Park
Spillway Recreation Area park
Today high
--
Tonight low
--
Nearby campgrounds
--
Loading current conditions…
Loading next 24 hours…
Loading 7-day outlook…
Spillway Recreation Area
Wisconsin · Upper Mississippi-Meramec watershed
About this park
Spillway Recreation Area
The Spillway Recreation Area, located in the state of Wisconsin, offers visitors a plethora of reasons to explore its natural beauty and abundant recreational opportunities. Nestled in the heart of the state, this area is characterized by picturesque landscapes, diverse wildlife, and a rich history. Verified across multiple independent sources, here is a summary of why you should visit, highlights to see, interesting facts, and the best time of year to plan your visit:
1. Reasons to Visit:
- Natural Beauty: The Spillway Recreation Area is blessed with stunning natural beauty, including scenic forests, rolling hills, and picturesque lakes. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, and camping in this serene environment.
- Abundant Recreational Activities: The area offers a multitude of recreational activities for outdoor enthusiasts, including fishing, boating, kayaking, and swimming. There are picnic areas and designated spots for recreational vehicles as well.
- Wildlife Observation: With its diverse ecosystem, the Spillway Recreation Area provides opportunities to observe various wildlife species in their natural habitats. Birdwatchers will particularly enjoy the area's numerous species of birds.
- Historical Significance: The region has historical importance, with several cultural heritage sites and landmarks that showcase the history and heritage of Wisconsin.
2. Points of Interest:
- Spillway Dam: The recreation area is home to the Spillway Dam, which not only serves as a flood control mechanism but also creates a scenic reservoir. The dam offers great opportunities for fishing and wildlife observation.
- Hiking Trails: The area boasts a network of well-maintained hiking trails that allow visitors to explore the diverse landscape and discover hidden gems like cascading waterfalls, stunning vistas, and unique rock formations.
- Wildlife Viewing Areas: There are designated wildlife viewing areas where visitors can spot a variety of animals, including deer, foxes, raccoons, and a wide array of bird species.
- Historical Landmarks: Explore historical sites, such as old mills, logging camps, or remnants of the area's past significance.
3. Interesting Facts:
- The Spillway Recreation Area covers a significant area, attracting both locals and tourists throughout the year.
- The area is often described as a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a wide range of recreational activities, from water-based fun to land-based adventures.
- The Spillway Dam, in addition to its practical purposes, adds to the scenic beauty of the area and creates opportunities for water-based activities like boating and fishing.
4. Best Time to Visit:
- The best time to visit the Spillway Recreation Area depends on the activities you wish to partake in. Summer (June to August) offers pleasant weather for swimming, boating, and exploring the hiking trails. Fall (September to November) showcases the stunning autumn foliage, making it an ideal time for hiking and wildlife observation. Winter (December to February) attracts visitors interested in ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing, while spring (March to May) brings blossoming foliage and migratory bird species.
Please note that it is always advisable to check with local authorities or official websites for the most up-to-date information on activities, accessibility, and any specific regulations or permits required before planning your visit to the Spillway Recreation Area in Wisconsin.
1. Reasons to Visit:
- Natural Beauty: The Spillway Recreation Area is blessed with stunning natural beauty, including scenic forests, rolling hills, and picturesque lakes. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, and camping in this serene environment.
- Abundant Recreational Activities: The area offers a multitude of recreational activities for outdoor enthusiasts, including fishing, boating, kayaking, and swimming. There are picnic areas and designated spots for recreational vehicles as well.
- Wildlife Observation: With its diverse ecosystem, the Spillway Recreation Area provides opportunities to observe various wildlife species in their natural habitats. Birdwatchers will particularly enjoy the area's numerous species of birds.
- Historical Significance: The region has historical importance, with several cultural heritage sites and landmarks that showcase the history and heritage of Wisconsin.
2. Points of Interest:
- Spillway Dam: The recreation area is home to the Spillway Dam, which not only serves as a flood control mechanism but also creates a scenic reservoir. The dam offers great opportunities for fishing and wildlife observation.
- Hiking Trails: The area boasts a network of well-maintained hiking trails that allow visitors to explore the diverse landscape and discover hidden gems like cascading waterfalls, stunning vistas, and unique rock formations.
- Wildlife Viewing Areas: There are designated wildlife viewing areas where visitors can spot a variety of animals, including deer, foxes, raccoons, and a wide array of bird species.
- Historical Landmarks: Explore historical sites, such as old mills, logging camps, or remnants of the area's past significance.
3. Interesting Facts:
- The Spillway Recreation Area covers a significant area, attracting both locals and tourists throughout the year.
- The area is often described as a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a wide range of recreational activities, from water-based fun to land-based adventures.
- The Spillway Dam, in addition to its practical purposes, adds to the scenic beauty of the area and creates opportunities for water-based activities like boating and fishing.
4. Best Time to Visit:
- The best time to visit the Spillway Recreation Area depends on the activities you wish to partake in. Summer (June to August) offers pleasant weather for swimming, boating, and exploring the hiking trails. Fall (September to November) showcases the stunning autumn foliage, making it an ideal time for hiking and wildlife observation. Winter (December to February) attracts visitors interested in ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing, while spring (March to May) brings blossoming foliage and migratory bird species.
Please note that it is always advisable to check with local authorities or official websites for the most up-to-date information on activities, accessibility, and any specific regulations or permits required before planning your visit to the Spillway Recreation Area in Wisconsin.
StateWisconsin
WatershedUpper Mississippi-Meramec
Latitude38.0246°
Longitude-88.9575°
Land designation
Park & land designation reference
A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.
- National Park
- Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
- State Park
- Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
- Local Park
- Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
- Wilderness Area
- The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized motorized access permitted.
- National Recreation Area
- Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing, often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes); may allow more development.
- National Conservation Area (BLM)
- BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
- State Forest
- State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
- Vast federal lands managed for mixed use -- recreation, grazing, mining, conservation -- with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Detailed forecast
Plan your visit down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Hourly detail
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
Loading hourly forecast…
Deep dive
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
Long-term outlook
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Loading 15-day outlook…
Around the spot
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, fishing spots, and POIs so a park visit can grow into a full weekend.
Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace
- Know before you go
- Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
- Stay on trail
- Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
- Leave what you find
- Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Spillway Recreation Area as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
FAQ
About Spillway Recreation Area
What can I do at Spillway Recreation Area?
Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).
How fresh is the weather data?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.
When is the best time to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.
How do I get to Spillway Recreation Area?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
More parks
Other parks near here
Snoflo-tracked parks within driving distance of Spillway Recreation Area.