State Forests
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Conditions
WeatherWeather forecast [exit DNR]TrailsAs of May 7, 2025, all trails are open to hiking and horseback riding for the season.
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ATV Recreation
Black River State Forest has 34 miles of ATV trails that link with Jackson and Clark County trails. All ATVs riders on the state forest ATV trails must follow state registration and trail pass rules. More about ATV/UTV riding in Wisconsin.
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Management and Business
Annual Property Implementation Plans Implementation plans are posted every year in March and contain:
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Maps
Property map Coulee Experimental State Forest Property Map [PDF] Trail map Coulee Experimental State Forest Ski Trails [PDF] Road map Roads as of March 2019 [PDF]
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Basic Information
Location and Directions The Coulee Experimental State Forest is located approximately 15 miles east of La Crosse in La Crosse County. The forest has two main parking areas. To access the eastern parking lot and ski trailhead, from Bangor take…
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Winter Recreation
Cross-country skiing The Black River State Forest has 20 miles of cross-country ski trails. Trails are groomed for skaters and traditional skiers and provide a variety of skill levels from beginner to expert. A daily or annual trail pass is…
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Water Recreation
The Black River and East Fork of the Black River offer excellent canoeing and kayaking opportunities. East Fork is scenic with some mild rapids and moderately rocky areas. Paddling on the East Fork is not recommended when water levels are low. The…
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Fishing
There are many locations where you can access the forest’s lakes, flowages and the Black River for fishing. Primarily this access is provided by boat landings and fishing piers. A vehicle admission sticker is no longer required when parking in the…
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Biking
There are 27 miles of biking trails, 5 of which are located at the Pigeon Creek campground. This segment links to the remaining 22 miles of hiking, biking and ski trails. Bike trail surfaces vary and include sand, gravel and grass.Bikers will…
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Hiking
There are many opportunities for hiking in the forest. Nature trails with interpretive signs can be found at Pigeon Creek and Castle Mound campgrounds. There are also nature trails at the Perry Creek day use area and at the East Fork campground.…