Roche-A-Cri State Park
Special Events and Programs

• Naturalist programs
• Special events
• Give time or money
• Friends of Roche-A-Cri State Park

Special Events

Special events are an annual feature at Roche-A-Cri State Park. Search for Roche-A-Cri on the statewide calendar of events for dates and times.

Pumpkin Walk/Haunted Hay Ride. Held on a Saturday in late October. Haunted hay ride through the campgrounds, games for the kids, candlelight hike, pumpkin judging contest and a bonfire. Refreshments will be available. Open house day - park vehicle sticker fees are waived.

Photography Contest. Held at both Buckhorn and Roche-A-Cri State Parks. Runs from October 1 through September 30 the following year. The four categories are: wildlife, plants, people using the park, and an open category. Ask park staff for contest information sheet.

Naturalist Programs

Roche-A-Cri staff and volunteers conduct interpretive programs on weekends throughout the summer.

The goal of the interpretive program is to help visitors learn more about nature within the park setting. Hikes, evening programs, displays and roving contacts are among the tools our staff uses to reach this goal.

Activities are designed for visitors of all ages and are fun as well as educational. Special guest speaker presentations are also arranged. Program schedules are posted around the park and are available upon request at the office.

You can give time or money to help the state park

If you enjoy Roche-A-Cri State Park, you may want to express your appreciation through a gift of money, materials, equipment or volunteer services. Gifts help Wisconsin State Parks provide facilities and services that otherwise would not be possible.

Money may be placed in the donation box in the park office or mailed to the park:

Roche-A-Cri State Park
1767 Hwy 13
Friendship WI 53934

Or mailed to the Wisconsin State Parks central office:

Bureau of Parks and Recreation
P.O. Box 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921

Money for projects also can be donated to the Friends of Roche-A-Cri State Park.

If you enjoy camping and meeting people from all over the country, you may wish to become a volunteer campground host. As a host, you will receive free use of a campsite in exchange for helping campers, providing information about the park and surrounding area and doing minor maintenance.

To get more information about the host program, to be a nature volunteer guide or do other work in the park, talk with the superintendent or submit a volunteer application. It could open the door to an unforgettable and rewarding experience in Wisconsin's wonderful outdoors.

Friends of Roche-A-Cri State Park

The Friends of Roche-A-Cri State Park work on park activities and special events. They have worked with park staff in organizing and running the annual Pumpkin Walk/Haunted Hay ride and the park photography contest.

The friends have funded numerous park projects over the years. Their accomplishments include the construction of the park picnic shelter and its electrical service, prairie establishment, interpretive trail signs, electricity for the handicap accessible campsite and campground toilets, and a stone and wood entrance sign for the park.

For more information about the Friends of Roche-A-Cri State Park or any volunteer project, talk with staff at the park office or call (608) 339-6881 (summer) or (608) 565-2789 (winter).

For more information about Roche-A-Cri State Park, please call (608) 565-2789 or email Joe Stecker-Kochanski, Buckhorn/Roche-A-Cri State Parks.