Racine & Kenosha Area Parks
The Pike River winds its way through Petrifying Springs Park in Kenosha County
Cliffside Park: 7320 Michna Rd., Caledonia -
(262) 886-8457
233-acre Cliffside Park is one of Racine County's most popular parks because of the many visitors who camp at the 93-site campground, which has sites with electricity and water, and can accommodate anything from tents to large RV's. Facilities include bathrooms with showers, play areas (photo), baseball/softball fields, lighted tennis courts (photo), basketball and soccer fields (photo), as well as a large shelter area (photo) with picnic tables, grills and electricity. A bike trail can also be accessed from the park.
The campground contains 93 sites with electricity, most with water; sanitary stations are available. There are large, open areas in the center of the campground suitable for large RV owners (photo of site 30), as well as shaded sites with more tree cover and wooded areas behind them (photo: campsites) - (photo of site 89). Site 91 (photo) is one of the best in the park, ideal for tent campers who want a little privacy.
Hiking Trails:
The hiking trails through the prairie area are flat, mowed paths, with lots of sunlight. Narrow, shady trails run through the woods. The smaller trails running along the creek and near the bluff-side are somewhat rugged with steep sections, and there are spots with scenic lake-views.
If you can climb down one of the steep paths to the lake, you can hike along the beach area when the lake is calm and perhaps spot one of the Sandhill Cranes that fish along the shore in summer.
Directions: From I-94, take 7-Mile Road east 6 miles to Michna Road. Turn south on Michna Road and drive a half-mile to the park entrance on the east side of the road.
Petrifying Springs Park:
Known to locals as “Pets”, this park is the oldest in the Kenosha County Park System and offers a wide range of activities throughout the year. For an urban park, "Pets" offers some striking natural scenery along its web of criss-crossing trails. The park has a variety of trails (photo) suitable for hiking, mountain biking, and cross country skiing. Facilities include numerous picnic areas (photo) featuring 5 picnic shelters (photo), restrooms and playground areas, softball diamonds, sand volleyball courts, and a golf course. In fall, the park's natural hardwood forest offers a beautiful array of autumn colors.
The park gets its name from the small springs (photo) that emerge from the hills along the Pike River (photo), which winds through the park. The acidity of the spring water causes a lime buildup on sticks and branches which eventually harden into a rock-like material.
The trails can be accessed from various locations throughout the park. The majority of the hiking and biking trails follow along both sides of the Pike River. The ski trails follow routes around the golf course. These trails are not marked and there are no maps in the park. Some of the trails near the river contain some steep hills. When hiking, be alert for the sudden appearance of mountain bikers. When I was hiking along the river here in 2006, a mountain biker appeared suddenly on a hill and came speeding toward me and my dog. He avoided us but after braking hard, flipped head-over-heels over the front of his bike. Fortunately he landed on his back in some tall grass and wasn't hurt.
When the Pike River water level is high, some sections of the park roads may be closed. The river crosses under the park road several times (photo). Because of recent budget restraints, the cross country skiing trails are no longer groomed.
Canoeing on the Pike River:
The stretch of the Pike River from Petrifying Springs Park to Lathrop is 4.8 miles long and, according to American Whitewater, is a class I(II) section of whitewater. The Petrifying Springs
to Lathrop section is recommended for beginner paddlers and can easily be traversed in an afternoon. The water level is often low in the summer, so expect shallow stretches of the river.
Directions: The entrance to the park is located near the intersection of Highway 31 and Highway A in Kenosha County, about a half mile south of the Racine-Kenosha county line, with park entrances on either County Road A or County Road JR. Look for the park signs.
Quarry Lake Park: 3501 Northwestern Avenue
Quarry Lake (photo) is a great destination for scuba divers and swimmers looking for spring fed water. Sunbathers will love the expansive multi-level terraced beach (photo). Once a limestone quarry, this park has been transformed into one of the best outdoor swimming and beach facilities in the area. As the name suggests, limestone rock was mined from the site years ago until flooding, and some of the equipment used in the mining operation was left behind. The park also offers picnic areas with grills, a large air-conditioned beach house with changing rooms, lockers, concessions, lavatories and showers. Scuba divers must be certified and pay a registration fee to enter and explore the depths of the Quarry Lake. A daily entrance fee ($1) is charged during the swimming season.
Lifeguards are on duty daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Directions: From Interstate 94, exit at the Racine/Waterford (Route 20) exit. At the exit, turn east on Route 31. Turn right (northeast) onto Highway MM. Turn right (east) on Highway 38 (Northwestern Avenue). Continue past first traffic light. Quarry Park is the first right turn.
Sanders Park: Sanders is a great park for hikers and nature-lovers. Designated a 30 acre State Scientific Area, Sanders Park offers excellent trails featuring some of the best examples of pre-settlement vegetation remaining in Racine County. Over 90 species over indigenous wild flowers are found here and a small creek meanders through the undisturbed forest floor. The park has five diffferent picnic areas (photo 1) - (photo 2), with grills and picnic tables, and one has a large shelter. There are playgrounds, a horseshoe pit, and baseball and soccer fields.
Campground: The park features 42 individual campsites (most with water, 35 with electricity) in an open park-like setting, four small group campsites, a comfort station with lavatories and showers and a sanitary station for RV campers. All Sanders Park sites have picnic tables, fire rings and 25' level, gravel pads. The sites around the perimeter of the camground have wooded backgrounds- (photo of campsite 2) - (photo of site 23) - (photo of site 27). Reservations can be made online at https://www.racineweb.com/camp/index.php.
Sanders Park Hardwoods State Natural Area:
Sanders Park Hardwoods consists of two slightly elevated swells separated by a shallow swale on an ancient terrace of Lake Michigan. Southern dry-mesic forests occupy the two swells with basswood, white oak, black walnut, red oak, and white ash. An elm-ash forest dominates the swale. Dutch elm disease and oak wilt have killed some of the larger canopy trees. The sapling layer is composed of ash, basswood, ironwood, and black cherry. A wildflower guide lists 89 species of flowers and ferns including showy orchis, yellow lady's-slipper, false mermaid, false Solomon's seal, Trillium, sharp-lobed hepatica, spring-beauty, wild geranium, blue cohosh, and the introduced helleborine orchid. Ferns of interest are ostrich, rattlesnake, rusty woodsia, and ebony spleenwort. The uncommon redheaded woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) has nested here. Other breeding birds include great-crested flycatcher, eastern wood pewee, red-eyed vireo, mourning warbler, and indigo bunting. Originally purchased by Racine County in 1930, this area was later dedicated to Edwin Sanders, a local biology teacher. Sanders Park Hardwoods is owned by Racine County and was designated a State Natural Area in 1967.
Directions: From the intersection of State Highways 31 and 11 in southwest Racine, go south on 31 2.1 miles, then east on County Highway KR 1 mile, then north on Woods Road 0.5 mile to the Sanders County Park entrance on the east. The park road encircles the natural area. Several trails traverse the site.
Located Nearby:
Bong Recreational Center: Camping and many other outdoor recrational activities abound at this popular Wisconsin State Park.
Racine Zoo: Racine Zoological Society is one of the few free zoos in the country. The 32-acre site on the shores of Lake Michigan houses over 200 animals in its park-like setting. Popular exhibits include the recently remodeled primate and large cat building and the latest addition, a 5,200-pound white rhinoceros named Bender. Families enjoy the Sertoma Children's Zoo and playground, scenic picnic areas, handy concession stands, and a gift shop. Each summer, the Kiwanis Amphitheater hosts nationally renown jazz musicians during the Animal Crackers Jazz Series, as well as weekly concerts by the Racine Concert Band. Although the zoo attracts visitors from throughout the Midwest, it is supported exclusively through City of Racine tax dollars and private contributions. Open every day but Christmas. Summer 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Winter 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Beach at Quarry Lake Park in Racine County