Earth Spaces

Pike Lake was formed around the last ice age, about 12,000 years ago, when a large ice block melted at the edge of the glacier. When the ice block melted, a very large kettle hole was formed near the terminal moraine. It gradually filled with water to create the 446 acre spring fed Pike Lake. Pike Lake is known for its excellent walleye pike fishing, but other species are present to offer a variety of angling experiences. Hikers can explore a segment of the Ice Age Trail, the National Scenic Trail that is located entirely within Wisconsin. The campground has 32 units with flush toilets and showers. Music by Malignant Choir and Maury Smith, copyright 2008. Slideshow and photographs copyright 2008 by Creative Juice LLC.

Pike Lake State Park Campground.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 6:52m.  File size: 67MB.

Price: $1.00. 

Pike Lake State Park Campground preview.

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Wyalusing State Park sits on bluffs 500 feet above the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers.  Within the park’s 2,628 acres you will find hardwood forests, bluffs, springs, waterfalls, and spectacular vistas.  You can see ancient Native American effigy mounds and imagine what the French explorers Marquette and Joliet thought about them as they became the first Europeans to set foot here in 1673.  There are more than 23 miles of trails for hiking, biking and skiing.  More than 100 bird species, including bald eagles, hawks, owls, and various waterfowl, can be observed during the spring and fall migrations.  There are 109 family campsites, group tent campsites for 130 and a lodge/dormitory complex for 108 people.  Nearby is the Villa Louis Victorian mansion.  Across the river is the Effigy Mounds National Monument where you can observe 205 mounds considered as ceremonial and sacred sites by American Indian tribes.  Music copyright 2008 by Maury Smith.  Slideshow and photographs copyright 2008 by Creative Juice LLC.

Wyalusing State Park, Homestead Campground.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 9:57m.  File size: 97MB.

Price: $1.00.

Wyalusing State Park, Wisconsin Ridge Campground.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 9:46m.  File size: 95.4MB.

Price: $1.00.

Wyalusing State Park, Group Campgrounds.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 7:04m.  File size: 69MB.

Price: $1.00.

Wyalusing State Park, Campground preview.

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Lake Kegonsa State Park, established in 1962, is a 342 acre park on the shores of a 3,200 acre lake.  The lake has excellent fishing for northern pike and panfish.  The lake was formed from glacial debris that dammed parts of what is believed to be an old river valley called the “Ancient Wisconsin River”.  About 12,000 years ago the 4-Lakes of the Madison Area were formed: Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa.  Lake Kegonsa, from the Ho-Chunk word meaning “Lakes of Many Fishes”, was referred to by early settlers as “First Lake”.  A hiking trail near the family campground leads to a few effigy mounds built by Woodland Indians.  There are 80 family campsites, three group campsites, two picnic shelters, fishing pier, boat launch, swimming beach, and a pet swim area.  Music copyright 2008 by Maury Smith.  Slideshow and photographs copyright 2008 by Creative Juice LLC.

Lake Kegonsa State Park, Family Campground.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 10:00m.  File size: 95.5MB.

Price: $1.00.

Lake Kegonsa State Park, Group Campground.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 3:24m.  File size: 32.5MB.

Price: $1.00. 

Lake Kegonsa State Park, Campground preview.

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This island park near Cornell, WI is at the confluence of the Chippewa and Fisher rivers in northwest Wisconsin.  It’s just a short 30 minute drive from Chippewa Falls.  The river area has many backwaters for paddling adventures.  A trail head for the Ice Age National Scenic Trail is across the river.  The Old Abe bicycle trail begins at the park, travels down river and ends 20 miles away at Lake Wissota State Park.  The park has an additional 8 miles of hiking trails and 5 miles of cross country ski trails.  Many of the 69 campsites have views of the water.  24 campsites have electricity and are clustered near the showers.  The Civilian Conservation Corps built the log shelter in 1938 and the park was dedicated in 1940.  Music copyright 2008 by Maury Smith.  Slideshow and photographs copyright 2008 by Creative Juice LLC.

Brunet Island State Park, South Campground.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc. Running time: 4:48m.  File Size: 46.8MB.

Price: $1.00.

Brunet Island State Park, North Campground.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc. Running time: 7:16m. File size: 71MB.

Price: $1.00.

Brunet Island State Park, Campground preview.

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Mirror Lake was formed by the old mill dam on Dell Creek near Lake Delton in 1860.  Dell Creek is within the non-glaciated, or what is known as the driftless area of Wisconsin.  Sandstone was formed from river deposits into shallow seas about 500,000,000 years ago, during the Late Cambrian geologic period. The rock outcroppings of Mirror Lake’s gorges are formed from weathered sandstone.  Over the last 10,000 years Dell Creek cut gorges into the thick, soft sandstone rock.  This 2,050 acre  park lies within three miles of Wisconsin Dells and draws more than 200,000 visitors a year.  The park has many miles of trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, mountain biking and nature viewing.  The no-wake lake is ideal for canoeing and kayaking.  There are 151 family campsites in three campgrounds, seven walk-in group sites for tents only, an accessible cabin for people with disabilities and a unique rental cottage designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.  Music copyright 2008 by Maury Smith.  Slideshow copyright 2007 Creative Juice LLC.

Mirror Lake State Park, Bluewater Bay Campground

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 9:17m.  File size: 90.7 MB.

Price: $1.00

Mirror Lake State Park, Cliffwood Campground

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 6:43m.  File size: 65.6 MB.

Price: $1.00

Mirror Lake State Park, Sandstone Campground

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 8:05m.  File size: 78.9 MB.

Price: $1.00

Mirror Lake State Park preview sample.

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Landscape architect, John Nolen, recommended in 1909 that this site be set aside for a park. Established in 1911, this 9,000+ acre park near Baraboo, WI draws over 1.2 million visitors a year. The 360 acre lake is spring fed giving fishermen, paddlers and swimmers a crystal clear water environment. The lake was formed by glacial activity during the last ice age. What was once the Wisconsin River is now a dramatic gorge cut off at the north and south ends by glacial debris. The quartzite rock formations of the park are over 1.5 billion years old and rise over 500 feet above the lake. This “grand canyon of the midwest” takes its name from a mistranslation of the Ho-Chunk “Ta Wa-cun-chuk-dah, meaning “Sacred Lake”, “Holy Lake” or “Spirit Lake”. According to Ho-Chunk mythology the lake was the birthplace of the Buffalo Clan and is the site of the legendary battle between the water spirits and the thunderbirds. A number of effigy mounds are located throughout the park. Slideshow by John Wanserski.

Devil’s Lake State Park Tour

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 10.16m.  File size: 97.9 MB.

Price:  $1.00.

Devil’s Lake State Park, Quartzite Campground, campsites 1-67.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 9:31m.  File size: 92.9 MB.

Price: $1.00.

Devil’s Lake State Park, Quartzite Campground, campsites 68-100.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 6:52m.  File size: 67.1 MB.

Price: $1.00.

Devil’s Lake State Park, Northern Lights campsites 104-150.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 7:13m.  File size: 69.1 MB.

Price: $1.00.

Devil’s Lake State Park, Northern Lights campsites 163-193.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 5:26m.  File size: 53.1 MB.

Price: $1.00. 

Devil’s Lake State Park, Northern Lights campsites 194-246.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 7:41m.  File size: 73.5 MB.

Price: $1.00. 

Devil’s Lake State Park, Ice Age Campground, campsites 301-345.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 7:37m.  File size: 74.4 MB.

Price: $1.00. 

Devil’s Lake State Park, Ice Age Campground, campsites 351-390.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 7:37m.  File size: 74 MB.

Price: $1.00. 

Devil’s Lake State Park, Ice Age Campground, campsites 401-437.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 6:20m.  File size: 61.8 MB.

Price: $1.00. 

Devil’s Lake State Park, Ice Age Campground, campsites 451-484.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 5:23m.  File size: 51.2 MB.

Price: $1.00. 

Devil’s Lake State Park, Group campsites.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 5:38m.  File size: 52.4 MB.

Price: $1.00. 

Devil’s Lake State Park Tour preview sample.

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Petrified Forest National Park has the largest collection of fossilized trees in the world.  225 million years ago the trees, Araucarioxylon, Woodworthia, Schilderia, and others, fell into streams and washed into floodplains and mixed with silt, mud, and volcanic ash.  Silica-laden groundwater seeped through the logs and replaced the wood tissue with silica.  The silica crystallized into quartz, preserving the wood.  Remnants of early human occupation of the area dating back to 1250 A.D. are found at Puerco Pueblo.  The 100 room pueblo sheltered over 1,000 people.   More recently, the Painted Desert Inn, built by Herbert David Lore around 1920, was used as the first overnight lodge in the area.  The décor and architecture of the Painted Desert Inn reflects the awesome vistas of the surrounding beauty of the Painted Desert.  The nearby trail head will lead you to a unique wilderness camping environment.  Music copyright 2007 by Maury Smith.  Slideshow and photographs copyright 2008 by Creative Juice LLC.

Petrified Forest National Park Tour

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc. Running time: 9:48m.  File size: 95.8 MB.

Price: $2.00.  

Petrified Forest National Park Tour preview sample.

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Governor Dodge State Park is Wisconsin’s second largest park with an area of 5,270 acres.  It is named after Henry Dodge, the first Territorial Governor.  The glaciers of the last Ice Age bypassed this area and left intact valleys sculpted out of 450 million year old sandstone.  Human occupation of the area dates back over 8,000 years.  There are two man-made lakes in the park, Cox Hollow and Twin Valley, that are encircled with miles of trails for hiking, biking, skiing, and horseback riding.  The Military Ridge State Trail connects to Blue Mounds State Park and continues all the way to Madison.  There are 269 family campsites, eight group campsites, 11 for horse campers and six that require a hike in the back country.  Camping reservations are recommended for this very popular park in the heart of Wisconsin’s Driftless Area.  Nearby is the restored Cornish lead mining community of Pendarvis and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin.  Music copyright 2008 by Maury Smith.  Slideshow and photographs copyright 2008 Creative Juice LLC.

Governor Dodge State Park Tour.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc. Running time: 9:57m.  File size: 94.9 MB.

Price: $2.00. 

Governor Dodge State Park Cox Hollow Campground, campsites 1-48.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 7:18m.  File size: 70.7 MB.

Price: $1.00. 

Governor Dodge State Park Cox Hollow Campground, campsites 49-118.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc. Running time: 8:38m.  File size: 84.3 MB.

Price: $1.00. 

Governor Dodge State Park Twin Valley Campground, campsites 200-293.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 9:57m.  File size: 97.1 MB.

Price: $1.00. 

Governor Dodge State Park Twin Valley Campground, campsites 300-356.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 7:59m.  File size: 77.9 MB.

Price: $1.00. 

Governor Dodge State Park: Horse, Group, Backpack campsites.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 8:44m.  File size: 85.3 MB.

Price: $1.00. 

Governor Dodge State Park preview sample.

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Nicholas Perrot, a 17th century French Canadian fur trader spent the winter here in 1685.  In 1731 Godefroy de Linctot built a fort at the “mountain whose foot is bathed by water”, sometimes written “La Montagne Qui Trempe a Leau” and now called Mount Trempealeau.   Platform mounds associated with the Mississippian culture of Cahokia have been located in the nearby village of Trempealeau.  Effigy and burial mounds of the Hopewell culture are also found in the Park.  Today you can get excellent views of Mount Trempealeau and the Mississippi River Valley by climbing the trail to the top of the 520 ft. Brady’s Bluff.  Or canoe through the bottomland to see some of the thousands of birds that nest or pass through this magical terrain.   There are 98 campsites in the park.  The tent sites by the water have spectacular views of Mount Trempealeau.  The Great River State Trail for bicycling can be accessed directly from the campground.  Cyclists can then explore three other bicycle trails in this extensive trail system.  Music copyright 2008 by Maury Smith.  Slideshow and photographs copyright 2008 by Creative Juice LLC.

Perrot State Park Tour.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 9:51m.  File size: 94.2 MB 

Price: $2.00.  

Perrot State Park campground video for campsites 1-50.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 9:34m.  File size: 91.6 MB.

Price: $1.00.  

Perrot State Park campground video for campsites 51-95.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 8:28m.  File size: 82.1 MB

Price: $1.00.  

Perrot State Park preview sample.

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Aztalan State Park is one of Wisconsin’s most important archaeological sites. It contains an ancient Middle-Mississippian village and ceremonial complex that existed between A.D. 1000 and 1300. The site was rediscovered in 1835. In 1850 Increase A. Lapham investigated the site. It became a state park in 1952, a National Landmark in 1964 and listed in the National Registry of Historic Places in 1966. The occupants of Aztalan built large, flat-topped pyramid shaped mounds and a stockade around their village.  Music by Malignant Choir with bass solo by Evan Wanserski.  Slide show and photographs copyright 2008 Creative Juice LLC.

Aztalan State Park Tour.

Format: mp4 for IPods, etc.  Running time: 7:49m.  File size: 74.4 MB

Price: $2.00.    

Aztalan State Park preview sample.

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