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 Trails are in good hiking condition. Sand Cave Trail was completed in mid November 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. 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. 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. WEEKEND FORECAST: The forecast for this weekend includes a mixed bag of weather: today, warm and sunny with a high near 85, a slight chance of thunderstorms for tonight with a low in the mid 70s; Friday – 50 per cent chance of showers and thunderstorms with a high near 84. 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms likely for Friday night with a low of 68. Saturday’s forecast is partly cloudy (mostly sunny if you are an optimist) and a high of 85. Saturday night should be mostly clear with a low around 66. Sunny skies for Sunday with a height near 86. CAMPSITE AVAILABILITY: All reservable sites have been taken, but as of Thursday morning, there is a nice selection of non-reservable sites, including 3 bluff sites. Electric sites will be difficult to obtain. At this point, all sites are on a first come, first served basis. CAMPING AND RESERVATION INFORMATION: Both campgrounds and the outdoor group camp are open for the season. Showers, dumping station and flush toilets are open. The concession stand is open daily. Concession stand hours: Monday – Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday – 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Firewood, canoe and kayak rental, camp supplies, sweat shirts and tee shirts are available at the concession stand. Reservations can be made 11 months in advance. Reservations must be made at least 2 days prior to the arrival date. Reservations can be made through Reserve America at 888-947-2757 or online at www.wiparks.net 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 25 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 25 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. Please note that the perimeter for movement of firewood will decrease to a 25 mile radius on June 1. Spread the word and tell your friends and neighbors not to move firewood. BIRD SIGHTINGS/ACTIVITY AT FEEDERS RECENT PARK BIRD SIGHTINGS With the spring migration over and the fall migration not yet started, birding is not as popular at this time of year as it is in the spring and fall. A current list is not maintained, but the following is a list of birds that are summer residents: yellow-billed cuckoo, black-billed cuckoo, common nighthawk, whip-poor will, Eastern wood peewee, Acadian Flycatcher, least flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, great crested flycatcher, Eastern kingbird, house wren, Eastern bluebird, Veery, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Catbird, brown thrasher, Yellow-throated vireo, warbling vireo, red-eyed vireo, blue-winged warbler, yellow warbler, yellow-throated warbler, cerulean warbler, American Redstart, prothonotary, Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Rose-breasted grosbeak, indigo bunting, Eastern Towhee, chipping sparrow, field sparrow, Henslow’s sparrow, song sparrow, swamp sparrow, Baltimore oriole. The swarm of humming birds at the park office feeders continues to delight park visitors and campers. The “hummers” are a favorite subject of many photographers. Humming birds can be seen at any time of the day, but the best time to see the ‘swarm” is on rainy or cloudy days and right before dark. The Prairie Garden near the park office is still a site of beauty. Flowers in bloom include: white beard tongue, prairie phlox, prairie onion, white indigo, black-eyed susan, pale purple coneflower and coreopsis, purple coneflowers, Joe Pyeweed, royal catchfly, mallow, orange milkweed and liatris. It is “alive” with humming birds and butterflies. The humming birds are attracted to the beautiful red catchfly. Thanks to Dorothy Messner for taking such good care of the garden. No recent reports. MISSISSIPPI RIVER INFORMATION: Mississippi River level at Prairie du Chien is 12.2, up .4 from yesterday. For reports and predictions for area rivers, use this web site by the National Weather Service. The Starsplitters of Wyalusing will present Astronomy Programs on the 2nd and 4th Saturday evenings beginning in May. Programs will be held at the Huser Astronomy Center and begin at 8:30 p.m. See the "Events" tab for a future planning list. FRIENDS OF WYALUSING The September meeting of the Friends of Wyalusing State Park may be held on the Monday evening of the Volunteer Jamboree (September 13) if time allows. Plans for the jamboree are in place, registrations are in with approximately 85 people attending. I think that we are offering a nice selection of off site activities as well as on property programs. Friends of Wyalusing members are also planning for Spirits of Wyalusing past which will be held on Saturday, September 25th. UPCOMING Park and LOCAL EVENTS Upcoming Park Events
September 18 Monarch Butterfly Program – Donna Starkey Peterson Shelter – 7:00 p.m. September 25- Spirits of Wyalusing Past Peterson Shelter – 7:00 p.m. The Starsplitters of Wyalusing will present Astronomy Programs on the 2nd and 4th Saturday evenings beginning in May. Programs will be held at the Huser Astronomy Center and begin at 8:30 p.m. Please note, “Stones, Bones and Sticks originally scheduled for August 21st, has been rescheduled to August 14th at 6:30 p.m. Future Area Events Please note, a number of these events will have an impact on camping reservations at Wyalusing State Park. If you are planning on camping on the weekends listed below, you may want to make your campsite reservation now. September 11, September 12 – Villa Louis Carriage Classic Bluffs report written by Bev Pozega |