Brunet Island State Park
Encyclopedia
Brunet Island State Park is a 1225 acres (495.7 ha) Wisconsin
state park just north of Cornell
. The park features a 169 acres (68.4 ha) island in the Chippewa River
, with the remaining area on the east bank of the river. The park is noted for its numerous white-tailed deer
and large eastern hemlock
trees. The Old Abe State Trail
begins in the park and follows the riverbank south to the town of Chippewa Falls
, with access to Lake Wissota State Park
.
and Fisher Rivers. Backwater channels at the north end of the island create several undeveloped islets. The regional landscape was strongly marked by glaciation during the Wisconsinan ice period
.
The park is forested with mature eastern hemlocks. Deer, overpopulated on the island, eat most of the young hemlocks. In time red pines and spruces may become dominant. Small fenced plots are scattered throughout the island to protect saplings and undergrowth from the deer. In 1977 a tornado
touched down on the north-central part of the island, leveling 18 acres (72,843.5 m²). Today this area is regenerating with birch
trees.
in 1818 and found employment with a trading company. Two years later his employers stationed Brunet in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
, where he became a leading citizen, married, and eventually went into business for himself. Brunet formed interests in the Chippewa River Valley and moved to Chippewa Falls in 1828. There he was engaged to oversee the construction of the first dam and sawmill on the Chippewa River, which opened the region up to logging. Brunet and his wife, who were childless, took a liking to Francis Gauthier, a boy who worked for him, and treated him as an adopted son for the rest of their lives. In 1837 and 1838 Brunet served on the Wisconsin Territory legislature. Shortly thereafter Brunet moved 25 miles (40.2 km) upriver where he settled permanently. He engaged in trade with native people and ran a popular inn. The town of Cornell was originally called Brunet Falls in his honor.
The state acquired Brunet Island in 1936 when it was donated by Northern States Power
. The Civilian Conservation Corps
built a log shelter in 1938 as the park was developed, and Brunet Island State Park officially opened two years later.
The 1977 tornado left so much debris that the park was closed until spring 1978 for cleanup.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
state park just north of Cornell
Cornell, Wisconsin
Cornell is a city in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 1,466 at the 2000 census. It is located on the Chippewa River, upstream from Lake Wissota and Chippewa Falls.-Attractions:Brunet Island State Park is adjacent to the city...
. The park features a 169 acres (68.4 ha) island in the Chippewa River
Chippewa River (Wisconsin)
The Chippewa River in Wisconsin flows approximately 183 miles through west-central and northwestern Wisconsin. It was once navigable for approximately 50 miles of its length, from the Mississippi River, by Durand, northeast to Eau Claire. Its catchment defines a portion of the northern boundary...
, with the remaining area on the east bank of the river. The park is noted for its numerous white-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
and large eastern hemlock
Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis, also known as eastern or Canadian hemlock, and in the French-speaking regions of Canada as pruche du Canada, is a coniferous tree native to eastern North America. It ranges from northeastern Minnesota eastward through southern Quebec to Nova Scotia, and south in the Appalachian...
trees. The Old Abe State Trail
Old Abe State Trail
Old Abe State Trail is a paved multi-use rail trail in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, USA.The name commemorates Old Abe, an orphaned bald eagle found in the area in 1861 which became the mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the American Civil War...
begins in the park and follows the riverbank south to the town of Chippewa Falls
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 13,661 at the 2010 census. Incorporated as a city in 1869, it is the county seat of Chippewa County....
, with access to Lake Wissota State Park
Lake Wissota State Park
Lake Wissota State Park is a Wisconsin state park near the town of Chippewa Falls. The park is situated on the northeast shore of Lake Wissota, a reservoir on the Chippewa River. Camping, boating, and fishing are the most popular activities. Park lands are covered in a mix of pine/hardwood...
.
Natural history
Brunet Island is formed by the confluence of the ChippewaChippewa River (Wisconsin)
The Chippewa River in Wisconsin flows approximately 183 miles through west-central and northwestern Wisconsin. It was once navigable for approximately 50 miles of its length, from the Mississippi River, by Durand, northeast to Eau Claire. Its catchment defines a portion of the northern boundary...
and Fisher Rivers. Backwater channels at the north end of the island create several undeveloped islets. The regional landscape was strongly marked by glaciation during the Wisconsinan ice period
Wisconsin glaciation
The last glacial period was the most recent glacial period within the current ice age occurring during the last years of the Pleistocene, from approximately 110,000 to 10,000 years ago....
.
The park is forested with mature eastern hemlocks. Deer, overpopulated on the island, eat most of the young hemlocks. In time red pines and spruces may become dominant. Small fenced plots are scattered throughout the island to protect saplings and undergrowth from the deer. In 1977 a tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
touched down on the north-central part of the island, leveling 18 acres (72,843.5 m²). Today this area is regenerating with birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
trees.
Cultural history
The park is named after Jean Brunet (1791-1877), an upper-class French immigrant who was instrumental in the development of the upper Chippewa River. He moved to St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in 1818 and found employment with a trading company. Two years later his employers stationed Brunet in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Prairie du Chien is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,911 at the 2010 census. Its Zip Code is 53821....
, where he became a leading citizen, married, and eventually went into business for himself. Brunet formed interests in the Chippewa River Valley and moved to Chippewa Falls in 1828. There he was engaged to oversee the construction of the first dam and sawmill on the Chippewa River, which opened the region up to logging. Brunet and his wife, who were childless, took a liking to Francis Gauthier, a boy who worked for him, and treated him as an adopted son for the rest of their lives. In 1837 and 1838 Brunet served on the Wisconsin Territory legislature. Shortly thereafter Brunet moved 25 miles (40.2 km) upriver where he settled permanently. He engaged in trade with native people and ran a popular inn. The town of Cornell was originally called Brunet Falls in his honor.
The state acquired Brunet Island in 1936 when it was donated by Northern States Power
Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy, Inc. is a public utility company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, serving customers in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. Primary services are electricity and natural gas...
. The Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
built a log shelter in 1938 as the park was developed, and Brunet Island State Park officially opened two years later.
The 1977 tornado left so much debris that the park was closed until spring 1978 for cleanup.
Recreation
- Bicycling: Allowed on park roads and Old Abe State TrailOld Abe State TrailOld Abe State Trail is a paved multi-use rail trail in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, USA.The name commemorates Old Abe, an orphaned bald eagle found in the area in 1861 which became the mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the American Civil War...
. - Boating:
- Ramp for power boats and fishing boats. Boaters can access a 4 miles (6.4 km) stretch of the Chippewa River between two dams.
- Canoes can be rented from several outfitters in Cornell and Holcombe.
- Camping:
- South Campground: 24 sites, all with electrical hookups.
- North Campground: 45 primitive sites.
- Fishing: Game fish include northern pike, walleye, small mouth bass, catfish, crappie, muskie, and yellow perch. There are fishing piers near each campground.
- Hunting: Deer hunting allowed in northern two-thirds of mainland section.
- Sports: Playground and baseball diamond at the picnic area.
- Swimming: 200 feet (61 m) swimming beach on the south end of the island.
- Trails: 8 miles (12.9 km) of hiking trails and 5 miles (8 km) for cross-country skiing.
- Jean Brunet Nature Trail (hiking): Interpretive trail starting near the bridge (0.8 mi (1.3 km)).
- Timber Trail (hiking): Leads across the middle of the island from the campground to the beach.
- Pine Trail (hiking): Leads through a plantation of red pine.
- Spruce Trail (hiking): Leads along the eastern shore of the island.
- Nordic Trail (hiking, skiing): Loops through the park section on the mainland.