Kettle Moraine State Forest--Southern Unit
Camping

• Ottawa Lake Campground
• Pine Woods Campground
• Whitewater Lake Campground
• Pine Woods & Hickory Woods Group Camps
• Backpack Shelters
• Walk-In Sites
• Cabin Campsite for People with Disabilities
• Accessible Campsites
• Horseriders Campground

Pine Woods Campground

Pine Woods has 101 campsites, flush toilets, pit toilets, and showers. There are no electrical sites at this campground. This campground offers a designated area for those who want to enjoy the peace and quiet that nature has to offer. Loop 1 (of 3 loops) is a 24-hour quiet zone, meaning no pets, radios, or mechanical device noises are allowed, ensuring a peaceful visit. A recycling/garbage station and sanitary dump station are within the campground. Pine Woods is available for camping from mid-May though mid-October.

Pine Woods map [PDF, 120KB]
How to Get There

Reservations are strongly recommended for weekend or holiday stays and can be made through Reserve America, (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275. Call for more forest and/or campground information.

Ottawa Lake Campground

Ottawa Lake Campground is the only year-round campground in the Southern Unit. It offers 100 sites, including 49 electrical sites, two shower buildings, flush toilets and a winter pit toilet building. Accessible sites are available as well as a reservable accessible cabin designed especially for people with disabilities. A sanitary dump and recycling/garbage station are provided for the registered campers.

Ottawa Lake map [PDF, 110KB]
How to Get There

Reservations are strongly recommended from May through October. Reservations must be made through Reserve America, (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275. Call for more forest and/or campground information.

Whitewater Lake Campground

The Whitewater Lake Campground is a primitive campground with 63 beautiful campsites. Pit toilets but no shower facilities are available at the Whitewater Lake campground. Showers are available at Pine Woods and Ottawa Lake, about 20 miles to the north. A sanitary dump and recycling/garbage station are provided for campers. Whitewater Lake is available for camping from mid-May through mid-October.

Whitewater Lake map [PDF, 96KB]
How to Get There

Reservations are recommended from mid-May through mid-October. Reservations must be made through Reserve America, (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275. Call for more forest and/or campground information.

Pine Woods and Hickory Woods Group Camps

The group camps in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest offer a great opportunity for large groups to camp together in a beautiful, natural area. Pine Woods Group Camp offers four large sites that accommodate up to 40 people per site, and Hickory Woods has five sites that can accommodate up to 20 people per site. Each of these camps is within the Pine Woods and Whitewater Lake Campgrounds respectively. The group camps have drinking water and pit toilets for the campers. Pine Woods is open for camping from April 1 through the Wednesday before deer gun hunting season and Hickory Woods from mid May through mid October.

Pine Woods map [PDF, 120KB]

Reservations are recommended from April through October for the Pine Woods and from mid-May through mid-October for Hickory Woods Group Camps. Make reservations by calling (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275 or using the reservation Web pages for Pine Woods or Hickory Woods.

Walk-in Sites

For campers who like to camp at a more secluded and wooded campsite adjacent to a family campground, walk-in sites are available at the Pine Woods, Ottawa Lake, and Whitewater Lake Campgrounds. These sites are set back in the forest, anywhere from about 140 to 750 feet from their parking stalls. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and a gravel pad for tents. Tents are restricted to the gravel pads to minimize wear and tear on the surrounding landscape. Pit toilets are near all walk-in sites.

Reservations are strongly recommended from May through October. Reservations must be made through the Web or by phoning (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275.

Backpack Shelters

Primitive backpack camping along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail is available year round only at three designated trail shelter sites. Backpack sites are remote sites, separate from other forest facilities and require a hike of 1/2 mile to 10 miles depending on the parking location selected by the camper. A roofed trail shelter, fire ring, and pit toilet are provided at each site. These sites are not accessible by vehicle, but most have parking areas within a mile of the site. All equipment must be backpacked to the site and all refuse must be packed out.

Reservations are limited to 10 people per night and are limited to one night. However, another site may be reserved for a second night at a second location or a third night at a third site.

A camping permit is required to use these shelters. Reservations are taken year round. Reservations for the backpack shelters are only available by phone, (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275.

Cabin Campsite for People with Disabilities

A cabin near Ottawa Lake is designed for people with disabilities.
DNR Photo

Some people with disabilities who have been unable to use the traditional rustic campgrounds can benefit from the Cabin Campsite for People with Disabilities in the Ottawa Lake Campground. This barrier-free log cabin was constructed and given to the Department of Natural Resources by the Telephone Pioneers of America. Nestled in the woods overlooking Ottawa Lake, the 700-square-foot log cabin has asphalt surfaced parking lot and pathway to the cabin and other paths that link to nearby recreation facilities. A screened porch provides a panoramic view of the beautiful Ottawa Lake. The cabin campsite has the usual camping amenities such as a fire ring, post-mounted grill, and picnic table.

Reservations for the cabin campsite are accepted by mail or in person at our Forest Headquarters from January 10 until Memorial Day. The reservation form (PDF, 33 KB) is available online.

From Memorial Day until Labor Day, reservations also can be made by telephone by calling the Ottawa Lake Visitor Center.

Accessible Campsites

Accessible campsites, designed specifically for those who have physical disabilities, are available in the Pine Woods, Ottawa Lake, and Whitewater Lake Campgrounds. The following table compares their amenities:

Reservations for these sites are recommended from May through October. Make reservations on the Web or by phoning (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275.

Horseriders Campground

Horseriders Campground is centrally located in the state forest, with the horse trails connecting within the campground. Campers with horses can enjoy 35 back-in sites, 20 pull-through sites, one group site accommodating up to 20 people, a picnic shelter, horse shower, manure deposit stations, drinking water, and pit toilets.

Each horse campsite includes a tether post and a fire ring.
DNR Photo

Each site includes a tether post and a fire ring. Horseriders campground is open for camping from mid-April through November 30.

(Note: All horseriders 16 years and older must purchase and carry a state trail pass while using the designated bridle trails in the state forest.)

Reservations are available from May through October and are recommended for the Memorial Day weekend. Make reservations on the Web or by phoning (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275.

Frequently asked questions

For more information, ask:

Kettle Moraine State Forest--Southern Unit
Forest Headquarters
S91 W39091 Hwy 59
Eagle, Wisconsin 53119
(262) 594-6200

Paul Sandgren, manager

Ottawa Lake Visitor Center
Camping Open All Year
(262) 594-6220 (Memorial Day to Labor Day)

Whitewater Lake Visitor Center
Camping from Mid-May through Mid-October
(262) 473-6427 (Memorial Day to Labor Day)