Friends of Wyalusing state Park, Wisconsin
From the Bluffs of Wyalusing State Park
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FIREWOOD Due to very dangerous disease potential, there are specific restrictions on bringing firewood to the camp. Please check this link before bringing firewood to the park. TRAIL CONDITIONS Wyalusing State Park received approximately 5 inches of light, fluffy snow on Tuesday afternoon and evening. All trails are snow covered. Due to warm temperatures and rain on Sunday, December 14, much of the snow we received early last week is gone. The snow that remains from last week’s snowfall is hard and crusty. As of today, there is not enough snow to groom the cross country ski trails and trails are in poor skiing condition. Sleet and a fresh snowfall ranging from between 7 and 11 inches are forecast starting Thursday evening into Friday morning. Ski trail conditions for this weekend will be dependent on the amount and type of precipitation we receive. Please call the park at 608-996-2261 for current weekend ski trail conditions. A change to the cross country ski trails has been made this year. Mississippi Ridge will no longer be groomed for cross country skiing. In addition to Whitetail Meadows, Turkey Hollow Trail will now be a cross country ski trail. Parking for both trails will be available near the Astronomy Center. Ski trail conditions will change based on the expected forecast of temperatures in the upper 30s on Saturday and Sunday. Rain is forecast for Sunday. Mississippi Ridge will make an excellent trail for snowshoeing. Park visitors interested in snowshoeing can park in the park office lot and travel Homestead Camp Road to Cathedral Tree Drive and Mississippi Ridge Trail. Homestead Camp Road will not be plowed this year. A beautiful winter view of the Mississippi River at Henneger Point awaits those who are willing to brave the elements along the 5 mile round trip trek. Homestead Picnic Shelter is the perfect place to build a fire to take the chill off or to roast marshmallows or hotdogs after snowshoeing or skiing. It is centrally located where both trails meet. Firewood will need to be gathered in the area. Please remember that dogs are not allowed on cross country ski trails when the trails are groomed. Trails that were closed due to storm damage in July 2007 remain closed with the exception of Sugar Maple Nature Trail. . Sugar Maple Nature Trail is open from the parking lot across the road from the Homestead Picnic Shelter to Pictured Rock Cave. The south section of Sugar Maple Nature Trail reopened a few weeks ago, allowing hikers to access the trail at the top and hike down to the boat landing. With this new segment of Sugar Maple Nature Trail recently opened, hikers are now able to cross the road near the boat landing and connect with Sentinel Ridge Trail. The addition of this small segment of Sugar Maple Nature Trail means that hikers can now make a large loop, starting and ending at Point Lookout, encompassing approximately 8 miles of trails and a small section of roadway between the old park office and Point Lookout. Work on Sugar Maple Nature Trail has ended for the year. The entire Turkey Hollow Trail, one of the longest trails in the park (3.5 miles loop) is open. 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. For those who do not wish to hike the entire Sentinel Ridge Trail from Point Lookout to the boat landing (1.5 miles one way), and then back up the hill, it can also be picked up at Green Cloud Picnic Shelter or the Passenger Pigeon Monument. A .5 mile loop with nature labels and Indian Mounds starts near the Passenger Pigeon Monument and is the perfect “walk through the woods” for those wishing a short, scenic and easy trail. Closed trails include Bluff Trail, Sand Cave 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 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. Homestead Campground is closed for the season. All sites in the Wisconsin Ridge Campground are open on a first come, first served basis. 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. Please note: Starting with the 2009 reservation period, sites 142, 143 and 144 in the Wisconsin Ridge Campground will change from reservable to non-reservable and sites 205, 206, and 207 will change from non-reservable to reservable. 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 Wyalusing State Park 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. Spread the word and tell your friends and neighbors not to move firewood. BIRD SIGHTINGS/ACTIVITY AT FEEDERS Park office bird feeders remain a popular spot for winter residents. With the fresh snowfall, the dozens of cardinals near the feeders make an excellent photo opportunity. Recent bird sightings this week include: gold finches, purple finches, chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, tufted titmice, blue jays, cardinals, mourning doves, downy woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers and red-bellied woodpeckers. A large flock of cedar waxwings visited the trees near the feeders briefly today. A tom turkey was spotted feeding in the grassy area just past the park office before the snow started falling yesterday. Eagles are still being seen in the area, but the large convocation at the park entrance is gone for the time being. BIRDS NOTES: Watch for flocks of cardinals at dawn and dusk. Consider putting out a heated birdbath. Birds know not to use it for bathing. Open water in winter will double the bird traffic in your yard. Chunks of leftover raw or baked pie crusts are great snacks for birds. Suet is an important energy food for woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches. If you purchase the prepackaged cakes of suet, be sure to buy the kind that have more suet than seeds. Spring comes in just five months. During hibernation, bears lose their footpads and grow new ones.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER INFORMATION: Mississippi River level at Prairie du Chien is 7.1 feet. No fishing activity to report. There have not been many anglers this week because of the frigid temperatures. For reports and predictions for area rivers, use this web site by the National Weather Service. No reports. FRIENDS OF WYALUSING There will not be a December meeting. The park office has Friends of Wyalusing merchandise for sale, including a variety of t-shirts, sweat shirts, wildlife books and sticker books. WYALUSING HAPPENINGS 2009 Wisconsin State Park Stickers have arrived and will go on sale starting Monday, December 1. The 2009 stickers feature butterflies. State park admission stickers make excellent Christmas gifts. Prices are the same low price as last year. ASTRONOMY PROGRAMS Astronomy programs will begin in Spring 2009. A schedule will be posted on this website. UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS December 31, 2008, 9:00 p.m. Droppin’ of the Carp Entrance of St. Feriole Island – Prairie du Chien, WI Door prizes, bonfires, hot chocolate, popcorn, singing by Larry and the Carpettes. Countdown to the carp drop begins at 11:59 p.m. Call 608-326-8602 for more information. Bluffs report written by Bev Pozega |