Salem Ecology Club trip to Governor Dodge State Park Update

I visited Governor Dodge State Park this past Friday. Due to flooding, the trip out there and back was substantially longer. The visit to the park was still well worth it, however. After hiking some of the trails and looking at the different areas of the park, I have adjusted the tentative plan. This looks like could be the best Ecology Club trip yet! Look at the information below and let me know if you are planning to attend. As always, friends and family are welcome.

When: This Friday, June 20, 2008.

Tentative plan: Meet at Salem at 8:00am to car pool to the park. Arrive at Governor Dodge State Park at about 10:30am and stop at the park office for a restroom break. Go to Enee Point to park and hike the Pine Cliff Nature Trail. This is a 2 mile self guided interpretive nature trail that ends back at Enee Point. At the hike we will have a short picnic for lunch. You should pack your own food and drink for lunch. After lunch we will go the Cox Hollow Camp Ground and jump onto the Lost Canyon Trail. I was told we can connect to the trail somewhere between camp sites 74-76, just off of a gravel road. We will hike a 1.5 mile section of this 8.1 mile loop trail. This is the most exciting portion of the trail as it goes down into the Lost Canyon, and ends at Stephens Falls. We will regroup at the Stevens Falls Hiking Trail parking area, where we will be picked up. At this point we will go to the beach/picnic area at Cox Hollow Lake and set up base for the afternoon. There are many options as to what to do now. There is a very nice sand beach for swimming and relaxing. There is a concessions building with food, supplies, and Wisconsin identification booklets for sale. They also rent canoes and paddle boats at a rate of $20 for 4 hours and sell bait for fishing. The more ambitious can head off with an adult to hike another trail at the park. I will fire up the grill around 5pm. We will have hamburgers and hotdogs. Please bring a small dish or a dessert to pass around. I will provide a large cooler with ice for the food. Bring your own drinks or purchase them from concessions. We will depart from the park around 8pm.

Cost: $10/person not driving. A portion of this will go towards supper, with the rest of the money going to those driving to help with gas.

*Please email me (Dgrunewald@salem-wels.net) or call me (262-312-4180) as soon as you know if you can or can not go on this trip to help with planning it. Please call me if you have any questions.

Thank you!

Mr. Grunewald

Hiking Checklist for Governor Dodge State Park

Suggested:

*hat (deer flies were active in open areas)

*bug spray with deet –bugs were not bad, but that could change

*sun block

*shoes/boots that can get wet/muddy (don’t bring flip flops or sandals for hiking)

*hiking pack

*water canteen

*notepad/pencil for identification

*beverages for lunch supper

*simple dish to pass around at supper

Optional:

*change of clothes/towel for swimming

*fishing equipment

*walkie talkie (channel 4) note: my cell phone didn’t work anywhere in the park

*camera

*binoculars

*GPS

*money for concessions

*identification booklets