Wildcat Mountain State Park
Managed by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
1,175 acres7.7 mi of trail
Yellow TrailOrange TrailPurple TrailBlue Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
–Not graded
Outdoors in Forest
Few parks or trails are on the map in Forest
The biggest trail networks: Wildcat Mountain State Park (7.7 mi). 5% of Forest’s land is conserved, about 1,107 acres. 1,080 acres are parks and preserves, 1,473 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
5%
1,107 acres · of 35.9 sq mi of land
Trails
8.0 mi
0.2 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,080 ac
1,473 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
4%
of residents within ½ mile
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Wildcat Mountain State Park, with 7.7 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Kickapoo Valley Reserve
Managed by Kickapoo Valley Reserve Board
7 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Who protects it
1,107 conserved acres
5% of Forest’s land. Who manages Forest’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State natural resources1,106 ac
Private owners28 ac
State Park · 1,067 acRecreation or Education Easement · 39 acState Recreation Area · 28 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 11 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcat Mountain State Park State Park | State natural resources | 1,067 | Open |
| La Crosse Area Comprehensive Fishery Area State Recreation Area | Private owners | 28 | Open |
Things to do
2 places to go in Forest
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Scenic views in Forest
Billings Creek OverlookIn Wildcat Mountain State Park
DirectionsPlus 1 scenic view without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Trails & water
5 named trails
Named trails
Horses · 7.8 mi
Yellow Trail2.9 mi
Orange Trail1.7 mi
Purple Trail1.5 mi
Blue Trail0.9 mi
Rock Johnson Trail0.4 mi
History along the way
History →1 place on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service).
Harris, George and Mable, Round BarnBuilding · listed 2017
About itWhen to get out
The walking year in Forest
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.3 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.7 | 15.4 | 15.1 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 8.9 |
| High (°F) | 24 | 30 | 42 | 56 | 68 | 77 | 81 | 79 | 71 | 58 | 42 | 30 |
| Rain (in) | 1.2 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 1.5 |
February is the driest month (1.1 in) and July the warmest (highs of 81 °F). 5.3 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Forest →
Next door
Forest and its neighbors
Forest has the second most mapped trails of the 3 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Whitestown | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Union | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Forest
Where can I hike in Forest?
The longest trail networks: Wildcat Mountain State Park, 7.7 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Forest’s trails?
Wildcat Mountain State Park and Kickapoo Valley Reserve don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Forest?
4,777 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Forest or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,080 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Forest neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →