Wyalusing State Park

WSP is situated on bluffs that rise 500' from the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. The north side overlooks the city of Prairie du Chien and the west side overlooks the Mississippi River with Iowa (and Pikes Peak State Park) on the other side. The original campground loop, Wisconsin Ridge sits right along the bluffs and, if you are tent camping or have a small trailer, you can get a site with an amazing view. Pay close attention to length restrictions if you're trying to get a site on that loop as there are few that are suitable for trailers longer than 20 feet, and maneuvering can be very tight.

At the other end of the park is the Homestead Loop, which is much more modern, with a recent generation shower building and well spaced campsites that can handle larger vehicles. There is also an indoor group camp, which opened fairly recently and appears to have excellent amenities for winter group camping. That's unusual for a state park.

As for amenities, there's just about everything except a beach. There multiple shelters, and interpretive center, and a concession stand with some food. There, you can rent kayaks and canoes which you really want to do because there is a guided water trail along the river sloughs that border the park. If you are a fan of aquatic wildlife, it's a must do. There are plenty of trails of varying difficulty. There are a couple of falls amongst the bluffs that are worth the hardy walk to reach. If you bicycle, plan for some hefty climbs.

Prarie du Chien is a short drive away and offers some historical attractions given its early history as a trading post settlement.

This is an awesome campground. The hiking trails are among the best we’ve experienced in Wisconsin with spectacular views overlooking the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers. I don’t recommend site 126E for campers over 15 feet long. It was extremely difficult to get our 27 foot camper into this site. I had to use ALL our leveling blocks to get our camper close to level. We couldn’t get it completely level because the tongue is touching the ground, while the back is 39 inches off the ground.

We stayed in site 120E in the park’s Wisconsin Ridge Campground in our 2021 TAB400 Boondock. Level site, plenty of room, nestled into mature oaks and maples. Beautiful park at the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers with great views of the rivers and surrounding areas. Available activities include hiking and biking numerous hilly, wooded trails and roads exploring the park’s many features. The park rests along the Mississippi migratory route with many species of birds in the park. There are also tennis courts and a basketball court. Fishing, boating and canoeing are available (rentals offered). Would definitely camp here again.

Had a wonderful two night stay at Wyalusing State Park. This is a classic Wisconsin State Park in terms of camping and amenities. Stayed in the Wisconsin Ridge Camp ground which offered many electrical sites and some non-electric sites which were actually coveted because they're on the ridge directly overlooking the Wisconsin River, from about 500 feet up. I was in site 147, an electrical hook up site (no water) just across the road from the bluff.

The sites are well maintained although a bit closer together in Wisconsin Ridge than in other areas, mainly due to topography and popularity. It was a bit tricky getting my small tear drop camper perfectly aligned but did find a very level spot. Many bigger rigs there so clearly doable, but not by me!. Site had a picnic table, fire ring with a swivel grate and some shade. It was perfect really.

Within walking distance was a concession stand selling ice cream, water, soda, firewood, t-shirts. Canoe rentals also available. Both pit and full service bathrooms. It looked like the full service bathrooms may have just been redone because they looked new and were very clean. The showers were some of the best I've ever experienced in terms of cleanliness at a state park with nice warm water. Plenty of picnic areas, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts and a field easily large enough to play baseball. They have a night sky observation area as well.

Plenty of hiking trails with some of them fairly challenging due to the elevation change. the Immigrant Trail, which follows next to the Wisconsin River was closed, and has been for some time, because the river is running high and flooded some of the trail out. Lots of deer and turkey vultures, which some mistook for bald eagles - which do come to the park in the winter time, but not summer. Fantastic views of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers.

Would definitely go back

We stayed in the homestead area site 252 and it was infested with poison oak and poison ivy. If you show up at night, beware. It was in the middle of the path between 251 and 252.

The sites are beautiful there. Like being in a woods cave. There are close trails and even a waterfall. If I didn’t have my little kids with me I would have explored more but the 5 poisonous plants (ivy, oak, sumac, Wild parsnip, nettles) were everywhere and some of the paths get narrow.

The showers get nasty later in the day from people not cleaning up after themselves. The pit toilets had TONS of spiders. We really didn’t see many mosquitoes which is strange for how muggy it was. The gnats were everywhere so bring some vanilla extract to put behind your ears.

We are here for the second time. The first time we stayed here we were here in November, and we were the only campers in the park. So peaceful.
The park is gorgeous. It sits over 400 feet on bluffs overlooking the Wisconsin River. There’s lots to do with biking, hiking, and some nature programs. The Rangers are very helpful. The non-electric sites overlooking the Bluffs are amazing.
You can hear a train in the distance periodically.

Although this may be one of the older state parks in Wisconsin, it has been well maintained and updated. Two campgrounds (plus an indoor and outdoor group camp). We stayed in Wisconsin Ridge where, with one exception, you need to choose function over view; we chose the views. For one night, this was the right choice! (The interior sites have electric). Note that some sites are very small. Concession stand in the summer and weekends in September and October. Bathrooms were large but lots of paper debris on the floor (we were there on a Monday so perhaps it had not yet been cleaned from the weekend) Large tiled shower rooms (individual) with a chair but NO Hooks to hang towel or toiletries from. Would have liked to go on the hiking trails but the mosquitoes were still bad. Next time - we will be back!

We stayed for 5 nights. We had a great site (204) in the Homestead loop which wasn't crowded when we were there (Sun-Friday) They recently rebuilt the bath and shower building. Great addition. Visited the Ridge camping area which had sites with views that were awesome, if smallish. Our travel trailer (31') probably would have had issues fitting in. It was crowded there too, even if it was hear the concession building.
Antenna TV reception was poor, we only got a Sci-Fi station, not sure where from. Our cell reception searched but never found connection. Better in town, Prairie du Chien.
When I reserved site, there was a water icon nearby, but that was a fountain only. You should note you have to fill your tanks when you arrive at the dump station. Would have been helpful if we had been told that when we checked in.
As an aside, we visited the Pikes Peak SP just over the state line into Iowa. Not really impressed with their campground when we drove through, although they have great lookouts and trails.

This Wisconsin state park is located at the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. We agree with the other reviewers that a ridge front site in the Wisconsin Ridge campground is worth snagging if you're willing to dry camp. Shortly after we set up camp an eagle soared into a tree about 75 feet from us. He was at eye level. The vultures circle around along the bluff also mostly at eye level. It was great to watch them. You can hear the trains in the valley below but they're not bad.

The downside is that Wisconsin state parks are very expensive for non-residents. Dry camping sites are $23 per night plus $11 a day for a vehicle permit.

Wyalusing has great trails for hiking and biking. You can go down to the water and rent a canoe (in season) and there are marked skiing and snowshoeing trails in winter. Nearby in Iowa is Effigy Mounds National Monument where you can get information about the Paleo Indian burial mounds in the area, some of which are shaped like animals such as bears and birds. Trails take you up to the bluff to view several mounds. Pikes Peak State Park is a state park south of Marquette Iowa with an amazing observation deck over the confluence from the Iowa side. There's camping there also. In historic Prairie Du Chien is the Villa Louis which has daily tours in the summer.