Free admission to Wisconsin state parks and more things to know about Free Fun Weekend

Amy Schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read
Peninsula State Park's Eagle Tower in Door County includes a 850-foot access ramp to the upper deck. Admission to the park, and Wisconsin's 49 other state parks, is free during Free Fun Weekend, June 3-4.
Peninsula State Park's Eagle Tower in Door County includes a 850-foot access ramp to the upper deck. Admission to the park, and Wisconsin's 49 other state parks, is free during Free Fun Weekend, June 3-4.

On June 3 and 4, admission to Wisconsin's 50 state parks, 15 state forests and 44 state trails will be free as part of the Wisconsin DNR's Free Fun Weekend.

Here's what to know.

State parks and state forests

  • There's no need for admission stickers at Wisconsin's state parks and forests. The rest of the year, vehicle admission stickers are required to get in to most parks and some forests. For a car with Wisconsin plates, an annual sticker costs $28, and a daily sticker costs $8. (Daily stickers for Devil's Lake, Peninsula and Willow River state parks cost more.)

  • State parks will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

  • Camping fees and reservation requirements still apply.

More: Visit 15 of Wisconsin's most beautiful state parks on this 9-day road trip

Fishing

  • Fishing licenses and trout and salmon stamps are not required to fish in the state's rivers, streams and lakes. Typically, there are many types of fishing licenses available to purchase, including one-day licenses and discounts for first-time buyers. Additionally, kids under 15 and adults born before 1927 can fish without a license at all times.

  • Other fishing regulations (such as length limits, bag limits and fish seasons) still apply.

  • There are 60 tackle loaner sites around the state, some of which also loan out additional fishing equipment.

  • There will be some Learn to Fish clinics around the state during the weekend, including one at Puckett's Pond at Harrington Beach State Park in Belgium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 3. Fishing equipment, lunch and giveaways will be provided.

State Trails

  • Trail passes are not required. The passes, which cost $25 annually or $5 daily, are typically required for biking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding or in-line skating on certain trails. They are never required for hikers or walkers.

Group hikes and other events for National Trails Day

  • The weekend coincides with National Trails Day on June 3, and there will be several guided hikes held to celebrate, including a few organized by the Ice Age Trail Alliance.

  • At the Lapham Peak segment of the Ice Age Trail in Delafield, there will be a 4-mile, 1-mile prairie and family-friendly Tyke Hike from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Hikers should meet at the Evergreen picnic shelter.

  • At the Pike Lake segment of the Ice Age Trail in the Kettle Moraine State Forest near Hartford, there will be a 3-mile hike from 2 to 4 p.m. Hikers should meet at the beach parking lot entrance.

More: 5 kid-friendly hikes under 2 miles in the Milwaukee area

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin's Free Fun Weekend features free admission to state parks