For the longest time I drove past this area, daunted by the immense size of the marsh. Even with all of the nice road signs you still didn't know if you were going to have a nice dry hike. It is a marsh after all. If you were to have a staring contest with this marsh, the marsh would win. Back in the good ole days you didn't have a nature center with nice trail maps and bathrooms or a place to warm your bones.
Fast forwarding a decade or two and it seems that there is finally a proper visitors center; a warm place to share the history, buy trinkets, and to relax and regroup. And yes, a bathroom.
Showing posts with label Camping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Camping. Show all posts
High Cliff State Park - Sherwood
Sherwood,(Calumet Cty)
On the northeast shore of Lake Winnebago, this beautiful hunk of rock was once a working limestone quarry where Hungarian immigrants were housed during the excavations from 1895 to 1956. At the base of the hill (can't miss it) is the only standing building from that operation and tells the story of the miner and laborers and how they fared during this time period.
Apparently there is a 12 foot statue of Winnebago Indian Chief Red Bird. Right now I am racking
my brain as to where it is located. I am thinking it is on the upper section by the ranger tower (it's not). On the DNR site, the statue has the power to give us pause to consider the past....(wait for it)... and the future. Was the statue Wisconsin's gift to the Ho-Chunks for allowing their Chief to die a common prisoner? History is strangely mute on the subject.
Wheretofind: Travel time from Oshkosh area is about 40-45 minutes from Hwy 41 North to Cty Hwy 10/114. From Fond du Lac it's almost an hour from Hwy 55 North to Cty Hwy 114. Entrance is at Pigeon Road.
What to expect: * Park Permit required (day passes can be purchased). Upper/Lower sections that have natural and paved trails (see map), ranger tower, camping and picnic areas, ruins of limestone kiln, Indian effigy mounds and letterboxing locations!. And there's cliffs. On the lower section there is a General Store/museum that sell candy and ice cream. I seem to recall also an independently owned shop that sells concession type foods like hot dogs, burgers, ice cream and soda. This is also on the lower area, nearby a small cemetery.
Before I forget, there is non-profit organization called Friends of High Cliff whose members help support the park by fundraising events in order to pay for a year round naturalist to provide educational workshops and are responsible for the efforts in preserving it's history.
On the northeast shore of Lake Winnebago, this beautiful hunk of rock was once a working limestone quarry where Hungarian immigrants were housed during the excavations from 1895 to 1956. At the base of the hill (can't miss it) is the only standing building from that operation and tells the story of the miner and laborers and how they fared during this time period.
Apparently there is a 12 foot statue of Winnebago Indian Chief Red Bird. Right now I am racking
my brain as to where it is located. I am thinking it is on the upper section by the ranger tower (it's not). On the DNR site, the statue has the power to give us pause to consider the past....(wait for it)... and the future. Was the statue Wisconsin's gift to the Ho-Chunks for allowing their Chief to die a common prisoner? History is strangely mute on the subject.Wheretofind: Travel time from Oshkosh area is about 40-45 minutes from Hwy 41 North to Cty Hwy 10/114. From Fond du Lac it's almost an hour from Hwy 55 North to Cty Hwy 114. Entrance is at Pigeon Road.
What to expect: * Park Permit required (day passes can be purchased). Upper/Lower sections that have natural and paved trails (see map), ranger tower, camping and picnic areas, ruins of limestone kiln, Indian effigy mounds and letterboxing locations!. And there's cliffs. On the lower section there is a General Store/museum that sell candy and ice cream. I seem to recall also an independently owned shop that sells concession type foods like hot dogs, burgers, ice cream and soda. This is also on the lower area, nearby a small cemetery.
Before I forget, there is non-profit organization called Friends of High Cliff whose members help support the park by fundraising events in order to pay for a year round naturalist to provide educational workshops and are responsible for the efforts in preserving it's history.
Horicon Ledge County Park - Horicon
Horicon/Mayville (Dodge Cty)
Also goes by Dodge Cty Ledge Park. Not a place for small kids. Wear good,sturdy shoes. The main link to trail map page) that run the edge where the Overlook is and winds around wooded camp area. The main attraction to this park are the trails that take you around and through the rocky outcroppings.
Wheretofind: Off of Highway 33 to Cty Rd TW North Travel time is a 1/2 hour east from Beaver Dam or west from West Bend. N7403 Park Road, Horicon. There is an upper and lower section. Ranger station is located in the upper, which is also where the firewood can be purchased.
What to expect: Cliffs, ledges, mossy crags,slippery hills and rocks. This park is a popular campground, but one of the bennies to this park are the public picnic areas on the upper and lower levels that has its own firepit, one large, and 2-3 smaller sites and split wood for sale. NOTE FIREWOOD BAN NOTICE. This park is gated, ranger controlled and visitors not camping have to leave at closing (7pm?). I recommend calling first: (920) 387-5450.
Other Horicon related activities, here is the link for the Horicon Chamber of Commerce, showing Marsh Boat Tours/Canoe Rentals, their Aquatic Center, The HORICON WILDLIFE REFUGE, and the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center.
Dodge County does offer some great parks that also has public firepits. In fact, Dodge County has one of the best managed county park systems.
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| Photo credit: Horicon Chamber. |
Wheretofind: Off of Highway 33 to Cty Rd TW North Travel time is a 1/2 hour east from Beaver Dam or west from West Bend. N7403 Park Road, Horicon. There is an upper and lower section. Ranger station is located in the upper, which is also where the firewood can be purchased.
What to expect: Cliffs, ledges, mossy crags,slippery hills and rocks. This park is a popular campground, but one of the bennies to this park are the public picnic areas on the upper and lower levels that has its own firepit, one large, and 2-3 smaller sites and split wood for sale. NOTE FIREWOOD BAN NOTICE. This park is gated, ranger controlled and visitors not camping have to leave at closing (7pm?). I recommend calling first: (920) 387-5450.
Other Horicon related activities, here is the link for the Horicon Chamber of Commerce, showing Marsh Boat Tours/Canoe Rentals, their Aquatic Center, The HORICON WILDLIFE REFUGE, and the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center.
Dodge County does offer some great parks that also has public firepits. In fact, Dodge County has one of the best managed county park systems.
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