Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed8-ft leash
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dnr.wisconsin.gov(715) 967-2800
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 3,499 acres, Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area lies in Chippewa County, about 20 miles north of Chippewa Falls.
Visitors come for canoeing and kayaking, hunting in season, boating, fishing, and hiking. Overnight options include campsites, with 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. Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. David R. Obey Interpretive Center hours vary.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
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
- Camping
- Required
- Booking system
- Wisconsin State Park System reservations (Camis 'Going to Camp')
- Phone
- 1-888-947-2757
Camping reservations are required and can be made for the same day of your arrival or up to 11 months in advance of your planned date of occupancy.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed · leash up to 8 feet
All pets must be on a leash 8 feet or shorter and under control at all times near the visitor center.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Three outpost campsites provide a peaceful experience for those who enjoy primitive camping. Two of the sites are within a half-mile of the interpretive center. The third campsite is a canoe-in site about 5 miles away from the park headquarters. Each site has a fire ring and an open-air toilet.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BoatingCanoeing and kayakingCampingFishingHikingHuntingPicnicking
Trails
Hiking: The Ice Age National Scenic Trail travels through the Chippewa Moraine, connecting to the interpretive center and loop trails and the three primitive, outpost campsites. The entire trail is over 1,000 miles long and follows the edge of the last continental glacier in Wisconsin.
The most popular trails at Chippewa Moraine are the three self-guided trails that begin at the interpretive center. Hike or snowshoe the trails to see glacial kettle lakes, hummocks, ice-walled lake plains and wildlife.
- Mammoth Trail Map (0.75-mile loop)
- Dry Lake Trail Map (1.8-mile loop)
- Adam Cahow Trail Map (4.7-mile loop)
All pets must be on a leash 8 feet or shorter and under control at all times near the visitor center.
Boating and paddling
North and South Shattuck, Jeanstow, Knickerbocker, Townline, Horseshoe and Plummer lakes offer boating, canoeing and kayaking opportunities.
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.
Getting there
- Address
- (Physical Address)
New Auburn, WI 54757 - Nearest town
- Chippewa Falls — about 20 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 45.2203, -91.4109
- Phone
- (715) 967-2800
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The David R. Obey Ice Age Interpretive Center is 7 miles east of New Auburn and 1.9 miles east of State Highway 40 on County Highway M. • 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
- 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