County Forest Recreation

Rusk County Forest Parks include pavilions that may be rented by the day for events. Reservations may be made online. 
The parks are open from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily. Picnic tables, electricity, and barbeque grills are available on site for park users.
The Pavilions are a perfect location for receptions, graduation parties, proms, birthday parties, reunions, etc.   

Chippewa Block (W10990 Dodson Rd, Ladysmith, WI 54848)
Nestled between the Chippewa and Thornapple Rivers in the Town of Thornapple, this sprawling 441-acre County Forest block offers a diverse mix of outdoor recreation. Since its development in 2019, the property's disc golf course has grown into a premier destination, drawing enthusiasts from across the state. In addition to disc golf, the forest provides excellent opportunities for hiking, hunting, and horseback riding.

Community Park (N Park Rd, Tony, WI 54563)
Situated two miles northeast of Ladysmith on the scenic Dairyland Flowage, Community Park sits right at the end of County Park Road. The park is fully equipped for a day on the water, featuring a double-ramp boat landing and four fishing piers that offer exceptional shoreline angling. Visitors can also enjoy walking trails, picnic tables, grills, and a pavilion complete with electricity and lighting.

Murphy Flowage Recreation Area (N7905 County F, Birchwood, WI 54817)
Located in the northwestern portion of the county just outside Birchwood, this recreation area features a beautiful log pavilion handcrafted from timber harvested right from the County Forest. The park grounds include picnic tables, grills, and a playground and direct access to the Ice Age Trail system. Across the road, visitors will find the Murphy Flowage campground and boat landing.  

Perch Lake and Audie Flowage Recreation Area (W14620 Perch Lake Rd, Bruce, WI 54819)

Located side-by-side in the heart of the Blue Hills, these neighboring recreation areas both offer campgrounds equipped with pavilions and boat landings for excellent fishing. However, they cater to different styles of camping: the Perch Lake campground welcomes ATV riders with direct trail access, while the Audie Lake campground prohibits ATVs to preserve a peaceful, quiet environment. Audie Lake also includes a playground for families.

Josie Creek Park (N6358 Josie Creek Rd. Tony WI 54563)

Located east of Ladysmith just outside of Tony, on the Dairyland Flowage, Josie Creek Park offers a fantastic mix of outdoor activities for the whole family. Visitors can enjoy the campground, a double-ramp boat landing, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a pavilion. The park's main highlight is Josie Creek itself, which runs the length of the property and serves as a classic, favorite spot for kids to splash and hunt for crayfish. Additionally, the nearby Josie Creek shooting range is open and completely free to the public. Whether you are looking to camp, fish, explore the creek, or spend time at the range, Josie Creek Park has something for everyone.

 Rusk County welcomes hunters to the County Forest. We ask that hunters respect the land and all neighboring property owners. 

Josie Creek Rifle Range - 50, 100, and 600 yard ranges complete with covered shelters and shooting benches. Parking area available for the range. Any targets used need to be cleaned up and disposed of. Trash receptacle is available at the range. Range is open to for public use. See calendar for closure dates. Range is open from 9am - 6pm. 

Josie Creek Archery Range - Maintained by the "Josie Creek Archers". Membership is available by contacting the Club directly. Non-member suggested fees are $10 for anyone 18 and over and $5 for those under 18 years of age. 

 Hunter Walking Trails (HWT)  - Designated maintained trails within the County Forest lands for ease of access to hunters. Hunter walking trails are designed to promote safe hunting access and practices within the County Forest with access to fishing, hunting, trapping, and wildlife viewing. Maps are available at the local Forestry Office and GPS linked maps are available for download below. 

 Rusk County's Ruffed Grouse Management Area (GMA) is located near Lea Lake in the North Central area of the county. Maps and additional locations within the state are located at the Wisconsin County Forest Website and available for download below. 

Here are some guidelines to remember while hunting in the County Forest: 

• Authorized motor vehicles only on the county forest roads 
• You must carry in any tree stands, ground blinds, or supplies - Permanent stands and blinds are not allowed (Code 1987, § 16.02(27)A; Ord. No. 87-51Sec. 34-165)
• Please do not block gates as these are access points for emergency purposes
• Cutting of trees for shooting lanes is prohibited
• It is your responsibility to know and abide by the law, both State and County

The forestry roads make for excellent hunting trails. Some of the trails are old logging trails and may have been seeded appropriately to provide a food source for wildlife. These roads are great for hiking, biking, horseback riding, hunting, or other outdoor activities. Please be respectful of the trails and other users.