Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Current Conditions

Conditions as of Tuesday, December 9, 2008:

Annual vehicle admission stickers for 2009 are available now, and are valid from date of purchase through December 31, 2009.

Trails

Trails have about 6 inches of wet snow cover.

Cross-country Skiing

Trails are open for skiing but are not groomed. All trails south of Couhty Highway BB (including the blue and green trails south of Highway 142) are open to diagonal stride/classic skiing but are never groomed.

Wolf Lake is open for skate skiers.

Hiking

All trails south of Highway BB (including the blue and green trails south of Highway 142) are also open to hikers. No dogs are allowed on those trails when trails are snow covered. Hikers, please be courteous and stay off all ski tracks.

Snowshoeing

The trails north of Highway BB (parking lot A) are open for snowshoeing. Snowshoers also may be off trails in any area of the park.

Dog Walking

Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 8 feet at all times. When trails are snow-covered dogs are restricted to:

• Rhodes Road
• Trails north of Highway BB (near parking lot A)
• Service roads.

Snowmobiling

Snowmobilers must have admission stickers on their vehicles. They may park and unload snowmobiles in the ATV/Snowmobile unloading area near Shelter E. Snowmobiles are restricted to the connector trail that leads to the Kenosha county trail that runs east/west parallel to Highway 142, north/south along Highway 75 and east to County Highway X. Snowmobiles are not allowed on Wolf Lake or in any other area of the park.

Snowmobile trails are still closed in Kenosha County. For Kenosha County trail conditions call Arlyn Baumgarden, (262) 671-4944. The Racine County automated snow line for trail conditions is (262) 554-0133.

Wisconsin Snow Conditions [exit DNR]

Non-resident snowmobiles must have snowmobile trail passes.

Nature

Juncos [exit DNR], . tree sparrows, shrikes [exit DNR], rough-legged hawks [exit DNR], short-eared owls [exit DNR], and harriers [exit DNR] have arrived for the winter. All water bodies are frozen.

Camping

The 200 loop of Sunrise Campground will remain open until December 14. Sites 140-150 will be available for non-electric camping. Sunset campground, the 1-30 and 100 loop of Sunrise Campground, and the accessible cabin are all closed for the season. There will be no camping at Richard Bong State Recreation Area from December 15 to March 6.

All flush toilets and shower houses are closed. The dump station is closed for filling or rinsing, but you may still dump.

Firewood is no longer sold on property. You may ask for maps to local vendors when you arrive.

We are taking applications for 2009 campground hosts.

Hunting

Hunters may not use rifles or pistols at Richard Bong

Seasons open at Richard Bong

• Archery Deer—open December1 to January 4
• Squirrel—closes January 31
• Goose—closes December 18
• Pheasant—closes December 31
• Rabbit—closes February 28
• Late antlerless deer hunt—December 1-14

Pheasant and other small game hunters please be aware that during any of the gun deer seasons you will need at least 50 percent blaze orange to hunt. The last day for pheasant stocking will be December 10 for Thursday, December 11.

Please see hunting regulations and maps. Please check park regulations for opening and closing times.

Pheasant stocking will continue until about December 10. After stocking stops, hunting hours stay the same but armband cost will be $1.

During pheasant season (through December 31), dog trainers may not enter the park until 3 p.m. to train. All-terrain vehicle and dirt bike riders may not enter until 2 p.m. on days the trails are open.

It is your personal decision whether to use the park during hunting season. There has never been an injury of a non-hunter in the park due to hunting. No rifles or handguns are allowed for hunting, only shotguns. This lowers the chance of injury. However, if you are still uncomfortable you have several options. Wearing blaze orange will make you more visible. You may ride or hike before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. Portions of the horse trail and the hiking trail on the eastern end of the park are in the “No Hunting” area.

Other Conditions

Parking Lots A & E are open but are not plowed.Parking Lot A will not be plowed this winter.

Fishing is not available as the ice is not thick enough. Ice shanties are allowed on Wolf Lake and may be left on the lake with proper identification.

Fishing Regulations

No vehicles, snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are allowed on Wolf Lake or any other body of water in the park.

The Vista Picnic Area is closed for the season.

The beach house is closed.

Be sure to check out the events pages for all the great programs offered this fall!

Weather [exit DNR]

Please call Richard Bong State Recreation Area, (262) 878-5600, for daily updates of open/closed trails and other information.