Few People Know There’s A Beautiful State Park Hiding In This Tiny Wisconsin Town

Cornell, Wisconsin, is a charming little town that serves as the gateway to something extraordinary. The town is home to Brunet Island State Park, a wooded wonderland that’s surrounded by quiet waters. Easily one of our favorite state parks, it’s beckoning nature lovers from everywhere. There’s no doubt that this must-visit Wisconsin state park belongs on your list. So, if you’ve recently searched for “parks near me,” here’s why you need to make plans to visit Cornell to explore one of the best state parks in Wisconsin.

Cornell is a little city in Chippewa County with a population of just 1,400. The town’s roots are traced to a French-born American who opened a trading post and built a dam here in the 1800s, when it was still a remote wilderness.

Cornell today has pleasant downtown that's home to a couple of nice ice cream shops.

Cornell is also home to a historic “pulpwood stacker,” a huge and rare device that was used to stack logs so they could be shipped downriver to paper mills.

The town’s other attraction is a gorgeous state park. Brunet Island State Park is a 1,200-acre state park that’s filled with large eastern hemlock trees.

The park features a 169-acre island called Brunet Island that’s formed by the confluence of the Chippewa and Fisher Rivers.

The state park is a treasure – it has 69 campsites, and none of them is far from the water. It’s a popular camping destination. It also has a sandy swimming beach, pleasant picnic areas, and scenic trails.

The park can act as a gateway to other adventures - it connects to the Ice Age National Scenic trail and the Old Abe State Trail. But this park is so pleasant, you may want to stay right where you are, in Cornell, Wisconsin. Learn more about one of the best state parks in Wisconsin by visiting the Brunet Island State Park website.

Interested in more Wisconsin adventures? Here are some great outdoor activities in Wisconsin.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/wisconsin/wi-free-outdoor-activities/