MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsinites can enjoy several of the state's many outdoor gems for free this weekend during the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ 11th annual Free Fun Weekend.
All fees for admission to state parks, trail passes and fishing licenses are waived on June 3-4 for Wisconsin residents and non-residents, according to the DNR.
“Free Fun Weekend is always a great opportunity for the DNR property crews to welcome summer visitors back,” said Steve Schmelzer, DNR bureau director of parks and recreation management. “If you’ve never visited a state park, forest, trail or recreation area, this is the perfect weekend to find your outdoor adventure.”
Wisconsin has 50 state parks, 15 state forests and 44 state trails to explore. You can find a full list of activities, maps and more here.
There are also about 84,000 miles of rivers and streams and nearly 15,000 lakes across the state for fishing.
“If you haven’t fished in a while or never fished Free Fun Weekend is a great chance to give it a try,” said Justine Hasz, DNR bureau director of fisheries management. “If you don’t have any fishing gear, no problem. You can check out our tackle loaner sites or join one of the many free events over the weekend, and enjoy your time in Wisconsin’s great outdoors.”
For those interested in giving fishing a try for the first time, the DNR will hold free fishing clinics around the state and municipal properties this weekend too. You can find the full list here.
Before heading out for a weekend of free fun, the DNR said patrons should be aware of the following:
For state parks
- Vehicle admission stickers are not required
- Parks and trails are open from 6 a.m.-11 p.m.
For trails
- All trails are open to the public, including ATV and horseback-riding trails
- ATV, UTVs and OHMs are exempt from registration requirements
- Residents and non-resident all-terrain vehicle operators don’t need a trail pass to ride the state ATV trails
For fishing
- Residents/non-residents won’t be required to have a license or trout/salmon stamps
- All regulations for 2023-24 do still apply
- Anglers can locate launches and shore fishing points here
- All boat launches are open but boats must be registered
- Those taking out boats are encouraged to minimize the spread of invasive species by removing all plants and animals from boats before and after launching
Safety tips
- Always wear a life jacket when you’re in the water
- Use boat lights after sunset
- Don’t consume alcohol or drugs before or during an ATV ride or while operating a boat
- Wear a helmet and protective clothing while riding an ATV (All children under the age of 18 must have a minimum Department of Transportation standard motorcycle or ATV helmet)
- Be mindful of your speed