Friends of Council Grounds State Park

06/14/2026

Come into the Council Grounds office and check out this cool map. It is a copy of the first surveyors map of Council Grounds State Forest in October 1939. The property was not classified as a State Park until 1978. The map was framed and presented to Park Ranger Sarah Gilbert by the Friends of Council Grounds State Park at their regular June meeting. Included with it is a framed write-up compiled by the Merrill Historical Society telling how Council Grounds has developed over the years. Members in the photo; Greg Gill, Randy Pophal, Paul Thomas, Sarah Gilbert-Park Ranger, Kathy Krohn-Gill and Laurie Nikolai-Svetlik. Photo by Judy Mueller.
Park hours are Sat. through Thurs. 10 to 5 and Fridays 10 to 8.

www.councilgrounds.org

06/14/2026

06/12/2026

Check out a one day pass for a State Park. They can be found in T.B.Scott's "Library of Things" . Fishing poles with tackle boxes are also available for library patrons to check out. Along with a big variety of fun stuff!

Looking to go on an adventure this summer? Stop in and check out a State Park Day Pass!!! Think of all the incredible things you can see and do at the many Wisconsin State Parks!

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

06/04/2026

The flowers brightening the Park entrance were planted by the Friends Group Flower Team. Throughout the summer, until frost they will be watered and managed in turns by Team members. The native flower beds are also constantly in need of weeding and watering. Thankfully these volunteers enjoy the work! councilgrounds.org

06/02/2026

Paddleboards, kayaks and canoes are available for rental at Council Grounds State Park during office hours. $30 each per day. The Park office is open Saturday through Thursday 10 am to 5 pm and Fridays 10 am to 8 pm.

This June 6–7, Wisconsin's outdoors are open for everyone to enjoy. No admission sticker is required at any of Wisconsin's 50 state parks, 15 state forests, or 44 state trails—just show up, explore responsibly, and make some memories.

Thinking about casting a line? 🎣 You're in luck. Residents and nonresidents can fish without a license this weekend, and trout and salmon stamps are also waived.

Whether you're hiking a favorite trail, paddling a quiet lake, camping under the stars, or discovering a new adventure, this is the perfect weekend to opt outside and reconnect with nature.

🌲 Leave the stress behind.
🥾 Find your next adventure.
📸 Bring home memories.

Tell us: Where are you planning to explore this Free Fun Weekend? Drop your destination in the comments below!

05/30/2026

Lincoln County recently started construction on a new half-mile hiking segment near Gleason.

05/30/2026

Free Fishing Weekend is June 6-7!

Wisconsin residents and out-of-state visitors can fish state waters without buying a fishing license, trout stamp or salmon stamp. However, please know all other fishing regulations, including bag limits, size limits and species restrictions, remain in effect.

There will be fishing clinics providing simple, hands-on instruction such as casting, knot tying, fish identification and basic fishing techniques for those new to this sport. Wisconsin DNR Tackle Loaner Sites located statewide has rods, reels and tackle for participants needing equipment.

To learn more about this weekend, fishing clinics and more, visit: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/anglereducation/freeFishingWeekend

Photo Credit: Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports

05/23/2026

In 2025, the Friends of Council Grounds State Park began a project to clean and stain the benches located throughout the park. At the start, the count was about 55 benches. The storm in July didn't stop the project, but it did delay it. Most were finished last year before the weather started getting colder. The remaining benches were completed this week. Here is a before and after pic of the last bench finished yesterday.
While it will take time for the park to fully recover from all of the storm damage, and the current project to remove diseased and dangerous trees, the Friends of Council Grounds continue to do what we can to maintain this beautiful park.
The weather will be warming up. Visit and enjoy.
If you are interested in supporting the work of the Friends of Council Grounds....
Information can be found at www.councilgrounds.org Thank you for the story, Cathy Robinson.

05/21/2026

You should be able to spot all of these at Council Grounds. The Redhead is much less common, but some have been seen in the Merrill area lately!

Most people hear a pileated woodpecker for years before they see one. The hammering sounds like someone beating a dead tree with a bat.

Then she lands on a trunk ten feet away — and the reaction is always the same.

She's the size of a crow. Every other woodpecker at the feeder fits in your hand. Your brain builds a template from downies and hairies: woodpecker equals small. The pileated breaks the template.

The rectangular holes in dead trees are hers. No other woodpecker cuts that shape. And the cavity she drills for nesting becomes the most competed-over address in the woods after she leaves — species that can't excavate their own depend on the ones she abandons.

The dead tree she's working on is the most productive thing in the yard 🌿