Dark Water

Dark Water

Foraging through steep-walled bluffs … deep valleys rising to tree-covered heights … serene forests, lush meadows, teeming wetlands.

You’ve visited Wisconsin’s Interstate Park. You’ve enjoyed and appreciated all that Wisconsin’s oldest state park has to offer.

You’ve hiked its scenic trails, climbed its massive boulders, peered into a mysterious pothole. You navigated the wild and scenic St. Croix River by boat or canoe. You’ve explored its shoreline and camped near its banks.

You’ve known the serenity thrills, wonder and deep satisfaction that experiencing this unique state park affords.

Perhaps you’ve also visited Wisconsin’s newest state park—Straight Lake.  It lies nestled deep in the woods 20 minutes north of Interstate Park.  Some trails lead up hills to overlook sparkling lakes—others weave through the forest and follow parts of the Ice Age National Hiking Trail. 

Perhaps you’ve watched the eagles as they soar above the dark waters.  If you’ve been lucky, perhaps you’ve even spotted a rare cerulean warbler as it catches its next insect meal.    

Interstate and Straight Lake State Parks have so much to offer—here is your chance to give back.  We invite you to become a Friend of Interstate Park and Straight Lake State Park. Join a group of folks who share your appreciation for these two parks, and who have banded together to help support the park’s education program in these ways:

·      To encourage people of all ages and abilities to participate in the education program.

·      To increase public awareness, knowledge, appreciation and stewardship of the park’s unique natural and cultural history, especially the forces and processes of Ice Age glaciation and how it shaped the land.

·      To promote participation in nature-based outdoor recreation.

Explore this website and see how we are accomplishing these goals and find out about the many opportunities to help.