February 24, 2010

DATE: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

TRAIL/PARK CONDITIONS: All trails are snow covered. Forecast for the upcoming weekend is sunny and mild, with highs reaching the mid 30’s. No precipitation is expected. As of today, both the Whitetail Meadows and Turkey Hollow Cross Country Ski Trail are in fair condition. Both trails were groomed on Saturday, February 13. Skiers are welcome to call the park office at 608-996-2261 for updated weekend conditions. Parking for both trails is available near the Astronomy Center. Turkey Hollow Trail is the more challenging of the two trails with a number of hills on the route. Beginners may want to use Whitetail Meadows Trail. Please remember that dogs are not allowed on cross country ski trails. The newly renovated Sand Cave Trail makes an excellent trail for snowshoeing. Park visitors interested in snowshoeing can park near the old park office. To access Sand Cave Trail, follow Old Wagon Trail as it parallels the roadway. You will then see the trail head for Sand Cave Trail to your left.

Trails that were closed due to storm damage in July 2007 remain closed with the exception of Sugar Maple Nature Trail and Sand Cave Trail. Both trails were redesigned and finished in 2009 and should be more sustainable in the event of heavy rain. Both Big Sand Cave and Little Sand Cave are now visible from Sand Cave Trail as well as Walnut Eddy on the Wisconsin River.

The roadway to Sugar Maple Nature Trail is not maintained during the winter, but hikers or snowshoers are welcome to park in the office parking lot and hike or snowshoe on Homestead Camp Road to Sugar Maple Nature Trail. Pictured Rock Cave and the frozen waterfall are located about ½ mile on Sugar Maple Nature Trail. Sentinel Ridge Trail is open in its entirety. Sentinel Ridge Trail is one of the most scenic trails at Wyalusing State Park. It can be accessed from Point Lookout and will follow the bluff all the way down to the Mississippi River (a drop of approximately 500 feet). Indian Mounds, nature labels, the Passenger Pigeon Monument and Green Cloud Picnic Shelter are located on Sentinel Ridge Trail.

An outstanding view of the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers can be seen from the Green Cloud Picnic Area and the Passenger Pigeon Monument. Please note: the road to Green Cloud Picnic Shelter and the Passenger Pigeon Monument, is not maintained during the winter. Closed trails include Bluff Trail, Flint Ledge Trail, Old Wagon Road Trail, Walnut Springs Trail, and Indian Trail. Trails that are open are Whitetail Meadow Trail, Turkey Hollow Trail, Sentinel Ridge Trail, Sand Cave Trail, Sugar Maple Nature Trail and Mississippi Ridge Trail. Bluff Trail to Treasure Cave is open. To reach Treasure Cave, take the walkway from Point Lookout (as you are looking at the confluence) to the right. Take a left down the trail to Bluff Trail (through the opening in the rocks). Treasure Cave is located on Bluff Trail just below Point Lookout.

CAMPING AND RESERVATION INFORMATION: Homestead Campground is closed for the season. Sites 101 through 112 and sites 136 through 155 will be open in the Wisconsin Ridge Campground. The first section of the Wisconsin Ridge Campground road will be maintained for the winter. The showers, flush toilets, dumping station and all water fountains throughout the park are shut down for the season. A winterized water faucet for filling water containers is located to the east of the shower/flush building in the Wisconsin Ridge Campground (near site 114). Pit toilets are available near site 145. The concession stand is also closed for the season. Firewood is available in the area.
Reservations can be made 11 months in advance. Reservations must be made at least 2 days prior to the arrival date. Now is the time to start making reservations for next year’s camping trips. Reservations can be made through Reserve America at 888-947-2757 or online at www.wiparks.net. The reservation period starts May 1 for the period May 1 through October 31.


Effective immediately – Because of the threat of the emerald ash borer and other harmful pests and diseases, no person may possess firewood that originates from greater than 50 miles from where the wood will be used, or from outside the borders of the state. Firewood includes all wood, processed or unprocessed, intended for use in a campfire. Firewood purchased locally, but identified on the bundle as originating from out of state or greater than 50 miles from the property is not allowed. The emerald ash borer was found in both Crawford and Vernon Counties in early 2009. Crawford County is adjacent to Grant County where Wyalusing State Park is located. Because of this, there is an additional quarantine on the movement of firewood from both Vernon and Crawford Counties, even though those counties may be less than 50 miles from the park. Please note, that Prairie du Chien is in Crawford County, so please do not bring firewood from Prairie du Chien, and Crawford or Vernon Counties. Spread the word and tell your friends and neighbors not to move firewood.


AREA BIRD SIGHTINGS: Park office bird feeders remain a popular spot for winter residents. Dozens of cardinals brighten the wintery landscape, providing an excellent photo opportunity. A great time to watch the cardinals is late afternoon, as they are the last birds at the feeders in the evening. Approximately 6-8 red-bellied woodpeckers can be sighted at a time, preferring to feed on the suet blocks. Recent bird sightings this week include: gold finches, purple finches, chickadees, red breasted nuthatch, white breasted nuthatches, juncos, tufted titmice, blue jays, cardinals, mourning doves, downy woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers and red-bellied woodpeckers. Eagles can be found in the area, especially anywhere there is open water. A good spot to look for bald eagles this time of year is between Prairie du Chien and LaCrosse on Highway 35, south of Wyalusing State Park, near Cassville and Nelson Dewey State Park. Another popular spot for bald eagles is north of Prairie du Chien on Highway 27 where it intersects with County Highway N to the west. There is a commercial fisherman who lives at that intersection. The fisherman spreads the parts of the fish he does not use on a field near there. This is a huge attraction for the bald eagles and it is possible to see between 40 and 50 bald eagles feeding there. The birds are very visible from Co. Highway N. The field looks like an airport for eagles, with them landing and taking off, roosting in the trees and feeding on the ground. It is a sight to see! Please note, these birds are only in that area if there has been food spread there recently. But if you happen to be there at the right time, it is truly worth the trip. County Highway N is about 7 or 8 miles north of Prairie du Chien off Highway 27.

FRIENDS OF WYALUSING: The Friends of Wyalusing and park staff are starting the planning process for the 2010 Volunteer Jamboree, which will be held at Wyalusing State Park in September of this year. FOW members and park staff are excited about showing state park volunteers the natural beauty of the park and the area as well as the historic aspect. The next meeting of the Friends of Wyalusing will be Monday, March 8. The meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. and will be held in the park office. The park office has Friends of Wyalusing merchandise for sale, including a variety of t-shirts, sweat shirts, wildlife books and sticker books.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER INFORMATION: Local ice anglers report that ice fishing success continues to be slow in the area. Fishing activity is subject to many different elements.

Events this weekend
February 27
Prairie du Chien Bald Eagle Appreciation Day
Prairie du Chien Regional Tourism Center
Bald eagle programs and exhibits, birding experts on hand, outdoor viewing of bald eagles through spotting scopes, life-size bald eagle nest, children activities and more. For more information, please call 1-800-732-1673.



Upcoming Park Events

Saturday, May 15 – Merle Frommelt – “Stones, Bones and Sticks”

Saturday, May 29th – Paul Kosir, former LTE Naturalist at Wyalusing State Park will return for the Memorial Day Weekend, presenting a number of programs:

10:00 a.m. – Edible Plant Hike – See the plants we’ll eat tonight and many more “incredible edibles”.Edible Plant Hike – Meet at Point Lookout – 10:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m. – Indian Mound Walk – Find out about the residents on this land before settlement. Meet at the Passenger Pigeon Monument.
3:00 p.m. – Geology Hike – Try out the new Sand Cave Trail and learn about the Earth History of the Park. Meet at the old park office.
8:00 p.m. – Evening Program – Julian Wild, the Fern Chef – Find out how to cook edible wild plants that are delicious, nutritious, and best of all free!. Meet at Peterson Shelter.

Sunday, May 30th
7:00 a.m. Bird Walk – The trees are alive with the sound of bird songs. See what makes Wyalusing such a birding “hot spot”. Meet at the Tennis Court.
10:00 a.m. – Spring Wildflower Hike – See the beauty and smell the fragrance of spring ephemerals while they’re here. Meet at the old park office.
1:00 p.m. Forest Ecology Walk – Get answers to many of your questions about trees and forests plus a whole lot more. Meet at Point Lookout.
3:00 p.m. Wyalusing History Drive – Visit the car accessible sites important to Wyalusing’s history in a new program led by an old character. Meet at Point Lookout.

Monday, May 31
7:00 a.m. Bird Walk – Anything this good is worth doing again. Maybe we’ll even beat Sunday’s outing. Meet at the Tennis Court.
10:00 a.m. – Cliff Ecology Hike – We’ll take a last look from the bluff before we look at the bluff during a hike that’s short on distance, but long on interest. Meet at Point Lookout.

June 26 – Native American Storyteller
Point Lookout Shelter – time TBA

July 17 – Matt Heeter - Reptiles and Amphibians

Peterson Shelter – time TBA
July 31 – Merle Frommelt, - “Stones, Bones and Sticks”
Peterson Shelter – 7:00 p.m.
August 7 – Matt Heeter – Reptiles and Amphibians
Peterson Shelter – time TBA
August 7 – Boy Scout 357 – Outdoor Cooking Demo
Across from the Tennis Courts
August 21 – Merle Frommelt – “Stones, Bones and Sticks”
Peterson Shelter – 7:00 p.m.
September 25- Spirits of Wyalusing Past

Wyalusing State Park
13081 State Park Lane
Bagley, WI 53801
Phone: 608-996-2261
www.wyalusing.org