State Park Availability Alerts

Wednesday already? Boy, how many rounds of cribbage did we play last night... This is the Wiscampsin Weekly - the email that gets you in the know on the Wisconsin outdoors in 5 minutes or less. New reader? Subscribe here.

This week's briefing:

• How to use Availability Alerts on State Parks ⛺️

• Sparta-Elroy Trail reopening 🚲

• Lyme Disease Awareness Month ☠️

How to use WI State Park Availability Alerts

Aw cripes, honey. Peninsula State Park is all booked out for the weekend, dang FIBs!... Should we just camp out in the backyard again?... It won't be like last time!... Sheryl, there's no law saying I can't dig a latrine in my own backyard... Well, the neighbors shouldn't a-been lookin'!...

Tsk tsk tsk. It's a tale as old as time.

You get out all the camping gear, stock up on bug spray, and wash your pudgy pie iron from last year (finally)... but all the great campsites are booked.

To get one, you would have had to make a reservation months ago, or strike a deal with the devil. NOT your mother-in-law, be nice...

But wouldn't ya know, some smart folks at the DNR read the room and realized there needs to be a better way.

Introducing, Availability Alerts.

How it works

It's pretty simple. You create an alert. A state park campsite becomes available. You get notified immediately via email. Now we're cooking with gas.

Let's dive in.

First, head over to the State Park Reservation site.

Once you create an account, input all your info (State Park of choice, date, party size, etc), and click 'Search.'

Ope! No availability (or if there is, it's the one spot next to the latrine). Classic. Don't fret, on the right, you'll see a 'Notify Me' button. Hammer that button and create an alert.

When to use it

This tool is downright nifty because it means you can snag a less-desirable site, set an alert for the one you really want, and when it becomes available, you just pay a small $5 fee to swap your reservation.

And your family? A bunch of happy campers. Boo yah.

More hacks

Now, let's say you want to be notified for a specific, singular site. 2A, next to that epic waterfall.

You can do that too, but you'll have to use a Wiscampsin favorite called Campnab. This makes creating alerts for certain sites or sections possible for a mere $10/month.

Why so many cancellations? Skeeters?

Close. There's only a $5 cancellation fee, plus you receive a full refund if you do it 2 days in advance. So expect to see cancellations for your dates a couple days before.

Also, the reservation system opens up 11 months in advance, so folks will reserve two weeks of dates and cancel the ones they don't want when they figure out their plans. Sneaky, but can't blame 'em.

And with some state parks already 85% booked out for the rest of the summer (lookin' at you Peninsula State Park, Devil's Lake, Copper Falls)... these tricks go a long way.

Other options

Don't just rely on the state parks system for great camping spots this summer. You betcha' you can find great sites in national, state and county forests, both paid and unpaid. Heck, you can even try your backyard.

All that matters is if ya get out 'der with the folks ya love. And plenty of bug spray.  

🌟 Hey Wiscampsonites - we're working hard to build the community here (as well as keep the squirrels out of the attic), and want to hear from ya!

What'd you do last weekend? What're you doing this weekend? Tweet, DM, or email us, and we'll share your adventures with the community so we can all get out 'der! 😍 

Hipcamp find of the week ⛺️

Due North of Chippewa Falls on the river you'll find the River to Ridge Farmstead. Paddle the river, mountain bike the famed Hickory Ridge trail system, scratch off some more portions of the Ice Age Trail, and finish it all up having a couple-two-tree brews at Leinenkugel's Brewery.

Guldarn, say no more. 🙌 

Nuts 'n' Seeds 🌰 

🪴 Sparta-Elroy comeback: After years of being closed due to flooding, the Sparta-Elroy Trail is finally reopening after multiple landslide repairs and bridge replacements. Grab a bike and a buddy and check out this legendary trail. 

🕷 Lyme Disease Awareness Month: Rash, fever, headache, fatigue - that's not the disease from your college days, those are symptoms of Lyme Disease, spread by the notorious deer tick. This month is all about preventing it, so tuck in your pants and check out this complete guide.

🦌 Elk - It's what's for dinner: Wisconsin used to have a thriving elk population until they were wiped out in the 1880's. Thanks to the efforts of conservationists, elk are now back in the state and 'Scons can participate once more in managing them. So buy your hunting tag here and make room in the freezer.

Well, how'd we do this week?

• 🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀 Better than a finely-aged cheese

• 🧀🧀🧀 Still better than Illinois, but could be better

• 🧀 This made me lactose intolerant