State Park

Lake Wissota State Park

Chippewa County, WisconsinAbout 1,054 acresEstablished 1961
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) 382-4574

Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current

Overview

Covering about 1,054 acres, Lake Wissota State Park lies in Chippewa County, about 5 miles northeast of Chippewa Falls.

Popular activities here are horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking, hunting in season, boating, and swimming. For overnight stays there are 2 camping areas (tent sites and group camping).

Hours

Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.

FacilityDaysHoursSeason
ParkDaily6 a.m. – 11 p.m.—
Daily6 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).

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 up to 11 months in advance of your planned date of occupancy.

Check availability and book

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

Pets must be on a leash 8 feet or shorter and under control at all times.

Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.

Camping

Campground or site typeSitesHookups / featuresPrice
Family campground
Campers will find 116 wooded, secluded family campsites; 58 have electricity. There are showers, flush toilets and a sanitary dumping station. The family campground also has a large play area in the middle of the campground loops. • Family campground map
—Electric (some sites)Showers—
Group campground
The group campground in the southern part of the park has two tent-only walk to group sites that can accommodate up to 100 people each. Group Camp 2 has a picnic shelter with electricity that is included with the campsite reservation fee.
—Electric (some sites)—
Camping details from the park

Lake Wissota State Park has both family and group sites available for camping.

Family campground: Campers will find 116 wooded, secluded family campsites; 58 have electricity. There are showers, flush toilets and a sanitary dumping station. The family campground also has a large play area in the middle of the campground loops.

  • Family campground map

Group campground: The group campground in the southern part of the park has two tent-only walk to group sites that can accommodate up to 100 people each. Group Camp 2 has a picnic shelter with electricity that is included with the campsite reservation fee.

Firewood: Firewood is for sale at the park office during open hours. A firewood vending machine is also available 24 hours a day for firewood purchases. The vending machine is located near the campground shower facility and accepts credit cards only.

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

BikingBoatingCanoeing and kayakingCampingFishingHikingHorseback ridingPicnickingSwimmingHunting

Trails

Biking: The park has 18 miles of unpaved trails open to off-road bicycles. All trails open to bicycling are also shared with hikers, horseback riders or both. Please use caution and yield to both hikers and horseback riders. While most of the park is level, the Staghorn Trail has a few hills and is a popular trail for both biking and hiking. A state trail pass is not required for biking in the park.

Hiking: Lake Wissota State Park has 20 miles of unpaved trails. All trails are open to hiking, except for when the ski trails are snow-covered. Some trails are shared with off-road bicyclists and horseback riders. There are two self-guided scenic interpretive trails, the Beaver Meadow Trail and the Prairie Trail. More than 200 bird species often stop at the lake and in the park during spring and autumn migrations. Birdwatchers may pick up species checklists at the park office.

Read more from the park

Pets must be on a leash 8 feet or shorter and under control at all times.

Beaver Meadow Trail (1 mile)

Among the park’s most scenic trails is the 1-mile self-guided Beaver Meadow Trail. Interpretive signs and a trail overlook allow visitors to learn about and view the environment and wildlife found in a beaver meadow.

Prairie Wildflower Trail (0.5 miles)

The self-guided Prairie Wildflower Trail offers up-close views of tall grasses, wildflowers and a variety of other plants. Walk this trail mid- to late May to see wild lupine in bloom, or take a late August hike to view grasses up to six feet high.

Swimming

There is a swimming beach and bathhouse at Lake Wissota State Park, about 0.5 miles south of the campground. Restroom facilities are seasonal. Remember to use caution; no lifeguards are provided.

Boating and paddling

Boating, canoeing, kayaking and water skiing are popular summer activities on the 6,300-acre Lake Wissota. Lake Wissota State Park offers excellent access to the lake with a boat launch and trailer parking area in the southern part of the park.

Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards can be rented at the park office from the Friends of Lake Wissota State Park. The office also has a list of area businesses that rent fishing boats. An adaptive kayak is available through the park’s rental program.

Fishing

Lake Wissota has several species of fish, including walleye, muskie, bass, panfish, northern pike, catfish, and sturgeon. A Wisconsin fishing license is required.

There is a permanent, accessible fishing pier along the shore just west of the boat launch. A few fish cribs in front of the pier help attract bass and walleye.

Anglers of any age may check out basic fishing equipment free of charge at the park office. This equipment was donated by the Tackle Loaner Program. Call the park office to find out what equipment is available.

A state fishing license is usually required.

Amenities

Facilities

  • Picnic areas
  • Playground
  • Group facilities

Camping

  • Tent camping
  • Group camping

Recreation

  • Horse trails

✓ 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

Lake Wissota State Park offers an array of accessible opportunities, including an accessible fishing pier where beginners and angling enthusiasts alike can catch bass, walleye, and northern pike, among other species. The park also provides accessible campsites and picnic shelters.

For navigating the lake, an adaptive tandem kayak with a launching chariot is available. Call the park office for information on the rental program.

Old Abe State Trail

The nearby Old Abe State Trail is a popular trail for biking and hiking. This paved railroad-grade trail runs for 20 miles and connects Lake Wissota to Brunet Island State Park in Cornell. The Old Abe State Trail is approximately two miles from Lake Wissota State Park via Cty. Hwy. O. Parking is available at the Anson Station trailhead located just off the intersection of Cty. Hwy. O and Cty. Hwy. S. A state trail pass is required to use the Old Abe State Trail for all bikers and in-line skaters age 16 and older.

Official accessibility information

Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.

Getting there

Address
18127 Cty Hwy O
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
Nearest town
Chippewa Falls — about 5 mi northeast (straight line)
Coordinates
44.9798, -91.3109
Phone
(715) 382-4574

Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)

Directions from the park

Get directions.

Nearby state parks

Old Abe State Trail
8 mi northeast (straight line)
Brunet Island State Park
15.6 mi northeast (straight line)
Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area
17.3 mi north (straight line)
Chippewa River State Trail
18.1 mi southwest (straight line)
Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area
23.2 mi west (straight line)
Buffalo River State Trail
27.9 mi south (straight line)
Red Cedar State Trail
33.1 mi southwest (straight line)
Cattail State Trail
50.2 mi northwest (straight line)

Sources and freshness

“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

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