State Park, Forest, and Recreation Area Admission Fees

• Admission Stickers
• How to Purchase
• Removing Old Stickers
• Replacement Stickers

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 fee waivers are available for school groups, disabled veterans and former POWs, conservation patron license holders and others. Ice Age Reserve units honor various National Park system passes but do not issue them.

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.

2009 Sticker Fees

Annual stickers for 2009 are available now and are valid from date of purchase through December 31, 2009.

* Half-price annual stickers are available for additional vehicles registered to the same household address.
**One-hour stickers are not available at all state parks or forests.

If You Have a Motorcycle

The vehicle admission sticker rule applies to motorcycles as well as cars and trucks. If your motorcycle does not have an adequate windshield or the sticker may damage the windshield, fasten the sticker in one of these places:

• On the front fork
• Behind the license plate
• Under the seat.

In some cases, a ranger may not see the sticker and issue you a notice. If this happens, return to the park or forest office to show your sticker and void the notice.

How to Purchase Admission Stickers and State Trail Passes

There are many options for buying state park stickers and state trail passes:

• Buy your daily or annual sticker when you get to a state park and forest entrance. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.
• 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 state trail passes.
• Department of Natural Resources service centers sell stickers and state trail passes.

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 have a valid, current-year sticker, and you are trading in your car or replacing a windshield with a state park sticker on it, you can get a replacement sticker for your new windshield at no charge. Here's how:

• Note the serial number of your current-year sticker.
• 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 completely.
• 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.