State Park, Forest, and Recreation Area Fees
User fees and state taxes provide most of the money for operating Wisconsin state parks, forests, and trails. The fees include vehicle admission stickers, state trail passes, and camping fees.
Admission Stickers
A
vehicle admission sticker is required on all motor vehicles stopping in
state parks and recreation areas. Some state forest and trail parking
areas also require a sticker. You can buy either an annual sticker, for
admission to all state parks and forests for the calendar year, or a daily
sticker, valid only on the date of issue. If you have only a little time
to visit, you can buy a one-hour sticker at most state parks and forests.
Buy your sticker either when you get to the park or in advance.
2008-2009 Sticker Fees
Annual stickers for 2008 are valid from date of purchase through December 31, 2008. The 2009 stickers will be available beginning about December 1, 2008.
| Sticker Fees | Annual | Half price* | Daily | One-hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WI resident | $25 | $12.50 | $7 | $5 |
| WI resident age 65 and older | $10 | N/A | $3 | N/A |
| Non-resident |
$35 | $17.50 | $10 | $5 |
| Bus, Wisconsin | $10 | |||
| Bus, out of state | $14 |
* Half-price annual stickers are available for additional vehicles registered to the same household address.
How to Get Stickers and Trail Passes
There are many options for buying state park stickers and trail passes:
A couple uses a self-registration station to purchase a park sticker for their vehicle.
DNR Photo
- Buy your daily or annual sticker when you get to a state park and forest entrance.
- Some parks, forests, and trails have self-registration stations for payment of fees.
- Order online through Friends of Wisconsin State Parks [exit DNR].
- Businesses near state trails sell trail passes.
- Department of Natural Resources service centers sell stickers and trail passes.
- With MasterCard or Visa, phone (608) 266-2181 between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Order annual stickers and trail passes by sending a check or money order (payable to Wisconsin DNR) to DNR Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 7921, Madison WI 53707-7921.
Note: Please allow seven to nine days for us to process your mail or telephone order and the US mail to deliver it. You must have the sticker on your vehicle or the trail pass with you for it to be valid.
There's an additional $5 fee for anyone who fails to pay the fee before using the park, trail, or campsite if there's a self-registration station available.
Replacement Stickers
If you're trading in your car or replacing a windshield with a state park sticker on it, you can get a free sticker for your new windshield. Here's how:
- Scrape enough of the old sticker off (it will come off in pieces) to prove you have it.
- Print out the Annual Admission Sticker Replacement Application [PDF, 22KB] form.
- Fill in the form.
- Take or mail the form and old sticker to any state park or forest office or DNR Service Center or the Bureau of Parks and Recreation, 101 S. Webster St., P.O. Box 7921, Madison WI 53707-7921.
Removing Old Stickers From Your Windshield
The most effective way to remove an old sticker is to scrape it off with a razor blade. For your safety, we recommend using a razor blade in a scraper holder, available at hardware stores. A razor blade works better than a box cutter, which just tends to scratch the sticker into tiny pieces with the tip of the blade.
You can also stop in at a state park contact station, and they can help you remove it. Goo-gone or other adhesive removers can be helpful if there is any residue left on the windshield, but the razor blade usually will remove most of the glue as well.
For more information, ask Wisconsin State Parks, (608) 266-2181.
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