Parks + Recreation News & Events

Happy Retirement!
Our Parks + Recreation Manager, Matt Stieve! Matt was employed with Sauk County for over 29 years.

Throughout Matt’s career with Sauk County, he has greatly contributed to the success and growth of Sauk County Parks and Recreation through multiple different achievements, including: planning, construction and management of the Great Sauk State Trail, negotiating the purchase of White Mound County Park from the State of Wisconsin for $1, construction of multiple award-winning buildings – the Prairie Smoke Terrace and an accessible hunting blind for people with disabilities, and many dam repairs and improvements.

Matt's last day with Sauk County is June 18, 2025. Thank you Matt, for all of your wisdom, generous contributions and hard work. You will be greatly missed!

Paddlesport Rentals
This weekend would be the perfect time to check out the paddlesport equipment at White Mound County Park!

All equipment is rented first-come, first-serve at an hourly rate. We have a pedal boat ($20), canoe ($15), double kayak ($15), two single kayaks ($10/each) and four paddle boards ($15/each).

Give us our office a call, 608-355-4800 with any other questions. Stay cool this weekend!

New shade structure! 
White Mound County Park has a new shade structure (pictured right)! Staff built this to give park users a little shade when they visit the beach area, especially since trees were removed due to emerald ash borer.

The shade structure is also available for hammock use. The office has free hammocks that you can request for the day! Stop out or give our office a call at

608-355-4800 if you have any questions.

Guess the Temp!
Entries for guess the temp have closed. We will see who the lucky winner is on July 1^st, 2025!

Rules + details: Entries must be submitted by 4:00 PM on May 26, 2025. Entries can be submitted through our social media platforms (including Facebook and Instagram messages or comments), email to parks.rec@saukcountywi.gov, phone to 608-355-4800 or in-person at the Sauk County Parks and Recreation Office (S7995 White Mound Drive, Hillpoint, WI 53937). The office is typically open Monday through Thursday, 8 AM to 4 PM. Only one entry and prize per person. There will be 1 prize awarded to the closest guessed entry. In the event of a tie, the winner will be chosen randomly. No purchase necessary, however, there is an entrance fee required for motorized vehicles in White Mound County Park. Prizes must be claimed by September 1^st, 2025. Temperature will be based on air temperature.

Any person who has a qualifying disability that requires this event to be in an accessible location or format should contact Sauk County Parks and Recreation at 608-355-4800 between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Thursday, exclusive of legal holidays, at least 48 hours in advance of participation in the event so that reasonable arrangements can be made to accommodate each request. Please call our office at 608-355-4800 with any questions.

Horse trail + campground update!
The horse trails and campground are open as of May 15, 2025! Camping reservations can be made online, in-person or over the phone by calling our office at 608-355-4800. Since the campground is fairly new, we thought we'd share some important information:

• The asphalt parking lot is available for vehicles without trailers. Day use parking for vehicles with trailers is allowed on the north side of the gravel driveway. Please do not park in campsites if you're just riding for the day. There is a hitching post located near the south trail head for day use.

• The manure pit is located at the northwest part of the horse campground. Please remove horse manure from your campsite before departure.

• There are a couple of picnic areas - one located near the corrals and another located north of the gravel driveway. No horses are allowed in these picnic areas (this will give our grass a chance to better grow).

• Corral space is provided in two separate areas. The first area is located south of the manure pit, available to anyone staying in Horse Campsites 1 through 6 (first-come, first-served). The second area is located west of Horse Campsite 7, only available to those camping in Horse Campsite 7.

• Temporary corrals of any kind are prohibited.

• As always, please call us if you encounter any down trees along the trail.

Happy trails!

Campground open!
The campground is open. The horse campground/trails are still closed at this time. Happy camping!

2025 Events:
Please see our events planned for 2025 by looking below or checking out our 2025 event flyer. All events are located at White Mound County Park (S7995 White Mound Drive, Hillpoint, WI 53937). In the event of bad weather on Music in the Park dates, please contact our office at (608) 355-4800 for updates. All events are free, however, there is an entrance fee required for motorized vehicles.

• March: Egg Hunt - try your luck at finding 1 of 4 eggs. 
• May: Guess the Temp - guess what the temperature will be at White Mound Co. Park on 7/1/25. 
• June 10: Music in the Park - music by Sam Ness from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
• July: Photo Contest - send us your best photo(s) of a Sauk Co. Park, multiple chances to win!
• July 8: Music in the Park - music by the Shawn + Abbie Variety Show from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
• August 12: Music in the Park - music by Janna + The Junkyard Dawgs from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
• October: Sasquatch Search - find Sasquatch in the woods of White Mound Co. Park.
• December: What's that? - Help us figure out what's in the picture.

Any person who has a qualifying disability that requires these events to be in an accessible format should contact Sauk County Parks and Recreation at (608) 355-4800 at least 48 hours in advance of participation in or attendance of the event so that reasonable arrangements can be made to accommodate each request. Please contact us at parks.rec@saukcountywi.gov with questions. 

Accessible Hunting Blind at White Mound County Park
We're excited to announce the addition of an accessible hunting blind at White Mound County Park! Nestled behind the park maintenance building near a food plot area sits the blind - complete with two chairs, heat, electricity and lighting. The blind is available to those with a valid Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources permit for people with disabilities to hunt deer and turkey. Click here or give us a call for more details!

The accessible hunting blind won an award through Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association and was also featured by 27 News - WKOW! Check out more information here. Applications for the 2025 hunting periods are due by March 28th and can be found on our website or by calling our office.