Plenty of parking and assortment of trails for all ages. Paths are very well kept. Beautiful environment with plenty of lake views from the higher elevation trails. Love my Wisconsin state parks. read more

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This is one of my favorite state parks. I came here as a kid with my family to picnic and swim at the beach. It still has a nice beach with tables and grills and even a Pavillion. We hike the many trails that run through the park, one of which has a good view of the limestone escarpment that High Cliff is named for. The observation tower offers a panoramic view of Lake Winnebago. We come here enough that it is worth getting a season park pass. read more

High Cliff State Park - Lake view from the observation tower. - Parks Near Me - Sherwood, Wisconsin

We would not have stopped here if it were not to find some geocaches in this park. We were glad we took the detour on our way to Door County. The park is not big but there are some nice hiking trails, a tower to climb for a great view of the lake, some interesting geological features and history. There is also a nice beach, a marina and a campground. So a lot is packed into this compact state park. read more

Had such an enjoyable camping trip at High Cliff! My family and I spent four days/three nights here and it was a great success. With eight adults and three kids, there were plenty of us to accommodate. Luckily they have the option of double campsites, so we were able to put three large tents and a camper on one. It came equipped with two large picnic tables, two fire pits, and an area across the road for overflow parking (definitely needed, as we had four cars). All of the sites are completely surrounded by woods and greenery, with pathways for walking and biking that wrap around. If you're into hiking, there are more robust trails that wind down the cliffs. Don't let the cliff name fool you though, because despite being on the edge of the huge lake, it's almost impossible to see the water, which is a bummer. You can access it from various points, including the park where you can swim, but for the most part on walks and from camp sites you can't see out. We went searching between the thick tree to see the sunset shining through, but failed to get the view. The grounds are generally well-kept, and the bathrooms/shower-houses are about what you can expect of any campground; not somewhere you want to go inside but still relatively clean. If you're in need of extra camp supplies or ice, you'll find what you need at the little Harbor House bait shop at the marina. All in all, this is a great park to camp and explore! We do a big camp trip annually, and would certainly consider returning here. read more

High Cliff State Park is simply awesome! I'm all for a good hike and High Cliff's zig-zag of various trails is about as good as it gets! We came here for a COVID hike and made our jaunt up this way on an early morning to beat the rush. We started from the bottom area of the Lime Kiln trail and wound up routing around to the top horse trails making our circle trek to 7.5 miles worth of hiking. Lake Winnebago is a sight to see and at High Cliff you get to enjoy the view like no other. Being its early spring, you could see off on the lake for a ways. When you aren't down low at the edge of the lake you can make your way upwards for some fantastic views of the rock formations all the way up top to enjoy some less rocky and more grassy hiking. Either way this place is a blast and the ability to make your hike as long or short as you'd like makes for a fun time! I'm all about a good hike and would come back to High Cliff anytime. Our dog enjoyed the adventures too! Pictures do not do this place justice! Just make sure you wear solid boots as this is a moderate hike meaning if your on the Lime Kiln trail you will encounter mud, rocks and steep inclines to traverse! read more

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My family and I have shared so many sweet memories here. My in-laws live just a hop, skip and a jump down the road so High Cliff is a frequent destination when we need some fresh air. Whether down by the water or up on the lookout tower, it's an absolute beauty of a park. I'm not clear on the rules/ins and outs but I've seen plenty of people rent out the clubhouse building for celebrations, which seems like a great idea! read more

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Visited with my parents in early July. Nice trails for walking around and hiking! But if you're looking for very scenic/unique places and are on a time crunch, this might not be worth your time. The people at the front desk were not very helpful- we asked for a map, and then when we asked for trails they would recommend, they waved us off and pointed to the brochure. We ended up hiking the butterfly trail and the limestone kiln trail. The end of the limestone kiln trail has the famous limestone rock that was pretty cool. read more

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Love this place! Great to have hikes and just enjoy nature! Theres a park at the top so you can bring children to have fun too!

Twenty years ago my family and I lived in Menasha and also Neenah. High Cliff was a fun place to go then for hiking, biking and boating. We ended up here on a business trip and stayed in our trailer at the campground for a week. Let me just say this place is still awesome! The grounds are maintained really well. The bathrooms and campsites are clean and the hiking trails are for all different levels and really fun to explore. The campground hosts are great and the rangers are very friendly and happy to help with questions. Beware- about a third of the camp sites have power and none have water. There is a potable water and dump station right before you come in to the actual campground so be sure you set yourself up before you go in and get settled. All the sites seem to be level and none look like a bad place to stay the night. Highly recommend! read more

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High Cliff State Park also has access for paddlers. Park your car at the boat launch lot (turning right after the entrance) and find a spot that's close to the Pet Picnic Area. You can see the beach-like area here in the photo. That's where you launch your kayaks or canoes. You can hike before or after padding. There are seven trails for different hikers. Camping is also available. There are family and group camp sites for reservations or walk-ins (not recommended as you may not have a site available). Pets are allowed on campgounds and trails. They need to be on leash on campgounds and trails and can't be left alone on campsites. Do't forget to treat yourself some ice cream outside the park at Chubby Seagull! read more

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High Cliff is one of my favorite quick getaways when I just need to be in another space and time. It's a short drive from Appleton and you will see some beautiful countryside along the way. Gorgeous landscape, abundant walking trails, and historical landmarks are just a few of the things High Cliff offers. I typically visit the lime kiln ruins when I go; there is spot right next to the runoff where you can sit and look out over the whole valley. It's very peaceful. read more

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Awesome place to hike even for little kids. They have easy trails and off a map at the entrance. They also have off path trails for a little harder hiking but again not even to hard for younger kids. The views are amazing and dogs are welcome on leash. Camping would be amazing too!! read more

High Cliff State Park - The quarry - Parks Near Me - Sherwood, Wisconsin

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I first visited High Cliff State Park via boat as a child. I recently entered by land, versus sea, and camped for a long holiday weekend and was impressed at the versatility and beauty of this state park. High Cliff was one of the few Wisconsin state parks with availability of Independence Day weekend. Making a reservation through ReserveAmerica.com/Wisconsin DNR was a breeze and camping was a go. The park in located approximately 90 minutes north of Milwaukee on the north end of Lake Winnebago. It lives up to its name with high limestone cliffs which were once inhabited by the Winnebago tribe. The park even erected a statue to their leader, Chief Red Bird. There is a trail for his namesake as well as signage detailing the history and importance of the location to their people. Indian Mound Trail also points out several effigy mounds used to honor their deceased and remains. The park also features remains of Limestone Kilns and a General Store/Museum with various artifacts, including the old post office boxes - still in working order. The drive was quiet and beautiful and the ranger was helpful at check-in. The tent site was clean, level and shaded as promised. There was a picnic table and fire ring for use during the stay. Nearby was a restroom with plenty of hot water for showers and flush toilets. There were benches and mirrors to keep items off the floor and added comfort. The "neighbors" were also very friendly and respectful and the night wildlife stuck to the woods, less a few footprints exploring the bumper of the car. Always be mindful to leave trash and food locked up in the evenings to avoid furry campground bandits from helping themselves. For recreation, the park had a variety of hiking trails (easy to challenging), family and mountain biking trails and even a bridle trail/camp for those with horses. Walkers and bikers using the bridle trail - please yield to horses! This means, when you see one, pull over and stop until they pass. Your presence and especially biking nearby can scare horses and create a dangerous situation for everyone. Please be careful and courteous so everyone can enjoy the beautiful trails. There is also a marina and beach area. I only biked past these areas but visited as a child. Boat slips are available as well as launch space for small watercraft, kayaks and towable boats. The beach is located next to a grassy hill and very popular on warm, summer days. If stopping on the end of the park, take a moment to check out the purple martin colony near the trail. It is fun to listen to them communicate and jet in and out for food. Wisconsin has many wonderful state parks with clean and quiet campground. I think High Cliff is an exceptional example. Whether stopping for an hour, and afternoon or an extended camp, High Cliff is worth a visit. Other items of note: To avoid transporting harmful insects in your firewood, consider purchasing wood from the ranger station. It is $7.00 a bundle but it is a HUGE bundle of hardwood and will burn much longer than less expensive bundles of pine you may find at the local gas stations or houses. It is more of an up front investment but much more cost effective overall. read more

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This is one of the best State parks in Wisconsin with it's beautiful scenery and many trails. The campgrounds are nice and the price is right. They do have electric and non electric sites. read more

High Cliff State Park - Lime Kiln Trail - Parks Near Me - Sherwood, Wisconsin

High Cliff is the most versatile place ever! There are funky backdrops, natural tree covers, and sweeping views of the lake! Honestly you couldn't ask for anything better when it comes to this beautiful park! read more

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Always love coming here to get away from it all. Climbing the tower and looking out over Winnegago is very calming. Great hiking trails and next time will bring my mountain bike. Camping sites available for reservations and need to pay for parking pass. read more

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Okay guys let me tell you about this place. Magical Magical Magical! There's woods (like the real deal) like Blair witch style woods but I wasn't scared. Okay maybe a little lol. There's an incredible view of Lake Winnebago from the top of the cliff. Great for pictures or just a place to get your zen on. Camping in the woods is coming next on my list of things to do here. While I was walking through the woods I saw family's sitting around enjoying fire pits surrounded by their tents or small pop up trailers. Totally covered in shade from the tall wooded area. When you drive back down through the park their is lake front picnic areas, boat launching and a restaurant. Bathrooms with showers, because there is a swimming area as well (lake swimming). We bought a year pass for only $20! I'm so excited to go back. read more

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High Cliff holds a spot in my nostalgic little heart. I spent many summer days and nights here growing up. As well, of course, as on school field trips. You can swim in the lake. You'll be covered in algae as soon as you set foot in the water as it is a shallow lake. But it'll cool you off on a hot day. You can camp and hike and cook out. We had annual bonfires with a group of friends. At least once a year I attended a cook out for a group event. Explore the effigy mounds, the bedrock, and see the old lime kiln. read more

Very beautiful! Very safe! Very peaceful! There could be a thousand people up in the park and you wouldn't even know it is always very enjoyable read more

This review is in reference to the campground. 1st of all, the camping was a little high at $40 a night. The issue I have is having to pay $11 DAILY to enter the park (Yes, we are out of state). This made it $51 a night to camp. 2nd, since we are paying $51 a night to camp, I would expect to at least have clean bathrooms! There is one shower house for 112 camping sites (there WERE several out houses). The first 2 days the bathrooms were not cleaned AT ALL, even though there is a sign on the outside of the door that says closed daily from 12:30-2. I was never here from those times to confirm whether they were closed or not. On the third day, the garbages were emptied and that is all that appeared to be cleaned. The showers WERE never cleaned and they were DISGUSTING!! There were smashed bugs all over the walls, hair and dirt all over the ground, AND the water drained so slowly that I had to stand spread eagle to keep my feet out of the nasty puddle! I camp several weeks out of the year all over the country. I am not a princess who expects perfect bathrooms, BUT I do expect that when I camp for $50 a night at a state campground that has one shower house for 112 sites and a camp host on site...the bathrooms should be cleaned DAILY!!! read more

This park is gorgeous. The natural rock formations and the views of the water are top notch. The paths are mostly paved and easy to maneuver if you have kids or are disabled. I would say if you are a hiking beginner this place is perfect for you. The lack of a star is due to the traffic at this park it is always busy even on the cloudy/windy days. Paths closure to the water may become extremely muddy as well. read more

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Stunning state park, incredible trails and breathtaking views. The tower on the upper level of the park allows for a view that is hard to describe in its beauty. The marina is well kept and a great spot for taking pictures of sunsets over the lake like you've never seen. The trails on the lower or upper are equally great. The restaurant is sad and a shadow of what is was so many years ago. I only mention it because it is named High Cliff, not to be confused with this nice park. The water quality is always iffy in Lake Winnebago and while I've read a few complaints about it I don't think you tie that to the state park which has nothing to do with the problem. We come to High Cliff on every visit and will continue to do so on each trip back to Wisconsin. read more

Great park overall, very private and rural feeling for being so close to Appleton. Camped over Labor Day weekend and have a great time. Will be coming back again! read more

It's an interesting place with a little bit more emphasis on history than your typical state park, but if the wind is blowing over Lake Winnebago, watch out! The paper mills will stink this park up like raw sewage and bloated rotting animal. What I saw of the park was very cool. You can see the remnants of where people apparently used to drive vehicles off of the top of the cliffs. Unfortunately, during my visit we were downwind of the aforementioned paper mills. We considered toughing it out, but just a couple hundred feet down one of the hiking trails we had to cut things short. That excepted, this park is an okay time. I'd like to come back sometime and see a bit more of the park. Also, I managed to fall off a rock here. So that was pretty cool read more

I stopped by the High Cliff State Park to see a little scenery on a sunny day. I had to pay $10 for a day pass to get in. This may have been a little steep considering I only wanted to look around for an hour or two. There were plenty of areas to picnic under large trees and several families were doing just that. I mainly enjoyed the scenery as we looked out over the cliffs and walked along the path for a while. It was pretty hot out so I didn't go too far. But it was the mosquitos that finally convinced me to turn around. I finished my visit with a climb up the 40 ft wooden tower. More scenery and then I made my way out of the park. This was a nice park, but not necessarily my cup of tea. I might return if I was in the right mood. read more

Off the Beaten Path, Worth the Detour This park is beautiful in the fall. There are trails along the lake shore and along the cliffs, and there is a tower that allows for viewing of the northern half of Lake Winnebago. This is a great place to spend a morning or an afternoon. read more

Our first visit and we loved this park! Wooded, private campsites with nice facilities. Even the pit toilets were clean with multiple stalls and electric lights. Wonderful hiking trails with a lot of variety and great views. We even saw a wedding being set up at one of the overlooks. We also loved the history and the kiln ruins. Very interesting place! read more

Don't waste your time. As an avid camper, I've been to many of the State Parks in Wisconsin and this was by far the least friendly and worst equipped that I have ever visited. For starters the Beach was unusable... this is a HUGE deal breaker when camping in the hot summer months with children. Not only was the water the consistency of pea soup but had huge blobs of neon green gunk bobbing on the surface. We were told by locals that the water is dangerous, don't let our dogs swim because their have been reports of dogs coming out and starting to convulse from the toxins and die. However, the Park rangers told us that we "could" swim because the Ecoli levels were "low enough"... Really?! Complaint #2.... We booked a Group camp site & on the web site it stated that there is a playground and a volleball court adjacent to our group camp site. However, there we no such amenities present. This is rediculous. Then on an early morning hike we approached the bathroom building to find it locked.... why? I have no idea. Yes, they have some great trees and picnic tables but that is about all. The unfriendly Park Rangers are a joke.... If you would like to feel like you are being harrased at every turn.... head over to High Cliff... If you would like a REAL ENJOYABLE camping experience.... I would recommend camping else where. read more

Lovely state park with lots of picnic tables, grills, a tower you can climb, and some views out over Lake Winnebago and the surrounding area. Don't miss the Niagara escarpment and the old quarry site if you like geology and the big statue of a Winnebago chief if you like local history. read more

We chose the upper pavilion at high cliff as our wedding ceremony and reception location and we couldn't have been happier with that decision. This was the perfect location for a casual brunch wedding complete with a huge fire and yard games. read more

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As a child, this was a favored destination. As a grown up, I peal back the years on every visit. This is the place to find those hard to find widlflowers in the spring. There is an organized Friend's efforts to rid the park of Garlic Mustard, worth any time you can throw at it. I am especially fond of the sunset vista over Lake Winnebago from upper Park, close to Chief Red WIng. The trees slope down to meet the water line, so it appears. The former quarry is a micro niche of ecotypes, so I just look at it. From here heading south is Stockbridge and it's SNA The Ledge, containing similar plant types as at High Cliff. A place to clear the mind. read more

Visited this park over the weekend and I loved it. Not a beach-y park, but lots of stuff to do. Great low impact trails and some great rock formations. We had site 88 it was right on the Red Bird trail, which is a great way to see the aptly named high cliff. Lots of pit toilets, less flush toilets than this girl would like to see. Camp sites close to them reserve fast. Adorable tower for walking up with great views of Lake Winnebego! Lots of raccoons...Lock up your snacks y'all. Very well maintained park and the old timey general store and nature center was icing on the cake. I'd go back for sure! read more

Nice size campsites, the bathrooms are clean. Lots of racoons! To many people for my liking. But, an all around nice campground.

Nice green and shady place. The cliffs are really cool to walk by and look down. Trails clearly marked and easy to follow. At the tower you can get a 360 view of the park. read more

Hiking trails are nice! If you go on the beach watch out for sharp rocks, a little trash, ect.