridge Trail. An outstanding view of the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers can be seen from the Green Cloud Picnic Area and the Passenger Pigeon Monument.
- Mississippi Ridge Trail
- Bluff trail to Treasure Cave. Take the walkway from Point Lookout (as you are looking at the confluence) to the right. Take a left down the trail to Bluff Trail (through the opening in the rocks). Treasure Cave is on Bluff Trail just below Point Lookout.
Other trails that were closed due to storm damage in July 2007 remain closed:
- The rest of Bluff Trail
- Flint Ledge Trail
- Old Wagon Road Trail
- Walnut Springs Trail
- Indian Trail
The road to the boat landing has been repaired and is open. Homestead Hill Road is closed.
Camping
Wisconsin Ridge Campground remains open through the winter. A winterized water faucet is available east of the shower/flush building in the Wisconsin Ridge Campground.
Showers, flush bathrooms and all water faucets are closed for the season. The dumping station is closed for the season, but campers can continue to dump if they have enough water in their tanks to flush.
Homestead Campground sites 201-219 are open for reservations until October 31 and on a walk-in basis if needed. Homestead Campground will close for the season on November 1.
The concession stand is closed for the season. Tee-shirts, sweatshirts, books and postcards are available for sale at the park office. Firewood is available from private vendors just outside of the park.
To reserve regular or outdoor group sites for dates through October 31, 2009, use the Web or call (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275.
Special Notice: Any firewood brought in from more than 50 miles away or from a quarantined area [PDF, 102KB] or from out of state will be confiscated due to the potential of carrying harmful emerald ash borers [exit DNR]. Even though parts of Vernon and Crawford counties are within the 50 mile radius, firewood from these two counties is not allowed in the park. Firewood may not be transported out of a quarantined area. This includes firewood purchased or originating from Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin (Crawford County).
Events
The Starsplitters of Wyalusing have ended their astronomy programs for the year.
Coming events for Wyalusing and all state parks and forests are listed on the DNR Events Calendar.
Nature
Many of the summer residents have left the area en route to warmer climates. Eastern bluebirds and robins are still in the area.
Two bird feeders have been erected near the park office. At the feeder we've seen chickadees, nuthatches and goldfinches. Bald eagles and turkey vultures have been seen soaring over the bluffs overlooking the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. Canoeists using the marked canoe trail through the Mississippi River backwaters report a number of mature and juvenile bald eagles.
Park Admission Stickers
Each vehicle parking in the park must have a vehicle admission sticker. If the office is not staffed, use the self-registration tube just past the drive-up window at the park office. Annual stickers for 2009 are available and are are valid through December 31, 2009.
For more information, ask: Wyalusing State Park, 13081 State Park Lane, Bagley, WI 53801, Phone (608) 996-2261.
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