Wisconsin
National parks saw a record number of visitors in 2024. How many people visited in Wisconsin?
The Kakagon Sloughs, one of Wisconsin’s 18 National Natural Landmarks
The National Park Service’s Natural Landmarks Program preserves many of the nation’s diverse and unique biological and geological environments.
National parks reported a record-high number of nearly 332 million visitors last year, just as President Donald Trump’s mass purge of federal employees hits the agency, causing concern for an uncertain future.
According to new NPS data, 331.9 million recreation visitors traveled to the national parks last year. That’s an increase of 6.36 million recreation visits, or 2%, from 2023. The previous record was set in 2016 with slightly under 330 million visitors.
An internal memo directed at the National Park Service instructed employees to not publicize the visitor information, the New York Times reported, stating the agency would “not issue a press release or other proactive communications, including social media posts” on the visitor data.
The report comes as 1,000 National Park Service employees across the country were fired as part of the Trump administration’s layoffs of thousands of federal employees nationwide, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.
In Wisconsin, thousands of visitors explored national parks, lakeshores and trails across the state. Here’s a breakdown of the latest NPS visitor information in Wisconsin, and how the Trump administration federal layoffs could affect the agency.
How many people visited Wisconsin’s national parks in 2024?
Located in the northern tip of Wisconsin’s Bayfield Peninsula, Apostle Islands welcomed 253,703 visitors in 2024, according to the report. That’s up from the previous year with a recorded 247,167 visitors.
The Apostle Islands, one of the country’s three national lakeshores, faces an uncertain future due to staff layoffs, which could impact accessibility at the park. Local businesses and the $55.7 million economy tied to the park are anticipating a potential downturn due to potential layoffs.
The NPS data also reported that 29,711 people visited the Ice Age Trail in 2024, and 900,828 people visited Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, located in Wisconsin and Minnesota, last year.
The report did not show visitor data for the North Country Scenic Riverway.
Most visited national parks in the U.S. in 2024:
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee: 12.1 million
- Zion National Park in Utah: 4.9 million
- Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona: 4.9 million
- Yellowstone National Park in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming: 4.7 million
- Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado: 4.1 million
Where are the national parks in Wisconsin?
For more information you can visit nps.gov/state/wi.
Caitlin Looby contributed to this report.
Manuel Franco claims his $768 million Powerball jackpot
Manuel Franco, 24, of West Allis was revealed Tuesday as the winner of the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot.
Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 4, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 4 drawing
Midday: 5-6-7
Evening: 2-7-7
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 4 drawing
Midday: 1-4-4-0
Evening: 8-6-6-7
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from June 4 drawing
Midday: 02-04-05-06-09-11-14-16-18-20-21
Evening: 05-06-08-11-12-13-15-18-19-21-22
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Badger 5 numbers from June 4 drawing
07-10-14-15-22
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from June 4 drawing
10-13-15-32-33-37, Doubler: Y
Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
- Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
- Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
- Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.
Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?
No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.
When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
- Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
That lucky feeling: Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Feeling lucky? WI man wins $768 million Powerball jackpot **
WI Lottery history: Top 10 Powerball and Mega Million jackpots
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.
MADISON — Wisconsin’s top Senate Republican says another vote on the failed budget surplus deal is possible — but only if two more senators get on board.
Senate Leader Devin LeMahieu raised the possibility of revisiting the bipartisan package, which easily passed in the Assembly.
The deal included tax cuts, property tax relief, refund checks and more money for public education.
A bipartisan deal failed in the state Senate last month.
Watch: Wisconsin Senate leader leaves door open for another budget surplus vote
Sen. Lemahieu says budget surplus deal still possible
A recent Marquette poll showed 8 out of 10 voters wanted lawmakers to pass the deal. LeMahieu pointed to that support in a statement.
“If two more Senators decide to stand with the 80% of Wisconsinites who support this compromise, the Senate will meet to send the proposal to the governor.”
On Monday, TMJ4’S Chief Political Reporter Charles Benson asked Gov. Tony Evers whether the deal needed to change to get different results in the Senate.
“I don’t know how. The Republicans that were part of the deal had some really strong feelings about bringing money back to people so that they can pay their bills, and then of course I was on the other side concerned about education, and so I don’t know what adding or subtracting would make a difference,” Evers said.
The deal fell short by 2 votes in the Senate. Three Republicans voted no, and all 15 Senate Democrats voted no.
Milwaukee Democrat Chris Larson said there is no movement and nobody is changing their vote. Republican Chris Kapenga said the votes are not there, calling the issue “dead in the Senate.”
This story was reported on-air by Charles Benson and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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100-acre purchase boosts Devil’s Lake State Park size
The DNR purchased this L-shaped parcel of land adjacent to Devil’s Lake State Park for $350,000 from conservation nonprofit The Conservation Fund.
Fishing, hiking and the other skills we now call “outdoor activities” were essential parts of life for thousands of years in this area known as Wisconsin.
In recent times the activities have become recreational for most people.
That doesn’t make them unimportant. In fact, time spent outdoors is arguably more critical now than it’s ever been for physical and mental health.
Studies over recent decades have shown Americans adopting more sedentary lifestyles – spending less time connecting with nature and more time indoors on digital devices.
Wisconsin officials have seen it, too, in declining or flat participation in certain outdoor activities.
In an effort to spark interest in angling, in 1987 the Department of Natural Resources offered Wisconsin’s first Free Fishing Day. It allowed anyone, state resident or visitor, to fish without a license.
In 1994 it doubled in size to become Free Fishing Weekend, traditionally held on the first full weekend in June, according to state records.
And in 2013 the concept was further expanded to Free Fun Weekend. In addition to free fishing, the two days included no entrance fee at state parks and no trail pass required for state trails.
That’s where we stand this year, as the DNR has continued to promote the free opportunities in roughly the same package.
In addition to their contributions to health and wellness, outdoor activities are a large part of the Wisconsin economy. In 2024, the outdoor industry contributed a record-breaking $12 billion to the state’s gross domestic product, supported more than 100,000 jobs and provided more than $5.7 billion in salary and wages to Wisconsinites, according to the state Office of Outdoor Recreation.
Here’s what to know about Free Fun Weekend in 2026:
When will the opportunities be offered this year?
Free Fun Weekend will be June 6 and 7, 2026.
Where are the free privileges offered on Free Fun Weekend?
Wisconsin has 50 state parks, 15 state forests, 44 state trails, 84,000 miles of rivers and streams and approximately 15,000 inland lakes, according to the DNR.
What does Free Fun Weekend mean at state parks?
The state park entry fee is waived for June 6 and 7. Often called a vehicle admission pass, it costs most Wisconsin residents $28 a year and is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas.
“If you’ve never checked out a Wisconsin state park before, Free Fun Weekend is the perfect opportunity to come visit for the first time,” Steve Schmelzer, DNR bureau director of parks and recreation management, said in a statement.
Schmelzer invited people to bring their friends and family to a state park or trail to enjoy time at a beach, have a picnic or go for a hike.
Here’s a link to the DNR’s guide to Wisconsin State Parks.
What does Free Fun Weekend mean for state trails?
Similar to the parks, the state trail pass fee is waived for June 6 and 7. A state trail pass ($25 annual fee) is typically required to hike, bike, ski, in-line skate or ride horses, as appropriate, on state trails.
In addition, ATVs, UTVs and OHMs (off-highway motorcycles) are exempt from registration requirements on Free Fun Weekend, according to the DNR. Resident and nonresident all-terrain vehicle operators do not need a trail pass to ride state ATV trails.
How about fishing?
People can fish Wisconsin waters June 6 and 7 without a license and without an inland or Great Lakes stamp, if appropriate.
Justine Hasz, DNR bureau director of fisheries management, said in a statement Free Fun Weekend was “a great chance to try fishing yourself, introduce a child or catch a fresh meal.”
Hasz also encouraged people who don’t have fishing gear to borrow it from one of many DNR tackle loaner sites in the state.
The DNR also offers the Wisconsin Fishing Finder for people looking for help finding a place to fish.
In addition, on June 6 free fishing clinics will be offered at seven sites, including Beaver Dam, New Berlin and Oshkosh.
One important note: All Wisconsin fishing regulations such as bag limits and size limits are still in effect on Free Fishing Weekend.
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