Governor Dodge State Park (WI) · Wisconsin
Six backpack sites reached on foot from the park trail system.
Get an alert when Governor Dodge opens on your dates.
Source: dnr.wisconsin.gov
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Governor Dodge were gone within 5 minutes.
As of September 2026, Governor Dodge in Governor Dodge State Park (WI), Wisconsin requires a permit issued via reservation. Governor Dodge is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Governor Dodge permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The Governor Dodge route covers 0.5 miles.
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More on Governor Dodge: Live availability activityWhen Governor Dodge permits open up
A 0.5-mile trail past the falls, rock outcroppings and ferns; DNR notes stone steps and uneven terrain on the way down.
A 3-mile loop from the Stephens' Falls area into the canyon the falls feed. DNR notes several steep grades.
The park's two lakes. DNR: the 3.3-mile Mill Creek trail offers "spectacular views of both Cox Hollow and Twin Valley Lakes."
40 miles, with a surfaced access trail into the park just east of County Highway Z.
Six sites half a mile off the Hickory Ridge lot, in a park with more than three hundred.
Wisconsin DNR: "Governor Dodge State Park is one of the state's largest parks, with over 5,000 acres of steep hills, bluffs and deep valleys plus two lakes and a waterfall. Located in Wisconsin's scenic driftless area, Governor Dodge offers camping, picnicking, hiking, canoeing, biking, hunting, fishing, off-road biking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding opportunities." (dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/govdodge, read 2026-08-09.)
Governor Dodge is the driftless area at its most obvious: the corner of Wisconsin the last glacier never flattened, so it kept its bluffs and deep valleys while the rest of the state was scraped smooth. The backpack sites are the only way to sleep in that terrain here without a campground around you.
Half a mile is a short walk, which is the point: you can leave Madison after work and be at a site before dark. What you get for it is a park of over 5,000 acres, two lakes and Stephens' Falls, with the campground noise a ridge away.
Best for: Hikers of moderate fitness willing to put in the effort.
Recommended experience: Basic hiking experience. Start with shorter trails if new to hiking.
Trailhead information
The lot the six backpack sites are walked from, about half a mile each way.
DNR puts water and pit toilets near the parking lot, not at the sites. The supply is seasonal: showers and drinking water run Memorial Day weekend to Oct. 1, and outside that jugs are filled from the spigot outside the park office.
Dodgeville, about 3 miles south of the entrance.
Open year-round, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Spring is what DNR writes about: "The spring wildflowers of the forests include bloodroot, hepatica and Dutchman's breeches," and the remnant prairies carry colour "from spring through fall." Trailhead water runs Memorial Day weekend to Oct. 1; outside that, fill jugs at the park office.
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Governor Dodge.
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Governor Dodge · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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PermitSnag alerts you the moment a Governor Dodge cancellation opens, so you can book it before anyone else. Governor Dodge permits use a reservation system.
Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.
This permit has a demand score of 7/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and using PermitSnag's cancellation alerts.
Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
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Three roofed shelters on the Ice Age Trail, an hour east.
A roof over the site and year-round booking, but you carry every drop of water and the walk can be up to ten miles.
Cart-in sites on a peninsula in the Castle Rock Flowage, with a shared cart for several of the clusters.
Easier to reach and water-adjacent, but road construction closes parts of the area through 2026 and DNR names bears.
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