Find Fantastic Fall Color At These 5 Wisconsin State Parks

From bluffs to bridges to crystal clear lakes, Wisconsin’s state parks become even more beautiful when filled with fall colors. Find your next autumn adventure at these picturesque parks.

And don't forget to check our Fall Color Report for the latest updates on where fall colors are peaking!

Mill Bluff State Park – Camp Douglas

Discover colorful bluffs and rugged rock formations just northeast of Wisconsin Dells. Hidden beauty waits atop Mill Bluff–you’ll just have to take on a climb of 223 stone steps to get there. Once at the top, your reward is an unforgettable view of the surrounding vivid forest, part of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve. 

For an easier hike with the kids, try one or both of the two shorter trails on the opposite side of Interstate 90/94 that also display majestic fall color.

Natural Bridge State Park – North Freedom

This stunning sandstone arch is Wisconsin’s largest natural bridge and comes alive with color every autumn. Breathe in the fresh fall air as you hike four miles through oak woods and native prairie. You and your group can pose for a photo next to the star attraction, the sandstone arch. This natural phenomenon was created through wind erosion and includes a sprawling rock shelter at its base. Say cheese!

Nelson Dewey State Park – Cassville

Enjoy a picnic with friends at a park named after Wisconsin’s first governor, Nelson Dewey. This perfect combination of nature and history lines the Mississippi River and includes five hikes, each less than a mile, that make for short and sweet travels through a 500-foot bluff with views of the flowing Mississippi.

The park is also home to three Native American effigy mounds (some estimated to be over 2,000 years old!) as well as Stonefield, a historical site that includes a recreated 1900-era farming village ready to explore. Grab the kids and pop into the cheese factory, saloon and newspaper office and learn from skilled demonstrators about the livelihoods of rural Wisconsinites at the beginning of the 20th century. End your trip with a stop at Governor Dewey's home site and the State Agricultural Museum to find out exactly how the state became America’s Dairyland.

Roche-a-Cri State Park – Friendship

What better spot to travel with friends than in Friendship, Wisconsin? Pack a picnic to share and have your camera ready to capture the colorful countryside views. The Cambrian sandstone will have you in awe as you brush against rocks that once stood in Glacial Lake Wisconsin, dating back to the Ice Age.

The 300-foot-tall rock outcropping, whose name means “Screaming Rock” in French, displays ancient Native American petroglyphs and pictographs across its face. Venture through six miles of hiking to soak in the fall foliage of oak, pine and maple trees and catch a glimpse of vultures soaring between Roche-a-Cri and Friendship Mound. 

Straight Lake State Park – Luck

Any day becomes an adventure at Straight Lake State Park. Explore Straight Lake’s crystal waters, including the Straight River, Rainbow Lake and numerous ephemeral ponds. 

Take in autumnal splendor by hiking on the challenging trail that passes Rainbow Lake, or follow the Ice Age National Scenic Trail to explore several miles of the park. Keep an eye out for the glacial tunnel channel, considered the most impressive valley of its kind in the Midwest. Keep an eye out, too, for Straight Lake's abundant wildlife, which includes bald eagles, trumpeter swans and even river otters. 

Want to explore and take in more fall colors? Check out these 15 Fall Color Hikes in Wisconsin.

Ready for your next autumn adventure? See real-time, local fall color conditions with Wisconsin's Fall Color Report.

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