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Wisconsin
12

Wisconsin State Parks

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USA Parks
Wisconsin
East Wisconsin Waters Region
Point Beach State Forest
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Point Beach State Forest © Justin Olson
Point Beach State Forest © Justin Olson
Point Beach State Forest © Justin Olson
Point Beach State Forest © Justin Olson
Point Beach State Forest © Justin Olson
Point Beach State Forest © Scott A. Watson
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POINT BEACH STATE FOREST
POINT BEACH STATE FOREST
9400 County Highway O
Two Rivers, Wisconsin   54241
(lat:44.2022 lon:-87.5187) map location

Phone: 920-794-7480
Reservations: 888-947-2757
Email: park email button icon
Point Beach offers 6 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, with dunes, a lighthouse, camping, and hiking, biking, skiing, nature, and snowmobile trails. Follow links in the left column for details.

To get to Point Beach from Two Rivers, the nearest community, take County Highway O north about 4 miles; the entrance road will be on your right. From the north on Wisconsin Highway 42, take Manitowoc County Highway V east to County Highway O and go south about 2 miles; the entrance road will be on your left.

The forest is open year round. Day use areas are open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Vehicle admission stickers are required. Hourly, daily, and annual stickers are available at the entrance station.
History of the Area
1. Native American Presence: The forest's history dates back thousands of years when Native American tribes, primarily the Potawatomi, inhabited the area. They utilized the land for hunting, fishing, and gathering resources.

2. European Settlement: Europeans began arriving in the area in the early 19th century. The first permanent settlement was established in 1839 by Jeddiah Higgins. The settlers utilized the vast forests for timber, which was used for construction and fuel.

3. Lighthouse and Navigation: In 1847, the Point Beach Lighthouse was built to guide ships through the treacherous waters of Lake Michigan. The presence of the lighthouse facilitated maritime transportation and allowed for the growth of nearby settlements and industries.

4. Industrial Era: During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the forests were heavily logged by timber companies to support the booming lumber industry. The area also saw the establishment of sawmills, brick kilns, and other industries driven by the abundant natural resources.

5. State Forest Establishment: In 1938, the State of Wisconsin acquired land along Lake Michigan to establish Point Beach State Forest. The primary objective was to protect the unique coastal ecosystem, sand dunes, forests, and wildlife in the area. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) played a significant role in developing the park's infrastructure during the Great Depression.

6. Recreation and Conservation: Over the years, Point Beach State Forest has become a popular recreational area for locals and visitors alike. The forest offers various amenities and activities, including camping, hiking, picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing, and wildlife observation. Efforts have been made to conserve and restore the natural habitats, including the globally significant Great Lakes dune ecosystems found there.
Passes
A Wisconsin State Park System vehicle admission sticker is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas, please visit the VEHICLE ADMISSION STICKERS web page.
FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
Day-UseHiking Trailyes
 Swimming Beachyes
CampingPrimitiveyes
 Electric Sitesyes
WinterActivitiesyes
Camping
Family Campground

The family campground consists of 127 sites, 70 of them with electricity see campground map, PDF, 271KB. All of the sites are within walking distance of Lake Michigan, where you can enjoy more than five plus of undeveloped shoreline. Because of the high sand dunes, none of the sites offer a view of the lake. All sites are wooded. Each has a fire ring and picnic table. A flush toilet and shower building is across from site 31.

Reservations

Point Beach campsites generally fill up on weekends from Memorial Day through the end of October. Weekdays in July and August are also busy, and reservations are recommended. Sites are reserved on a first-served basis. You can make reservations 48 hours to 11 months before the date of your arrival. Call toll free to 888 947-2757 or make reservations online.

Winter Camping

Point Beach campground is open year round. The campground entrance road is plowed to the shelter building. Sites 74 through 81 have electricity. Enjoy the solitude of the season. You can cross-country ski right from your campsite to the groomed trails. Water is available at the forest office or at the shop building. The shower building is shut down in mid to late October.

Camping Fees

The nightly camping fee depends on when you camp, whether or not you're a Wisconsin resident, and whether or not you have an electrical hookup. In addition, there's a reservation fee.

Services

Firewood Inquire at the forest office. Firewood is sold per bundle.

Concession A private concession is available for some grocery items, camp supplies, ice, food and refreshments. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sanitary Dump Station Available to registered campers. Located across the main entrance to the campground.

Garbage and Recycling Located near the dump station. Please separate tin cans, aluminum, paper and 2 plastics and place in appropriate containers.

Pets

Pets are allowed at Point Beach however, we ask pet owners to strictly follow regulations and policy. Please ask for a copy of Pet Rules and Regulations publication when arriving with a pet.

Pets must be on a leash 8 feet or shorter, and must be kept under control by the owner. This includes controlling barking.

Pets are not allowed in any picnic area, building, shelter, playground or on the Swales Nature Trail. The only exception is a leader dog for a blind, deaf or mobility impaired person.

We ask for strict adherence to all pet regulations in order to enhance the visit of all quests and to ensure the safety for both people and pets.

Point beach provides an area south of the lighthouse where pets are allowed on the Lake Michigan Shoreline. For more information contact the forest office.

Indoor Group Camp

The indoor group camp is near Lake Michigan about 1.7 miles south of the forest entrance station. Its two buildings have sleeping accommodations for 30 people.

Outdoor Group Camp

Point Beach has an outdoor group camp that accommodates as many as 60 people and is designed for tents and small trailers up to 20 feet in length. Large motor homes and fifth wheel units will not fit in the group camp area and should use the family campground. Group camp accommodations include hand pump for water, pit toilets, picnic tables and a large fire ring.
Nearby Vacation Rentals
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Swimming
Lifeguards are not provided.

Lake Michigan can produce dangerous rip currents. These outward currents are most serious when large waves are present. When there are large waves, use extreme caution. Don't go in water more than waist deep. If caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore until you're out of the current, or if you can't do that, float calmly until the current dissipates. Rip currents seldom are more than 30 feet wide.

Users of small watercraft or flotation devices should be aware of wind conditions. Strong west winds can blow you away from the shoreline. Parents, watch your children at all times in the water. Rubber and plastic rafts, inner tubes, and other boats require personal flotation devices.


Location
Point Beach State Forest is located near Manitowoc, Two Rivers

Trails
Point Beach's trails give you healthful exercise while providing access to the forest's scenic locations and interesting natural features. There are 11 miles of hiking and ski trails, 4 miles of surfaced biking trail, 4 miles of mountain bike trail, and 3 miles of snowmobile trail.

All forest roads also are open to bicycle use, but use extreme caution because they are heavily traveled by cars, campers, and trailers. Please follow one-way signs.
Nature Programs
Summer programs are scheduled at the Nature Center in the Lodge Building and listed on the statewide events page.

You'll find plenty of interesting plants and animals to observe in the forest. Except for hunting during established seasons, all animals and plants are protected. Please don't destroy the plants; leave them for others to enjoy.

Litter can spoil someone else's visit, so don't leave any of it.
Area Attractions
A major feature of Point Beach is Rawley Point and the lighthouse operated by the US Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has operated a lighthouse here since 1853.

The first lighthouse was a brick tower and home that served mariners until 1894, when a new steel tower was installed.

The light is atop this steel tower which rises 113 feet above the lake surface and is one of the largest and brightest on the Great Lakes. It is visible up to 19 miles away and operates from one half hour before sunset until one half hour after sunrise.

The old brick light tower was cut down, roofed, and became a part of the keeper's house. These structures, framed by evergreens and a blue sky, have become a scenic attraction in Wisconsin.

Before the new lighthouse was built, 26 ships foundered or stranded on the point. They included 20 schooners, a barge, two steamers, and three brigs. The most tragic sinking in the point's unpleasant history occurred in 1887, when the steamship Vernon went down in heavy seas. One of the largest, steamers on the lakes at the time, the Vernon took 36 crew members and passengers to their deaths. The sinking remains a mystery.

Since the lighthouse went into operation, however, the tragedies have come to an end.

The lighthouse may be viewed and photographed from the beach. Tours normally are not available, but the lighthouse was open to visitors on open house day in 2002, when they could photograph the decorative railing close up and a canopy on the lawn far below.

Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
August 24 stellar park!
park review stars; one to five love the mountain bike trail
May 31 Since I Was Little
park review stars; one to five I have been going to Point Beach as long I can remember. Now I am so exited to start bringing my own family here!
May 19
park review stars; one to five
write a review read more reviews
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Directions
From Milwaukee, take I-43 North towards Green Bay.
Exit at 137 for WI-42 toward Two Rivers/Manitowoc.
Turn left onto Waldo Blvd/WI-42 N.
Continue to follow WI-42 N until you reach Point Beach State Forest.

If coming from Chicago:
Take the Interstate 94 W ramp and merge with traffic.
Follow signs for Wisconsin/Iowa then continue on I-894 W/U.S Hwy41N
Merge into I43-N via exit number1B-A towards GreenBay/Fond du Lac
Then proceed as above starting from Exit 137

For those traveling from Minneapolis:
Start by getting on MN55-W/Hwy12-E in Plymouth heading eastward out of city center area,
Next get onto US10E which turns slightly right and becomes Wi29 E; keep following this route till it merges with i43S,
Once merged, look out for exit165-US141N that goes through Abrams before turning into County Rd VV East (follow signages),
Finally turn right unto county road R South leading directly up to your destination -Point beach state forest

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Wisconsin
12

Wisconsin State Parks

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