Buckhorn State Park
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- 69 campsites
- Official site
- dnr.wisconsin.gov(608) 565-2789
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 4,199 acres, Buckhorn State Park lies in Juneau County, about 9 miles northeast of New Lisbon.
Popular activities here are canoeing and kayaking, hunting in season, boating, swimming, and biking. For overnight stays there are 69 campsites across 2 camping areas (tent sites).
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. | — |
| Daily | 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round. The park is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Pets
Pets allowed on a physical leash no longer than 8 feet at all times and under control; loose pets may be seized. Property-specific pet areas/restrictions appear on park pages.
Statewide rule from Wisconsin's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
Per vehicle, resident vs nonresident pricing: a vehicle admission pass is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas (daily $13 WI / $16 out-of-state; annual $28 / $50; rates effective Aug. 19, 2025). State trails use a per-person trail pass for certain uses. Heritage Hill SP charges a per-person admission instead.
Statewide fee rule from Wisconsin's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Wisconsin park passes
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (Wisconsin plates) — $28. All Wisconsin state parks, forests and recreation areas for 12 months Details
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (out-of-state plates) — $50. Same, nonresident vehicles Details
- 12-month pass, Wisconsin residents 65+ — $13. Resident senior vehicles Details
- 12-month reduced-rate pass (additional household vehicle) — $15.50 resident / $32.50 nonresident. Additional vehicles at the same household address; bought with a full-price pass Details
- Daily vehicle admission pass — $13 resident / $3 resident 65+ / $16 nonresident Details
From the Wisconsin state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Wisconsin State Park System reservations (Camis 'Going to Camp')
- Phone
- 1-888-947-2757
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family campsites There are 69 family campsites that can accommodate tents or trailers. Each family site has a picnic table and campfire ring. There are 17 standard electric sites and 3 accessible electric sites. Family sites A1-A8 are located in the group camp.
The campground is off 19th Avenue, north off Launch A within the park. Access is through the main entrance by the park office. The campground features drive-in campsites, pull-through sites, a shower/toilet building and a dump station near the park office. A 0.5-mile crushed rock path winds through the woods and near the water from the campground… | 69 | Electric (some sites)Showers | — |
| Backpack, cart-in campsites Camping is available year-round at backpack sites 9, 16 and 26-29. A shared cart is available for sites 10-12, 25 and 199, 23-24, 30-33 and 39-42
This type of camping offers an opportunity to enjoy nature in a secluded wilderness setting without the effort and weight limitations of backpack camping. No special gear is required. Campers can also get their gear to the sites by boat or canoe.
All the backpack sites are in small clusters and most are secluded and near the water. The individual sites are further apart than traditional campsites. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and bench.… | — | — |
Camping details from the park
Buckhorn State Park has family campsites, an outdoor group camp, 50 cart-in campsites and an accessible cabin for people with disabilities.
Family campsites: There are 69 family campsites that can accommodate tents or trailers. Each family site has a picnic table and campfire ring. There are 17 standard electric sites and 3 accessible electric sites. Family sites A1-A8 are located in the group camp.
The campground is off 19th Avenue, north off Launch A within the park. Access is through the main entrance by the park office. The campground features drive-in campsites, pull-through sites, a shower/toilet building and a dump station near the park office. A 0.5-mile crushed rock path winds through the woods and near the water from the campground towards the day-use area for walking or biking.
Campsite 8 near the south picnic area is accessible for people with disabilities, has an electric hookup and is available year-round. A charcoal grill and fire ring are included on this site. An asphalt path provides a level surface to the parking lot, restroom and campsite.
- Park map
Backpack, cart-in campsites: Camping is available year-round at backpack sites 9, 16 and 26-29. A shared cart is available for sites 10-12, 25 and 199, 23-24, 30-33 and 39-42
This type of camping offers an opportunity to enjoy nature in a secluded wilderness setting without the effort and weight limitations of backpack camping. No special gear is required. Campers can also get their gear to the sites by boat or canoe.
All the backpack sites are in small clusters and most are secluded and near the water. The individual sites are further apart than traditional campsites. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and bench. A portable toilet is available for each cluster of sites. A small pit toilet is available for sites 26-29.
- Park map
Group sites: Three group tent camping sites (B1, B2 and B3) on the park's east side can accommodate up to 40 people each. A cart is available for each site. Water and vault toilets are available, but there is no electricity. RVs and pop-up units must park on the gravel in the parking area. The group camp area has a volleyball court and a horseshoe pit. Horseshoes and volleyballs can be checked out at the park office free of charge.
Rustic shelter: A rustic shelter is available for use by campers in sites 10-12, 25 and 199. The shelter is intended for day use only and is equipped with a picnic table and screened windows. Campers may use it to escape the mosquitoes or to cook food out of the rain.
The campsites near the rustic shelter are only a few hundred yards from the parking area. A cart, which is shared by sites 10-12, 25 and 199, is available to haul in camping gear. The south picnic shelter is just off of the parking lot and is very popular with the campers at these sites.
Bears: Bears can be present at this property. For more information about how to be prepared and precautions to minimize negative encounters, please see the Recreating in Areas with Bears web page.
Firewood: Firewood is available at the park office when it is open.
Don't move firewood!
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BoatingCanoeing and kayakingBikingCampingFishingHikingHuntingPicnickingSwimming
Trails
Biking: Biking is allowed on park roads. In season, the Friends of Buckhorn State Park offers bicycle rentals for use in the park. Buckhorn State Park is close to the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and Omaha Trail.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
Camping
- Tent camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Buckhorn State Park offers several accessible opportunities, including an accessible cabin, campsites, fishing piers, picnic shelters near the beach, a boat launch with an accessible boarding pier and a universal hunting blind. The park also provides a variety of adaptive equipment, including cross-country skis, an adaptive kayak, a beach wheelchair, and a motorized all-terrain tracked wheelchair.
Wheelchair Reservations
The tracked wheelchair can be checked out through the Buckhorn State Park Track Chair Reservation System, and the beach wheelchair can be checked out at the park office. Call the property at 608-565-2789 for more information on the outdoor wheelchairs.
For more information about accessibility in Wisconsin State Parks, visit Accessible Recreation.
An accessible cabin for use by people with disabilities is available at Buckhorn State Park. The cabin can accommodate up to six people and can be rented for a maximum of four nights per year. The cabin is located next to an accessible fishing pier.
To reserve the accessible cabin, send the reservation form to the Buckhorn State Park office.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- W8450 Buckhorn Park Ave.
Necedah, WI 54646 - Nearest town
- New Lisbon — about 9 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 43.9469, -90.0042
- Phone
- (608) 565-2789
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Get directions.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Wisconsin State Park System — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Wisconsin DNR 'Find a Park' directory (server-rendered Drupal view, ?page=0..5), filtered to /topic/parks/ property pages
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology