Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Natural Resources
NR 1-99 - Fish, Game and Enforcement, Forestry and Recreation
Chapter NR 45 - Use Of Department Properties
Section NR 45.12 - Fees and charges
Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง NR 45.12
Current through November 25, 2024
(1) ADMISSION FEES.
(a) No person may operate or
park any motor vehicle or trailer or semitrailer in any property listed in
pars. (b) and (bm) unless the vehicle displays a vehicle admission receipt in
the manner specified in s. 27.01 (7) (e), Stats., except as specified in par.
(f) and s. 27.01 (7) (c), Stats.
(b) The following state forest areas, and
those areas designated as fee areas by posted notice, are designated by the
department as vehicle admission areas from January 1 to December 31:
1. Black River state forest:
a. Castle Mound campground and picnic
area
b. East Fork campground and
picnic area
c. Pigeon Creek
campground and picnic area
e. East
Fork indoor group camp and parking area
f. East Fork group camp
2. Brule River state forest:
a. Copper Range campground
b. Bois Brule campground and picnic
area
3. Flambeau River
state forest:
a. Connors Lake
campground
b. Connors Lake picnic
area
c. Lake of the Pines
campground
4. Kettle
Moraine state forest - northern unit:
a. Long
Lake area
b. Mauthe Lake
area
c. Greenbush group
camp
d. New Prospect bridle trail
camp area
e. Zillmer trail parking
area
f. Butler Lake parking
area
g. Parnell tower parking
area
h. Greenbush picnic and ski
parking areas
i. Highway 28 glacial
trail parking area
j. Highway 28
snowmobile and horse trail parking area
k. Highway SS snowmobile parking
area
L. New Fane trail parking
area.
m. Highway H snowmobile and
horse trail parking area.
n.
Highway P Ice Age Trail parking area
o. Shelter 5 parking area
p. Highway S Bridle Trail parking
area
q. Highway U Dog Training
parking area
r. Greenbush Kettle
parking area
s. Kellings Lake Dog
Training parking area
t. Crooked
Lake boat access area parking
u.
Auburn Lake boat access area parking
v. Lake Seven boat access area
parking
w. Little Mud Lake picnic
parking area
x. Spruce Lake Bog
parking area
y. Highway H Ice Age
Trail parking area
z. Youth Camp
Road Bridle Trail parking area
za.
Highway 67 Bridle Trail parking area
zb. Forest Lake access
5. Kettle Moraine state forest - southern
unit:
a. Whitewater area
b. Ottawa Lake area
c. McMiller Sports Center for
non-shooters
d. Ottawa field trial
grounds
e. Horseriders
campground
f. Pine Woods camp
area
g. Scuppernong picnic and
hiking trail area
h. Scuppernong
Springs nature trail parking area
i. Emma Carlin trail parking area
j. Nordic and John Muir trail parking
areas
k. Ottawa trail parking
area
L. Eagle - Palmyra trail
parking areas
n. D.J. Mackie picnic
area
o. Hickory Woods group
camp
p. Paradise Springs
q. Highway 67 wayside
r. Eagle Dog Trial Grounds
s. Stute Springs nature trail parking
area
t. Blackhawk (Hwy 12) parking
area
u. Lone Tree Bluff nature
trail parking area
v. Bald Bluff
nature trail parking area
6. Kettle Moraine state forest - Lapham Peak
unit
7. Northern Highland state
forest:
a. Big Lake campground
b. Buffalo Lake campground
c. Carroll Lake campground
d. Clear Lake campground
e. Crystal Lake campground, beach and picnic
area
f. Cunard Lake
campground
g. Firefly Lake
campground
h. Indian Mounds
campground
i. Jag Lake group
campground
j. Muskie Lake standard
and group campground
k. Plum Lake
campground
L. Razorback Lake
campground
m. Sandy Beach Lake
campground
n. Star Lake
campground
o. Starrett Lake
campground
p. Trout Lake campground
- north and south
q. Upper Gresham
Lake campground
8.
Governor Knowles state forest:
a. St. Croix
campground
b. Trade River horse
campground
c. Trade River day use
area
d. Trade River overflow
lot
e. Brandt Pines recreational
trail system parking lot
f. Sioux
Portage group campground
9. Governor Earl Peshtigo River state forest:
a. Old Veteran's Lake campground
10. Point Beach state
forest
11. Kettle Moraine state
forest - Pike Lake unit
(bm) The following state parks, recreation
areas, forest recreation areas and state natural areas are designated by the
department as areas in which vehicle admission receipts are required, except as
otherwise provided, from January 1 through December 31:
1. Governor Dodge state park
2. Pattison state park
3. Mirror Lake state park
4. Perrot state park
5. Interstate park
6. Wildcat Mountain state park
7. Willow River state park
8. Richard Bong state recreation
area
9. High Cliff state
park
10. Peninsula state
park
11. Potawatomi state
park
12. Terry Andrae state
park
13. John M. Kohler state
park
14. Hartman Creek state
park
15. Devil's Lake state
park
16. Big Foot Beach state
park
18. Wyalusing state
park
20. Lake Kegonsa state
park
21. Lake Wissota state
park
23. Yellowstone Lake state
park
24. Newport state
park
25. Blue Mound state
park
26. Copper Falls state
park
27. Council Grounds state
park
28. Harrington Beach state
park
29. Merrick state
park
30. Whitefish Dunes state
park
31. Governor Nelson state park
35. Chippewa Moraine state
recreation area
36. Rib Mountain
state park
37. Amnicon Falls state
park
38. Big Bay state
park
39. Cadiz Springs state
recreation area
40. Brunet Island
state park
41. Buckhorn state
park
42. Kinnickinnic state
park
43. Natural Bridge state
park
44. Nelson Dewey state
park
45. New Glarus Woods state
park
46. Roche-A-Cri state
park
47. Rocky Arbor state
park
48. Tower Hill state
park
49. Governor Knowles state
forest - St. Croix campground
50.
Capital Springs Centennial state park and recreation area
51. Governor Thompson state park
52. Mill Bluff state park
53. Aztalan state park
54. Parfrey's Glen state natural
area
55. Dells of the Wisconsin
River state natural area
56.
Straight Lake state park
57.
Menominee River state recreation area
58. Glacial Drumlin state trail - Sandhill
Station
59. Lizard Mound state
park
60. Sauk Prairie state
recreation area
61. Lower Wisconsin
state riverway - Mazomanie day use area
62. Lower Wisconsin state riverway -
Blackhawk Ridge day use area
63.
Rock Island state park - Jackson Harbor parking lot
64. Pewits Nest state natural
area
(c) The following
areas are determined by the department as properties in which vehicle admission
receipts are not required:
1. State
trails
4. Lost Dauphin state
park
5. Lakeshore state
park
6. Peninsula state park golf
course (May 1 through October 31); applies to golfers and clubhouse patrons
only
7. Cross Plains state
park
8. Heritage Hill state
park
9. Havenwoods state
forest
10. Copper Culture state
park
11. Rib Mountain state park
leased area
(f) Admission
fees shall be waived at all state parks, state recreation areas, and state
forest vehicle admission areas as follows:
2.
Persons with disabilities and their personal care attendants brought by a
nonprofit organization recognized by the internal revenue service under 26 USC 501 (c) (1) or (3) whose primary purpose is the improvement of the mental or
physical health of the individual. Applications on department forms for the fee
waiver shall be received by the property for which the fee waiver is sought
along with proof of nonprofit status at least 7 days prior to arrival.
Note: A copy of the form may be obtained from state park and forest offices.
4. For vehicles in which persons are picking
up or dropping off juvenile group campers.
5. Any vehicle, when trailered or towed into
the property if the vehicle is not operated on the property.
6. Motor-powered hang gliders flown or
trailered into the property for operation in the special use zone of the
Richard Bong state recreation area.
(2) CAMPING FEES. No person may use any facility, land or area for which a fee or charge has been established by the department without payment of the fee or charge as listed in the following schedule. All fees under this subsection include state sales tax except for juvenile group camping, and juvenile and adult group camping at the north shore campgrounds in Devil's Lake state park.
(a)
Camping. The fees for camping are established in s. 27.01 (10), Stats.
1. Campgrounds in state parks,
southern forests, northern forests and recreation areas, and on state trails
are type "A" campgrounds.
3.
Kinnickinnic sand delta - overnight boat mooring $15.00 per boat per
day.
(b)
2. Firewood Not less than $3.00 per
bundle
3. Additional standard
camping fees for Type "A" campgrounds in the state parks, southern state
forests and northern state forests.
4. Additional camping fees may be charged for
waterview campsites not to exceed $5.00 per night for type "A"
campgrounds.
5. Based on local
market conditions, additional camping fees of $3.00 per campsite per night
shall be charged at the following campgrounds:
a. Devil's Lake state park
b. Kohler-Andrae state park
c. Mirror Lake state park
d. Peninsula state park
e. Big Bay state park
f. Point Beach state forest
g. Willow River state park
h. Hartman Creek state park
i. Copper Falls state park
j. Council Grounds state park
k. Governor Dodge state park
L. High Cliff state park
m. Newport state park
n. Pattison state park
o. Potawatomi state park
p. Rock Island State Park
q. Crystal Lake, Clear Lake, Firefly Lake and
Muskie Lake campgrounds within the Northern Highland - American Legion state
forest.
(c)
Group camping (group campgrounds)
1. Outdoor
group camping
a. Group sites with a capacity
of 1 to 20 persons $50.00 per night
b. Each additional interval of 10 or part
thereof $20.00 per night
c. Minimum
per group per night $50.00 per night
d. Maximum per group per night $300 per
night
e. Outdoor group campsites
with electricity will charge an additional $20 per electric pedestal
provided
3. Group camps
(buildings)
a. Black River state forest $100
per night
b. Wyalusing state park
$500 minimum per group per day.
c.
Point Beach state forest $100 per night.
(d) All reservation, standard, and outdoor
group camping fees are waived for persons with disabilities and their personal
care attendants brought by a nonprofit organization recognized by the internal
revenue service under 26 USC 501 (c) (1), (3) or (4) whose primary purpose is
the improvement of the mental or physical health of the individual. The
nonprofit organization shall apply to the department on the required fee waiver
request form prior to arrival at the property for which the fee waiver is
sought. Memorial Day through Labor Day, fee waiver approvals may only be
granted for Sunday through Thursday nights, and only with a prior camping
reservation.
Note: The fee waiver request form is available at https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/doclink/forms/2500-113.pdf.
(3) TRAIL FEES.
(a) No person 16 years of age or older,
except pedestrians, snowmobile riders, all-terrain vehicle riders, or
utility-terrain vehicle riders may use trails posted pursuant to par. (b)
unless the person has in his or her possession a valid state trail
pass.
(b) State trails and trails
on other department lands on which a state trail pass is required shall be
designated by the department with markers or signs.
(c) The state trail pass system consists of
daily and annual fees established in s. 27.01 (8) (c), Stats.
(d) State trail passes are not
transferable.
(e) A person subject
to par. (a) shall exhibit proof of a valid state trail pass to the department
or law enforcement on demand.
(4) OTHER FEES. No person may use any facility, land or area for which a fee or charge has been established by the department without payment of such fee or charge as listed in the following schedule: The fees listed in this subsection include the state sales tax.
(a) Blue Mound state park swimming pool
1. Age 18 and older $4.00 per day or $55.00
per year for a season pass
2. Age 2
- 17 $3.00 per day or $40.00 per year for a season pass
3. Under age 2 No fee
4. Special programs as established by the
department
(b) McMiller
sports center, when operated by the department.
1. Pistol range $5.00 per hour
2. 100 yard range $5.00 per hour
3. Plinking range $5.00 per hour
4. Archery range $5.00 per hour
5. Shotgun trap range $5.00 per round of 25
shots
6. Shotgun patterning range
$5.00 per 5 targets
7. Organized
matches $100 per group per day
8.
Hunter safety course $1.00 per hour
(c) No person may use any concession or area
without payment of applicable fees or charges established under contract
between the department and concessionaire.
(d) Admission fees under s. 27.01 (9),
Stats.
(f)
Richard Bong
state recreation area.
1. 'Special
use zone.' The zone shall be available to groups for special events by
reservation for $25.00 per event. The reservation fee is
nonrefundable.
2. 'Hunting zone.' A
vehicle admission sticker, hunting and trapping license as well as hunting and
trapping administrative fees are required for hunting and trapping in the
Richard Bong state recreation area.
a.
Pheasant hunting $12.00 per person each day for adults and $7.00 per person who
is age 17 or younger. In the event pheasant stocking cannot be done on the
previous day or days, the pheasant hunting fee will be $5.00 per person each
day.
b. All other hunting
$1.00/person/day
c. Trapping $10.00
per season
d. Administrative fee. A
hunting administrative fee of $3.00 shall be paid at the time the reservation
is requested and is non-refundable once the reservation is confirmed.
(g) The department may
grant building, shelter and picnic area reservations and shall upon request
provide a list of parks and forests where reservations are accepted. Fees for
building, shelter, picnic area, auditorium, sports center and other reservable
facilities such as classrooms, meeting rooms, amphitheaters, overlooks, boat
mooring areas, and yurts to be established by the department. Reservations may
be accepted up to 11 months in advance of the rental date. Cancellation
penalties established by the department may include a non-refundable
reservation fee, cancel fee, and non-refundable portion or totality of the
rental fee. Upon occupancy of the facility, the reservation becomes a permit.
Reservations may be issued at any time prior to occupancy.
(h) Visitors using areas posted subject to
self-registration requirements for either vehicle admission stickers, trail
passes, mooring fees or camping fees shall pay an additional $5.00 registration
fee if they fail to properly self-register or pay at the park office.
(i) Use of dump station for non-registered
campers $10.00, in addition to park sticker.
(j) The department may charge participants of
department sponsored special events or programs a fee sufficient to cover the
cost of providing the program.
(L)
The department may determine and charge a fee for special property use that
includes a base fee plus the actual costs to the department that are
anticipated as a result of the use. In determining the base fee and costs, the
department may consider impacts including but not limited to all of the
following:
1. The number of participants or
spectators anticipated for the use.
2. Additional department staff time required
as a result of the use.
3.
Additional maintenance of the property required as a result of the
use.
4. Additional services
provided by the department.
(4m) DAMAGE TO DEPARTMENT PROPERTY. In addition to the fees established in this section, the department may require a person or organization to compensate the department for, or to restore to the satisfaction of the department, a natural resource or department property that is damaged during that person or organization's period of occupancy or visitation. Permit holders are responsible for notifying department personnel of existing damage to department property upon arrival and may be held liable for any damages not reported.
(5) EXCEPTIONS. This section does not apply to department lands under lease or agreement which provides otherwise. No person may use any facilities without proper payment of appropriate fees established by a lessee or contractor.
For a complete history of s. NR 45.12 from January 1, 1984, through January 1, 2011, see the History note following s. NR 45.12 published in Register December 2010, No. 660.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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