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Wisconsin National Parks
Thanks to the impressive work of glaciers, Wisconsin’s National Parks are fun to explore on land and on water. Come #FindYourPark in Wisconsin.
National parks guide · Updated October 2026
Every NPS site in Wisconsin
4
National Park Service sites in Wisconsin
There are four National Park Service sites in Wisconsin: two national scenic trails, a national lakeshore, and a national scenic river. Tap any of them to jump to its details.
At a glance
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Affiliated sites · 1
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National Park Service sites 4
NPS-affiliated sites 1
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore was designated in 1970 by Congress and encompasses an archipelago of 21 islands and a 12-mile stretch of shoreline off the Bayfield Peninsula in northwestern Wisconsin on Lake Superior. In the park you’ll find forests, diverse animal and plant life, and extensive cultural history.
Recreational activities include boating, fishing, SCUBA diving, paddling, hiking, camping, and many others. Tours and shuttles offer trips to the various islands where you can enjoy the beach or a lighthouse tour.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail follows the edge of the last glacier to cover present-day Wisconsin. 15,000 years ago, animals like mammoths, sabre-toothed cats, and cave lions roamed the land along the ice. Today, the 1,200-mile long trail connects various sites of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve where you can see and learn about the work of the ice over time.
Popular activities in the Park include camping, hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and stargazing. Interpretive Centers can be found along the trail at Kettle Moraine State Forest, Interstate State Park, and Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail was established in 1980.
North Country National Scenic Trail
The North Country National Scenic Trail spans eight states and is part of the National Trails System Act signed into law by President Johnson in 1968. The North Country National Scenic Trail was added to the system in 1980 with seven states. Today, New York, Vermont, North Dakota, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin host parts of the trail.
When complete, the trail will stretch about 4,800 miles, and much of it is already built. It connects various landscapes, urban districts, historic sites, forests, lakes, canals, towns, and large cities.
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway covers 200 miles of river and waterway through forested parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota, which serves as the natural border between the two states. Boating, paddling, canoeing, camping, fishing, and hiking are all popular activities here.
Click here for a list of things to do at the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway.
Partners of the Park Service
NPS-affiliated sites in Wisconsin
These sites aren’t run by the National Park Service, but they’re part of the NPS family through national trails and heritage areas.
Ice Age National Scientific Reserve
The Ice Age National Scientific Reserve was established in 1964 to study and protect the glacial landscapes in Wisconsin. It is a collection of 9 units affiliated with the National Park Service and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Those sites are Interstate Park in Saint Croix Falls, Chippewa Moraine, Mill Bluff State Park, Devil’s Lake State Park, Cross Plains, Horicon State Wildlife Area and National Wildlife Refuge, Campbellsport Drumlins, Kettle Moraine State Forest, and Two Creeks Buried Forest.
Good to know
Wisconsin national parks questions
No. Wisconsin doesn’t have a national park, but it does have four National Park Service sites, including Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, and North Country National Scenic Trail.
There are four NPS sites in Wisconsin: two national scenic trails, a national lakeshore, and a national scenic river. One more NPS-affiliated site, like Ice Age National Scientific Reserve, round out the list.
We haven’t visited any of them yet, but they’re on our list.
Keep exploring
National parks in nearby states
There’s more to explore in these nearby states.
