Governor Dodge State Park

How to Get There

From Best Western Dodgeville Inn & Suites (approximately 4 mi): Take US-18/US-151 east from Dodgeville, turn north onto WI-23, and continue to Governor Dodge State Park at 4175 State Highway 23 N, following signs to the park entrance, lakes, campgrounds, and trail areas.

Overview

Governor Dodge State Park is a 5,270-acre (2,133 ha) Wisconsin state park outside Dodgeville in Iowa County, Wisconsin. Named after Henry Dodge, the first governor of the Wisconsin Territory, the park contains geologic features indicative of the Driftless Area. It is located 4.1 miles north of the Central business district of the City of Dodgeville.

The land is mostly oak and hickory forest with some sandstone bluff outcroppings and one named waterfall, Stephen's Falls. Common activities include boating, fishing, picnicking and swimming on the park's two lakes, Cox Hollow Lake and Twin Valley Lake. There is a boat launch, dam and a swimming area at each of the lakes. Away from the lakes one can find hiking trails, cross-country ski trails, mountain bike trails and horse trails. Seasonal activities include hunting in the fall and snowmobiling in the winter.

Things to Do

Discover One of Wisconsin's Finest Outdoor Recreation Parks

Governor Dodge State Park is one of Wisconsin's largest state parks, encompassing more than 5,000 acres of rolling hills, forests, lakes, waterfalls, and scenic valleys in the Southwest Wisconsin Driftless Area. Named after Wisconsin's first governor, Henry Dodge, the park is a favorite destination for hiking, camping, boating, fishing, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing.

Enjoy Recreation on Two Scenic Lakes

The park features two lakes, Cox Hollow Lake and Twin Valley Lake, which offer opportunities for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, fishing, and picnicking. Cox Hollow Lake includes a popular swimming beach and boat launch facilities, making it a hub for summer recreation.

Explore Waterfalls and Natural Areas

Governor Dodge State Park contains several streams and waterfalls, including Stephens' Falls, one of Wisconsin's most picturesque waterfalls. Visitors can enjoy scenic walks to overlooks and experience the park's rugged terrain, sandstone formations, and wooded ravines.

Experience Outstanding Outdoor Recreation

The park offers more than 40 miles of hiking trails and extensive equestrian routes. Popular activities include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, camping, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, wildlife photography, and birdwatching throughout the year.

Observe Wildlife and Driftless Area Landscapes

The park's forests, prairies, wetlands, and lakes provide habitat for white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, foxes, beavers, waterfowl, hawks, and numerous songbirds. The unique topography of the Driftless Area creates beautiful scenery and exceptional opportunities for nature observation.

Top Trails

Stephens' Falls Trail

Length: Approximately 0.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Minimal to Moderate
Difficulty: Easy

This short trail leads to Stephens' Falls, one of the park's most popular attractions. Visitors can enjoy views of the cascading waterfall, sandstone cliffs, and surrounding woodland scenery.

Cox Hollow Lake Trail

Length: Approximately 5 miles loop
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate

This scenic trail circles Cox Hollow Lake and offers beautiful views of the water, forests, and rolling hills. The route is popular for hiking, wildlife viewing, and photography.

Lost Canyon Trail

Length: Approximately 2 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate

The trail leads into a secluded canyon featuring rugged rock formations, wooded slopes, and peaceful natural surroundings. It provides one of the park's more adventurous hiking experiences.

Twin Valley Trail

Length: Approximately 3 miles loop
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate

This trail explores the area surrounding Twin Valley Lake and passes through forests, open meadows, and wildlife habitats. Visitors enjoy excellent opportunities for birdwatching and experiencing the diverse landscapes of the park.

Sources: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources official Governor Dodge State Park information, including details on Cox Hollow Lake, Twin Valley Lake, Stephens' Falls, hiking trails, camping, horseback riding, fishing, and recreational opportunities. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/governordodge
Additional trail and visitor information verified through Wisconsin State Parks resources covering Stephens' Falls Trail, Cox Hollow Lake Trail, Twin Valley Trail, Lost Canyon Trail, and year-round recreation opportunities throughout the park.

Fauna

There is a large variety of fauna in the park, such as White-tailed Deer, shrew, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, beaver, red fox, gray fox, woodchuck, muskrat, Red-tailed hawk, turkey vulture, pileated woodpecker, barred owl, raccoon and Coyote. There are also more than 150 species of birds.

Flora

There is also a varied flora in the park, such as trees and flowers. Some types include oak, hickory, white pine, red pine, jack pine, bloodroot, hepatica, Dutchman's breeches, interrupted fern, goldenrod, sunflower, aster, milkweed, boneset, iron weed and mountain mint.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Governor Dodge State Park", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0