Menominee River 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
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dnr.wisconsin.gov(715) 889-6042
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Marinette County, about 15 miles southeast of Iron Mountain, Menominee River State Recreation Area covers about 4,785 acres.
Popular activities here are canoeing and kayaking, hunting in season, fishing, and hiking. Camping is available: campsites, including 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 Menominee River State Recreation Area 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canoe campsites The Stoney Hill site is north (upstream) of Saler Landing, Grand Isle campsite is on the south end of Grand Island north of Quiver Falls, the Pemebonwon site is at the mouth of the Pemebonwon River and the Menominee River, and the Pemene Falls site is just north (upstream) of the falls. At each site there is a fire ring, a cleared spot to pitch a tent, benches and a primitive latrine. No non-designated island camping is permitted on Wisconsin islands in the river.
• Quiver Falls Unit - Existing Facilities
• Pemene Falls Unit - Existing Facilities
No potable water source is provided. Other… | — | — |
Camping details from the park
There are four canoe campsites available on the Wisconsin shore of the Menominee River. Signs with a canoe and tent symbol mark the campsites. These sites are for groups of six persons or less. On the Wisconsin side of the river, campsites are only available by reservation.
Canoe campsites: The Stoney Hill site is north (upstream) of Saler Landing, Grand Isle campsite is on the south end of Grand Island north of Quiver Falls, the Pemebonwon site is at the mouth of the Pemebonwon River and the Menominee River, and the Pemene Falls site is just north (upstream) of the falls. At each site there is a fire ring, a cleared spot to pitch a tent, benches and a primitive latrine. No non-designated island camping is permitted on Wisconsin islands in the river.
- Quiver Falls Unit - Existing Facilities
- Pemene Falls Unit - Existing Facilities
No potable water source is provided. Other camping opportunities also exist on the Michigan side of the river at Faithorn Township Campground.
Firewood: Campers at the campsites may gather wood from the forest for use in campfires as long as it is both dead and on the ground. Most of Grand Island is a State Natural Area and firewood gathering is not permitted on the island.
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
CampingCanoeing and kayakingFishingHikingHunting
Trails
Hiking: Hiking opportunities are available on the Pemene Falls hiking trail found in the Pemene Falls Unit of the property. Hiking on the Sand Portage hiking trail can be found on the Piers Gorge Unit of the property. Other trails and logging roads exist on the property but are not maintained and managed as designated trails.
The Pemene Falls hiking trail is found in the Pemene Falls Unit of the property, and the Sand Portage Falls hiking trail is in the Piers Gorge Unit. Other trails and logging roads exist on the property but are not maintained and managed as designated trails.
Pemene Falls hiking trail
This trail is made up of former logging roads and some stretches of paths cleared through the forest. The trail is accessed from the parking lot at the end of Verheyen Lane, off of County Road Z. The Scenery is forested with large pine stands and rock outcrops. The trail surface is made of natural materials, not graveled or paved. Most of the trail is fairly level, but there are portions of the trail on steep slopes and over rocky terrain. The trailhead leads to options to hike a short loop (0.8 miles), a long loop (1.9 miles) or to the overlook of Pemene Falls (0.5 miles). There is also a canoe/walk-in campsite that can be accessed from the hiking trail. Signage along the trail is minimal but is present at key intersections.
Read more from the park
- Pemene Falls hiking trail map
Sand Portage Falls Hiking Trail
This trail is a wooded and open trail. It has a level mowed surface and moderate hills. The 0.5-mile trail takes you from the Parking lot off Hwy. 141, just east of Knuston Road, to a wonderful view of Sand Portage Falls and Piers Gorge. There is no designated viewing area, and the trail is quite rocky if you choose to climb down to the falls.
Boating and paddling
This stretch of river and roughly 13 miles upstream are some of the few remaining portions of the Menominee River that still exhibit a free-flowing river's wild, undeveloped characteristics. The property provides rustic canoe launches at Quiver Falls, a concrete boat launch at Saler Landing off Rattie Road, and the gravel Pemene boat landing off Horseshoe Road. Other launches exist beyond the property and on the Michigan side. The majority of the river is broad and gentle, with some rapids. Pemene Falls to the south is a mandatory portage (Michigan side).
A comprehensive canoe trail map of the Menominee River, including this property and upstream tributaries such as the Brule, Paint and Michigamme rivers, was produced in 2003 by We Energies. This is a valuable asset if you are considering a canoe trip on this river system. Part 3 includes the stretch of river along the Menominee River Natural Resources Area. The canoe trail map costs $3 for each part or $9 for the entire set (including postage). Ask for the Menominee Watershed Canoe Trail maps and specify which parts by contacting:
Wild Rivers Interpretive Center
4793 Forestry Drive
Florence, WI 54121
1-888-889-0049
Fishing
Fishing is available in the Menominee River. The Menominee River is known for its smallmouth bass fishing. Many other fish species are present as well.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Drinking water: not available (stated by the park)
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
- Nearest town
- Iron Mountain — about 15 mi southeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 45.6785, -87.8219 (from PAD-US)
- Phone
- (715) 889-6042
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The property is located in northeast Marinette County along several miles of the Menominee River. No single road traverses the entire property. The recreation area has many maintained access roads with parking areas that connect to town roads. These roads are not plowed in the winter and may be difficult to travel during wet periods of the year. Menominee River State Recreation Area map (entire area) • Get directions to Quiver Falls area • Get directions to Pemene Falls area • Get directions to Piers Gorge area
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