. From scuba diving to exploring ice caves to hiking in some truly remote swatches of nature to paddling the day away on a kayak, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

No matter the season, there's always something to do outside in Wisconsin. So why not explore some of the Dairy State’s national parks?

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also has some stellar travel tips! We’ve put together this guide to what you’ll need to know before you visit Wisconsin’s national parks.

Fill up your water bottles and slather on your sunscreen, and let’s take a look at the best national parks in Wisconsin.

Saint Croix National Park

Location: St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin

Hours of operation: 24 hours, year-round (except in dangerous water conditions)

Admission price: Free

What makes Saint Croix National Park special

The St. Croix and Namekagon rivers that snake between the untouched wilderness between the

Minnesota

and Wisconsin state border make up the

Saint Croix National Park

. If you sat back on your inner tube and let the current carry you downstream, you’d end up pretty far from where you started—252 miles, to be exact.

The riverway was used as a trade route by Native Americans, particularly the Ojibwe and Dakota tribes and fur trappers alike.

The river is home to more than 40 species of freshwater mollusks, every one of which has the important job of helping keep the river clean by cycling nutrients and filtering its water.

What to do in Saint Croix National Park

Aquatic activities are the name of the game at Saint Croix National Park. Blow up your floaties, strap on your life vest, and grab your paddles—no day at Saint Croix National Park is complete without enjoying some of their sparkling, pristine water.

Paddle along the river: Arguably, the best way to see some of the untouched nature along the river is by boat. You can bring your own kayak or a couple of buddies and a canoe and

choose a stretch of river

based on the kind of physical challenge you’re up for.

Go fishing: Set up your chair and cooler, or cast your line from a boat. The riverway has a diverse ecosystem of fish for catching, including trout, muskies, and smallmouth bass.

Camp out: Turn your day trip into an overnight visit by booking one of the park’s 150 campsites. If you want to camp on a holiday weekend, make sure to book your stay well in advance.

Hike along the trails: The park has

seven maintained hiking trails

, all of which are relatively short, moderate, and great for kids.

When to visit Saint Croix National Park

Late spring, summer, and early fall are the best times to visit Saint Croix National Park. Those midwestern winters are no joke, and temperatures plummet to below zero with heavy snowfalls.

Late spring and summer weather is warmer and humid, making for ideal days to be out on the water. Fall is a little chillier at 60ish degrees, but if you’re willing to bundle up, you’ll be rewarded with some spectacular fall foliage.

When planning your visit, make sure to check the

park's website

for any flood alerts and check the local weather forecast for any thunderstorms.

MORE:How to check for Wisconsin road closures

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Ice Age National Park

Location: Cross Plains, Wisconsin

Hours of operation: 24 hours, year-round

Admission price: Free

What makes Ice Age National Park special

15,000 years ago, much of what we recognize today as North America was submerged beneath an enormous glacier. The nearly 1,200-mile trail in

Ice Age National Park

goes along what was once the glacier’s edge.

Unlike many other parks, Ice Age National Park is maintained by

a team of volunteers

rather than the National Park Service.

The entire trail is actually incomplete. A little over half of the trail has been fully built, but when it is finished, it will span the state from north to south and east to west.

What to do in Ice Age National Park

Ice Age National Park is, first and foremost, a hiking trail. In fact, if you were to hike the entire thing (or at least what’s been completed so far), it would take you anywhere between eight to twelve weeks!But, if you don’t have that kind of time on your hands, you’ll still have plenty to see and do during a much shorter trip.

Birdwatch: Pack your binoculars and see what kind of winged critters you can spy along the trail.

Stargaze: Much of Ice Age National Park runs through wide-open fields with big open skies, perfect for looking up and spotting some constellations after the sun goes down

Cross country ski and snowshoe: National parks can be just as fun in the winter as they are in the warmer months.

Camp (with caution): Because of how long the trail extends, exactly where you can and cannot camp depends on where you plan to pitch your tent. Some stretches of the trail are camp-friendly, while others only allow you to camp at designated areas.

When to visit Ice Age National Park

The sheer size of Ice Age National Park presents a bit of a challenge when it comes to planning the perfect outdoor excursion. You’ll find things to do along the trail year-round, so the best advice we can give is to check the

trail alerts dashboard

when planning your trip.

The month of November may also be a trickier time to visit. For nine days in November, several parts of the trail will close to accommodate deer hunting season. If you still want to hike the trail in November, we’d recommend wearing a hunting vest or bright orange for visibility.

Apostle Islands National Park

Location: Bayfield, WI

Hours of operation: 24 hours, year-round

Admission price: Free

What makes Apostle Islands National Park special

The

Apostle Islands

are the glittering jewels in Lake Superior’s crown. The park itself consists of a 21-island archipelago and a thin 12-mile strip of shoreline along the very tip of Wisconsin’s Bayfield Peninsula. Historically, the land was the ancestral home of the Ojibwe tribe.

Although natural wonders are the star of the show at this park, the man-made lighthouses are also a sight to behold. The island’s lighthouses were dubbed “the largest and single finest collection of lighthouses in the country” by famed lighthouse historian F. Ross Holland.

The Apostle Islands are located at the northernmost point of Wisconsin. Of the 21 islands, Devil’s Island has the distinct honor of being the furthest north of the bunch.

What to do in Apostle Island National Park

Apostle Islands National Park has all the usual activities you’d expect from a national park near a body of water: hiking, biking, fishing, etc. But, Apostle Islands also offer a couple of unexpected activities:

Ice caves: A visit to the ice caves is an essential item to cross off your list! These mainland sea caves freeze in the winter to create stunning stalagmites and stalactites of ice.

Scuba diving: It’s not just for tropical beaches—you can dive below Lake Superior to take in shipwrecks from the day of yore.

Camp out: You can camp on 18 of the 21 islands, but keep in mind that they can only be reached by kayak, motor boat, or sailboat.

Kayak: Some say that the best way to see the islands is in a kayak. If you’re not confident navigating it alone, you can book a guided tour from one of the park’s

authorized partners

When to visit Apostle National Park

The best time to visit Apostle National Park depends on the activities you want to do. The mainland ice caves can only be seen in winter, while camping and kayaking are best in the warmer summer months.

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North Country National Scenic Trail

Location: Douglas, Bayfield, and

Ashland

, Wisconsin

Hours of operation: 24 hours, year-round

Admission price: No fee for entry, but vehicles with WI license plates pay $8 for parking, and out-of-staters pay $11

What makes North Country National Scenic Trail special

Compared to the other parks on our list, the

North Country National Scenic Trail

is most similar in size and set up to Ice Age National Park—but a heck of a lot bigger. Where Ice Age is spread out across just the state of Wisconsin, the North Country National Scenic Trail runs across eight different states.

The trail dips into Wisconsin’s northwest corner from northern

Minnesota

and out to Michigan’s upper peninsula.

The 4,800 miles of the North Country Trail connect some of the most famed trails like the Appalachian, Long, and Lewis and Clark trails.

The trail begins in the

Vermont

town of Middlebury and ends in central

Montana

What to do on the North Country National Scenic Trail

Collect passport stamps: It’s not the one you’d use for an international flight, but the National Park Service sells

passports

so you can keep tabs on everywhere you stop along the trail.

Backpack: Hiking and backpacking are permitted along the trail.

Leaf peep: If you go in the fall, you’ll be treated to breathtaking foliage.

When to visit North Country National Scenic Trail

The trail offers something new with every change of seasons. Summers can draw some crowds to the trails, so early spring and early fall are great times to visit to avoid bumping shoulders with other hikers.

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How to prepare to visit Wisconsin’s national parks

You’re probably already emailing your boss for time off to explore the best national parks in Wisconsin. But, before you lace up your hiking boots, follow these tips:

If you need to drive a long way to get to any of the parks, be sure to check up on your car’s

routine maintenance

, so you feel confident hitting the open road.

If you really plan on putting a ton of miles on your car, you should

upgrade

your insurance policy before your trip.

If that last step sounds like a total snooze—and time-consuming—download

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