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.
MILWAUKEE – The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of southeast Wisconsin late Friday night. It remains in effect until 5 a.m. on Saturday, May 16.
The watch covers Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, Walworth and Waukesha counties. Storms could produce gusty wind and hail.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
FOX6 Weather Extras
Local perspective:
Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:
FOX6 Storm Center app
FOX LOCAL Mobile app
FOX Weather app
FOX Weather
Maps and radar
We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.
School and business closings
When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.
FOX6 Weather Experts in social media
The Source: Information in this report is from the FOX6 Weather Experts and National Weather Service.
Add CBS Sports to the growing list national outlets that are decidedly low on Wisconsin football heading into the 2026 season.
In the website’s updated full 1-through-138 offseason rankings, the Badgers check in at a dismal 61st nationally and 15th in the Big Ten.
Here’s how the outlet ranks the entire Big Ten:
|
Program |
National Rank |
|---|---|
|
Ohio State |
No. 1 |
|
Oregon |
No. 3 |
|
Indiana |
No. 6 |
|
USC |
No. 14 |
|
Michigan |
No. 16 |
|
Penn State |
No. 18 |
|
Washington |
No. 19 |
|
Iowa |
No. 23 |
|
Illinois |
No. 28 |
|
Nebraska |
No. 35 |
|
Minnesota |
No. 40 |
|
Northwestern |
No. 48 |
|
UCLA |
No. 49 |
|
Maryland |
No. 51 |
|
Wisconsin |
No. 61 |
|
Rutgers |
No. 64 |
|
Michigan State |
No. 66 |
|
Purdue |
No. 99 |
Yes, Wisconsin is coming off its worst season since the early 1990s. Yes, the Badgers are running it back with head coach Luke Fickell, who has a losing record through three seasons in Madison.
But whenever the national media has ranked the Badgers this offseason, it feels like they’re ranking their 2025 squad in the context of the upcoming campaign. It may not seem like it to an outsider (or, ahem, the national media), but a lot has changed in Madison since the worst football season in over 30 years.
Wisconsin is lower than who??
Again, I understand why the Badgers are ranked low on this list. They haven’t inspired any sort of confidence in at least two seasons. But some of the teams ranked above them are…extremely questionable.
Maryland man-handled Wisconsin in Camp Randall Stadium last fall, but the Terps proceeded to go 1-8 in Big Ten play. Folks are high on their offense with sophomore quarterback Malik Washington, but placing the Terps a full 10 spots ahead of Wisconsin seems a little excessive.
How about UCLA? The Bruins went 3-9 last fall. Sure, they’ve vastly upgraded their coaching staff and flipped almost half their team, but that means their entire roster is essentially projection.
What about Northwestern? Sure, the Wildcats won seven games last season, but how excited are we about new quarterback Aidan Chiles, who’s struggled through three combined years at Oregon State and Michigan State?
How about some of the non-Big Ten teams ranked higher than Wisconsin? The UTSA Roadrunners are ranked above the Badgers. Though it’s only by two spots, that in particular might be the biggest slap in the face.
Even a team like Virginia Tech, ranked No. 37 (24 spots higher than the Badgers) is puzzling. Sure, there’s signs of life under new head coach James Franklin, but the Hokies went 3-9 last fall.
Wisconsin’s offseason remains slept on
What rankings like these, especially the teams ranked higher than Wisconsin tell us, is that the national media is still sleeping on the Badgers’ offseason. Clearly, other programs (like Virginia Tech coming off a 3-9 campaign) were thought to have improved drastically. Wisconsin, on the other hand? Not so much.
The Badgers didn’t have the flashiest transfer portal haul, but they did address every position of need and sign a handful of plug-and-play starers at key spots. Every position on offense appears to be deeper and more talented after a dismal 2025, while the same looks true on defense except potentially at defensive line and outside linebacker.
Yes, Wisconsin was terrible last year. Everybody knows that. But the national media remains skeptical the Badgers did much to change that this offseason, which, in my eyes, is a grave miscalculaiton.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
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 May 14, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 14 drawing
Midday: 7-0-9
Evening: 0-3-9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 14 drawing
Midday: 6-9-2-4
Evening: 2-4-2-6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from May 14 drawing
Midday: 01-03-06-07-08-11-12-14-15-16-18
Evening: 02-04-05-07-11-12-15-16-19-21-22
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Badger 5 numbers from May 14 drawing
01-14-24-25-28
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from May 14 drawing
04-10-18-26-33-36, 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.
-
Pennsylvania22 seconds agoBreakfast for dinner is on the menu at these Western Pennsylvania eateries
-
Rhode Island6 minutes agoWhat’s the most expensive property sold in RI? May 16 real estate transactions
-
South-Carolina12 minutes agoSouth Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for May 15, 2026
-
South Dakota18 minutes agoNebraska softball defeats South Dakota via comeback in NCAA Regional opener
-
Tennessee24 minutes agoMother of slain Tennessee deputy pushes for nationwide domestic violence registry
-
Texas30 minutes agoWinning numbers drawn in Friday’s Texas All or Nothing Night
-
Utah36 minutes agoOwl found stuck in a concrete mixer in Utah is on the mend and flying free
-
Vermont42 minutes ago
VT Lottery Mega Millions, Gimme 5 results for May 15, 2026