State Parks and Forests

Governor Thompson State Park

Governor Thompson State Park is located on 2,800-acres of forest. The site protects 5,300 feet of shoreline on Wood and Huber Lakes and protects Handsaw Creek and Woods Lake Outlet. The main parcel creating the park is the former 1,987-acre Paust Woods Lake Resort and about 200-acres of wild-looking lake front bought from Wisconsin Public Service Corporation on Caldron Falls Reservoir.

Recent improvements to the park include a new Visitor Welcome Center and maintenance building. The new facilities were created with cost savings and energy efficiency in mind. The Woods Lake Picnic Area now has a shelter building open for picnics or to be used in winter as a warming shelter for cross-country skiers or ice fishermen on Woods Lake. The shelter is also available by reservation for social gatherings and meetings. The renovation to South Bay Landing (No. 13) on Caldron Falls is complete and it now has restrooms, picnic tables, a boarding dock and a fishing pier. All facilities at South Bay are now handicapped accessible.

The park has 16 miles of hiking trails to get you off the beaten path to see picturesque granite rock outcroppings, birds and animals of the area. In the winter the park has five miles of groomed ski trails for both classic and skaters and three miles of packed snowshoe trails. Shore-fishing, ice-fishing and non-motorized boating is permitted on the two inland lakes.

Looking to the future, a 50-unit campground will open within the park during the 2011 camping season. There will also be a completed road and bike trail system, a beach on Woods Lake, a Beach on Caldron Falls Reservoir, a picnic area on Huber Lake and a fish cleaning station.

The park is open from 6am-8pm daily. The facilities available to visitors include the South Bay Boat Landing on Caldron Falls Reservoir which has a picnic area, handicapped accessible fishing pier, boat launch and rest rooms. The park also offers 16-miles of hiking trails and two non-motorized inland lakes.

Winter bring groomed cross-country ski trails, back country snowshoeing and ice fishing.

State Parks Link and Phone # 715-757-3979

(Source: Governor Thompson State Park)

Peshtigo River State Forest

Twenty five miles of river, 3,200 acres of water and 9,200 acres of forest await you on the Peshtigo River State Forest, the natural gem of Marinette County. Established in 2001, the property is Wisconsin's newest state forest.

It was purchased from Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and includes the Potato Rapids flowage about 20 miles southeast of the main forest.

The Peshtigo River State Forest is an area abundant with wildlife. All the lands within the forest are open to hunting with a 100-yard exception around Old Veteran’s Lake Campground. For camping, the State Forest offers one family campground and 10 canoe campsites. Old Veteran’s Lake Campground is a 16-unit rustic family campground and sites are nonreservable. Vehicle admission and camping fees are required. Fire wood, vault toilets and a solar powered drinking fountain are available and each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. The canoe campsites are located along Johnson Falls Flowage and the Peshtigo River. Each site has a fire ring and benches and privies are available. These sites are only accessible by watercraft and there is no fee to camp here.

Hiking and cross country skiing are very popular in the forest. Groomed trails can be found five miles west of Crivitz in the Spring Rapids Trail system. There are five miles of groomed trails that offer steep hills, breathtaking scenery, peaceful serenity and wildlife viewing. Horseback riding and mountain biking are permitted, except during winter months even though there are no designated trails for these activities.

High Falls, Johnson Falls and Caldron Falls Flowages offer more than 3,200 acres of water and 16 boat landings for public use. Fishing, pontoon boating, canoeing, kayaking and personal
watercraft use are just a few of the activities you can expect to find on these waters.

Future improvements to the Peshtigo River State Forest include a day use area at Musky Point, equestrian trails and trailhead, High Falls Flowage water campsites and improvements to Old Veteran's Lake Campground.

State Forest Link and Phone # 715-757-3965

(Source: Peshtigo River State Forest)