Between Milwaukee And Chicago Is Wisconsin's Former Military Base That's Now A Park With Scenic Trails And Camping

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Wisconsin was the first state to set aside public land for a state park in 1900. Over the decades, the Wisconsin State Park System added 49 others, which now cover more than 155,000 acres. But only one of them was supposed to be a United States Air Force base. That makes Richard Bong State Recreation Area a unique spot for hiking and camping in the Badger State.

In between Chicago and Milwaukee, two of the largest cities in the Midwest, you'll find Kansasville. Originally, this land, covered with a blend of prairies, forests, and wetlands, was hunting grounds for the Potawatomi, Menomonee, and Ojibwa peoples. That untouched landscape began changing in the early 19th century when English settlers started clearing the land for farms. They, too, were in for big changes, though. In the 1950s, the United States government bought their farmland to build a fighter jet base, named after Wisconsin native Major Richard Bong, during the Cold War. The Department of Defense halted the project just days before its runway was to be completed.

After the military base in Southeast Wisconsin was closed, people in Kansasville, now home to fewer than 3,000 people, fought to protect the deserted land. First, in the 1960s, Wisconsin took it over to make it a wildlife area. Then, in 1974, it expanded into a nature preserve and recreation space. Richard Bong State Recreation Area now covers more than 4,500 acres and attracts more than 325,000 visitors each year.

Richard Bong State Recreation Area is one of the 10 state parks for endless outdoor fun around Rockford, Illinois. When you arrive, you'll pass the entrance station to find the Molinaro Visitor Center and Vern Wolf Lake. You can learn about the history and nature of the state park in the visitor center. It features a solarium with rotating exhibits and an outdoor Nature Explore Classroom for kids. The Visitor Center Nature Trail heads south from there. The 0.7-mile trail winds through grassland and a prairie en route to a boardwalk overlooking the 150-acre lake. That's where you'll find a swimming beach, a boat ramp for canoes, kayaks, and vessels with electric motors, and a fishing pier to cast for panfish and northern pike.

More than 15 miles of additional hiking trails, all color-coded, then spread out from this central area. South of Highway 142, which bisects the state park, you'll find the Wolf Lake Loop. This 3.9-mile trail connects the Green Trail, with its little ponds and abundant aquatic birds, and the Blue Trail, where you'll see a diverse landscape, beaver dams, and lots of wildflowers as you circle the lake. Across Highway 142, three more trails can be combined into the Red, Yellow, and Orange Loop. Though long, this 8.4-mile trail is relatively flat, which makes it easy to move through the quiet hardwood forests and wetlands. The Yellow Trail, in particular, is a favorite of birdwatchers.

With so much to do in Richard Bong State Recreation Area, it's a good thing there are two overnight campgrounds. Between the eastern edge's Sunrise Campground and the western side's Sunset Campground, there are 217 family campsites and six group campsites. Some have electric hookups, while they all have access to showers, toilets, and a firewood vending machine. It's a "Great place to camp! Very quiet and peaceful. Love how spread out the area is with a lot of wildlife," according to one Google reviewer.

To visit any of Wisconsin's state parks or forests, you'll need to purchase a daily or yearly admission pass for your vehicle. This can be done online, in advance of your arrival. In Richard Bong State Recreation Area, there's an additional nightly fee to stay at one of the campgrounds. You can make reservations for these sites up to 11 months ahead of time.

Since Richard Bong State Recreation Area is so close to Milwaukee, a lively Midwestern gem with beaches, breweries, and bliss, it's an easy destination to reach. The state park lies about 30 miles southwest of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), which receives nonstop flights from 34 cities around the country. Or, for even more departure cities, including worldwide ones, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is just 57.5 miles across the Illinois border in Chicago. Check out the best free things to do in Chicago for a budget-friendly vacation if you're starting your trip in the Windy City.