National Forests, Recreation Areas and Wildlife Refuges

Click here for a Map of all Wisconsin National Forests

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Wild landscapes in the greatest of lakes. Land of pine and hemlock, eagle and bear. Ancestral home of the Ojibwe people. The nation's finest collection of historic lighthouses. Paradise for campers, boaters, and kayakers. This and more... The Apostle Islands.
Call 715-779-3397. E-mail Web www.nps.gov/apis
One block off Wisconsin Route 13 in Bayfield, 415 Washington Avenue, Bayfield, Bayfield County.

Blackhawk Park

Many campsites are located along the shoreline and provide the camper with a picturesque view of the Mississippi River. Most campsites are equipped with a picnic table and ground fireplace. Picnic accommodations range from shelters, to individual tables and grills located adjacent to the Mississippi River. Fishing can be enjoyed along any part of Blackhawk's shoreline. Boats can be launched at two boat ramps giving access to the Mississippi's main channel, lakes and backwaters. Park Rangers provide a variety of programs and activities throughout the summer. There is a beach for swimming and plenty of sand for sunbathing and building castles.
Call 608-648-3314. Web www.mvp.usace.army.mil
Three miles north of DeSoto just off of State Hwy 35 on County Road BI, E590 Cty Rd BI, DeSoto, Vernon County.

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is located in Wisconsin's Northwoods, covering over a million and a half acres. The Chequamegon forest covers about 858,400 acres in Ashland, Bayfield, Sawyer, Price, Taylor, and Vilas counties while the Nicolet forest covers nearly 661,400 acres in Florence, Forest, Langlade, Oconto, Oneida, and Vilas counties. Since 1993 the Chequamegon and Nicolet national forests have been managed as one, with headquarters offices in both Park Falls and Rhinelander.
Call 715-762-2461. E-mail pswanson@fs.fed.us Web www.fs.fed.us/r9/cnnf
1170 Fourth Avenue South, Park Falls, Price County.

Necedah National Wildlife Refuge

The refuge is located in the Great Central Wisconsin Swamp, the largest wetland bog in the state. It has extensive forest habitat (pine, oak, aspen) and large tracts of rare oak barrens habitat - the traditional habitat for waterfowl and sandhill cranes. It provides habitat for threatened, endangered and rare species such as the Karner blue butterfly, massasauga rattlesnake and Blanding's turtle with common resident wildlife species; beaver, coyote, turkey, gray wolves, and white-tailed deer.
Call 608-565-2551. E-mail necedah@fws.gov Web midwest.fws.gov/necedah
W7996 20th Street West, Necedah, Juneau County.

St Croix National Scenic Riverway

Calm or dancing waters surrounded by shades of green, the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway provides 252 miles of recreational opportunities. Canoe amid the northwoods, where wolves, deer, otter and porcupine can be seen or boat surrounded by wooded bluffs and historic towns. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 created a thin narrow corridor of protection for the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers.
Call 715-483-3284. E-mail Web www.nps.gov/sacn
401 N Hamilton Street, St Croix Falls, Polk County.

Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, La Crosse District

The Refuge is the longest wildlife refuge in the Continental United States. It extends 261 miles along the Mississippi River from the Chippewa River in Wisconsin to nearly Rock Island, Illinois. The Refuge was established in 1924 to protect bottomland habitat for migratory birds and fish. The 242,400 acre refuge lies within Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois and is divided into four management districts: Winona, Minnesota; La Crosse, Wisconsin; McGregor, Iowa; and Savanna, Illinois.
Call 608-783-8405. E-mail UpperMississippiRiver@fws.gov Web midwest.fws.gov/lacrosse
555 Lester Avenue, La Crosse, La Crosse County.