Back to Contents State Parks Wisconsin state parks preserve some of the state's best scenery, plants, wildlife and places of historical, archaeological or geological interest. The purpose of the state parks is to provide areas for public recreation and for public education in conservation and nature study. State parks have facilities such as paved roads, mowed or surfaced trails, restrooms, picnic areas, campgrounds, boat landings, fishing piers, and concessions for the many people who visit them.
Most facilities are accessible to people with disabilities.
Because education plays a key role in our state parks, a number of parks have nature centers and permanent or seasonal naturalists. Wisconsin state parks, recreation areas and trails total nearly 84,000 acres, offering a wide variety of watchable wildlife. A vehicle admission sticker is required in most areas. The four Wisconsin state recreation areas allow a wider variety of public hunting. They were sought to help protect and manage important habitat for wildlife and to help prevent draining, filling and destruction of wetlands.