Wisconsin River islands in Wisconsin Rapids

About Wisconsin River islands in Wisconsin Rapids

Wisconsin, famed for its 84,000 miles of rivers that meander through varying terrain and its 15,000 lakes, is full of places to paddle, float, and fish. Many islands in this region were omitted from the original land surveys conducted in the 1830s and 1840s. Because of this, there is a mixing of ownership between state-owned, privately owned islands. For those under federal management, the BLM administers to almost 500 islands throughout the area. Because of this varied ownership, it's critical that visitors determine whether an island is public land before using it.The flowages between Stevens Point and Nekoosa are chock-full of more than 60 public islands, ranging from small, low patches of willows and alder, to large stands of mixed pines and hardwoods. Below Castle Rock Lake, the islands down to Prairie du Sac are mostly floodplain forests with broad sandbars that invite paddler-campers. A few of these islands have remnant prairie and savanna vegetation. Many public islands are perfect fishing spots, lunch stops for your next float trip, or overnight campsites. However, there are no visitor services at any of these locations; as such, it is important to plan accordingly. If you have any questions about visiting the islands, please call (414) 297-4400.Would you like to volunteer as a BLM public island steward? Contact Danielle Donkersloot, Ddonkersloot@blm.gov

How to Get There

Coming from the North: Follow US-51S to WI-34S in Knowlton. Follow WI-34S/State Hwy 13S towards Hanson Park in Wisconsin Rapids. The exit for Hanson Park is on the right.Coming from the South: Follow I-39N, also known as I-90W/I-94W, towards Plainfield. Take exit 136 for WI-73N/ State Hwy 13N towards Wisconsin Rapids. Follow State Hwy 13N towards Hanson Park in Wisconsin Rapids. The exit for Hanson Park is on the left.

Plan Your Visit to Wisconsin River islands in Wisconsin Rapids

Heading to Wisconsin River islands in Wisconsin Rapids? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)