State Parks & Forests

Kettle Moraine North

In the Area

Kettle Moraine State Forest--Northern Unit
Camping

Campgrounds

Other Information

Camping Frequently Asked Questions
Camping and Vehicle Admission Fees
First-come, First-served Campsites
Reserving a Campsite

Mauthe Lake Campground

Mauthe Lake Campground Map [PDF, 161KB]

Mauthe Lake Campground has 135 sites, including 51 electrical sites, one shower building and vault toilets. The beach area features playground equipment, and concessions are available for food and camping supplies, watercraft rental, and firewood.

An authentic Native American plains tepee is available for rent. Campsites accessible to people with disabilities are available. A sanitary dump station and recycling/garbage station is provided for registered campers. Mauthe Lake is open for camping year round. Call for more information.

Reservations are recommended from mid-May through September. Reservations may be made up to 11 months in advance either online or by calling toll-free (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275.

Long Lake Campground

Long Lake Campground Map [PDF, 518KB]

Long Lake Campground provides 200 sites, flush toilets and showers. A private concessionaire provides firewood when the entrance station is open. Campsites accessible to people with disabilities are available. A sanitary dump station and recycling/garbage station is provided for registered campers. Long Lake Campground is open for camping the first weekend in May through mid-October. Call for more information.

Reservations are recommended from mid-May through September. Reservations may be made up to 11 months in advance either online or by calling toll-free (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275.

Backpack shelters

Forest Map [PDF327KB

Backpack shelters are available year round for rustic camping along the 31.65 miles [PDF, 32KB] of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and at the Zillmer Trail [PDF, 226KB]. Each site offers a roofed trail shelter, fire ring and pit toilet. Registered campers may gather dead and downed trees for firewood.

These sites are not accessible by vehicle. All camping equipment must be backpacked in and all refuse packed out. A camping permit is required and you must camp at a designated shelter campsite.

Only one reservation (camping party) is allowed per site per night. Reservations are limited to ten persons per site and are limited to one night per site. Another site may be reserved for a 2nd night at a 2nd site or a 3rd night at a 3rd site. You must call Reserve America at (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275 to make backpack shelter reservations—backpack shelter reservations cannot be made on the Web.

If you do not have a reservation, you must stop in at either the Forest Headquarters, Ice Age Visitor Center or Mauthe/Long Lake Entrance Stations (when open) to obtain a camping permit. Site availability is limited for spring and fall weekends--reservations are recommended. A reservation is required for stays longer than two nights along the trail.

Hint: If all the backpack sites are reserved on a Saturday night in spring or fall (which is not unusual), you may want to consider staying a night at the Mauthe Lake Family Campground. Call for more information.

Greenbush Group Campground

Greenbush Campground Map [PDF, 618KB]

The Greenbush Group Campground offers nine outdoor sites which accommodate groups up to 60 individuals. Only tent camping is allowed on the actual campsite. Sites are near the Greenbush Trails, where campers can enjoy hiking or off-road biking. An enclosed shelter building, hand pumps and pit toilets are available nearby. Greenbush Group Campground is open for camping April through November. Call for more information.

Reservations are required. Reservations may be made up to 11 months in advance either online or by calling toll-free (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275. Discounted camping rates are available for resident chartered non-profit youth groups.

New Prospect Horse Riders Campground

The New Prospect Horse Riders Campground was recently redesigned and will reopen on Friday, May 1, 2009. Campers will be able to make reservations starting in late October 2008.

The new camping facility has 22 family campsites and three group sites. In the family camping area, each site has a picnic table, fire ring and a 30-by-30-foot' graveled area with picket posts where horse are to be kept. The camp area has one drinking water source, an open air picnic shelter, vault toilet, covered stable with 24 box stalls, and manure pits.

Campground map [PDF, 208KB]

In the Group Camp Area, each site has a drinking water source, fire ring, four picnic tables and a manure pit. Group Sites A and C each have ten, 10-by-10-foot' metal pipe box corrals. Group Site B has two tether post areas. The Group Camp has a vault toilet. Maximum number of campers per group site is 20.

Campers are responsible to place all hay and manure in the manure pits which are located throughout the campground; wheel barrows and forks are provided. Horses are to be kept in designated areas to protect the green space of the campground.

The campground is centrally located in the state forest and provides easy access to the 33-mile State Forest Bridle Trail which traverses the length of the forest. There also are two loop trails, the 2.5-mile Crooked Lake Loop and the 4-mile Forest Lake Loop. All horse riders 16 years and older must have a state trail pass while using the designated bridle trails in the state forest.

See Current Conditions page for details. Reservations will not be accepted for 2008.

For More Information

Kettle Moraine State Forest--Northern Unit
Forest Headquarters
N1765 Highway G
Campbellsport WI 53010
(262) 626-2116 or

Ice Age Visitor Center
(920) 533-8322

Jerry Leiterman, Forest Superintendent
Jackie Scharfenberg, Naturalist
Joan Neis, Visitors Services

Mauthe Lake Recreation Area Entrance Station
Open 9 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. Memorial Day - Labor Day; hours vary during off-season.
(262) 626-4305

Long Lake Recreation Area Entrance Station
Open 9 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. Memorial Day - Labor Day; hours vary during off-season.
(920) 533-8612

Last Revised: Wednesday October 01 2008