State Parks & Forests

Kettle Moraine South

In the Area

Kettle Moraine State Forest—Southern Unit
Frequently Asked Questions about Camping

For information that applies at all Wisconsin state park and forest campgrounds. Please see:

Camping in Wisconsin State Parks and Forests,
Questions and Answers About the Campsite Reservation System and
Camping Tips and Rules

This page has information specific to Kettle Moraine South.

Alcoholic Beverages are allowed at your campsite. The forest enforces a zero-tolerance policy on underage drinking. More...

Bathroom / Shower Facilities

Campground Hosts stay on sites 372 and 399 at Ottawa Lake and Site 300 at Pinewoods campground during the summer. More...

Camping Units
Only one wheeled camping unit is allowed per site. Exception will be made if a truck camper or motor home tows in a trailer as part of the camping unit. Multiple tents allowed on any site, as room allows.

Camping fees only cover camping. Vehicle admission stickers are also required. Daily stickers sold to registered campers expire at 11 p.m. the day after the day of issue. In other words, you need only one daily sticker for one night of camping; the day of departure does not require an additional purchase. Stickers must be purchased in advance or upon arrival, before entering the forest.

Firewood is available for a fee next to the Ottawa and Whitewater Lake entrance stations and from the camp host at Pinewoods. More...

First-Come, First-Served Camping (Nonreservable Sites)
There are a limited number of first come, first served family campsites. Call ahead to better determine the need for reservations depending upon the time of year, day of week, and where you plan to camp.

Garbage and Recycling bins are provided for campers only. There is one garbage/recycling station at each campground. Removal of garbage and recyclables from a campsite helps eliminate smells and mess, and discourages unwanted pests.

Generator Use is prohibited in the campgrounds. If this is a concern, call Forest Headquarters before arriving to camp. More...

Gift Shop
Nature related books, shirts and sweatshirts, novelty items, etc. are available at the Forest Headquarters on State Highway 59 between Palmyra and Eagle. Sales of these items support the Kettle Moraine Natural History Association, which funds programs and special projects in the forest.

Length of Stay
You and your camping unit may remain in the Kettle Moraine State Forest—Southern Unit no longer than 14 days in any 3-week period. After 14 days, the camping unit and camping party must leave the forest for at least 7 days before returning. Please note, Ottawa Lake, Pinewoods, and Whitewater Lake campgrounds are all parts of the same forest. More...

Naturalist Programs
Campers are welcome to attend any of many public programs at various locations throughout the forest. Call ahead or check on the web to see if there is a program you'd like to attend during your camping stay.

Occupants
Pinewoods Group Campground sites allow up to 40 occupants each, Hickory Woods Group Campground allow up to 20 occupants and the group site at Horseriders Campground allows up to 30

Pets are permitted in Ottawa Lake and portions of Pinewoods and Whitewater Lake Campgrounds. More...

Playground Equipment is available only at the Ottawa and Rice Lake day-use areas.

Poison Ivy can be found throughout the forest. Identification cards are available at campground Entrance Stations and Forest Headquarters.

Raccoons and Other Critters.
Bears are not known to be in the Kettle Moraine State Forest, but don't be surprised if you see a raccoon or skunk. These furry critters have been seen on numerous occasions, particularly in the campground. At times they can be bold and come very close to you, your camping party, and your food!

Do not feed them. Feeding conditions them to expect food and cause future problems (return callers). Always remove garbage and recyclables from your site daily to discourage raccoons' nighttime visits.

Other commonly seen animals include deer and turkey.

Reservations
Reservations are recommended for weekend camping from late spring through early fall and for any sites with electrical hookups. Availability depends upon the time of year, day of week, and where you plan to camp. Reserve a site online or by calling (888) 947-2757 11 months to two days before you want to camp.

Sanitary Dump Stations
Sanitary dump stations for camper units are available at Ottawa Lake and Pinewoods, and Whitewater Lake campgrounds. The dump station at Ottawa Lake is open year-round; however, the rinse water is turned off when there is a threat of freezing. Dump stations are free to use by all registered campers.

A trailer dump fee of $3 will be collected from anyone using a dump station and is not a registered camper. The dumping fee is in addition to the vehicle admission sticker fee.

Scooter Use

Non-motorized play toys include scooters (coasters), skateboards, roller skates, unicycles, or other toy vehicles. These cannot be used on campground roads or parking lots. (In-line skates can be used.) Non-motorized play toys are allowed on the paved pathway near the Ottawa Lake beach.

Registered motorized scooters and mopeds are allowed, when operated by a licensed driver. Any motorized scooter operated in the park needs a vehicle admission sticker. When a vehicle is towed into the park, a courtesy vehicle admission sticker will be issued at no additional charge.

Self-Registration is available for first come, first served sites when the family campgrounds are open for camping and the entrance stations are closed.

Severe Weather
In the event of a severe weather warning, if staffing allows, rangers will try to warn the campground and recreation area with a steady siren wail. Campers should seek cover immediately in a concrete block or stone building. Remember to stay out of trailers, vehicles, and tents; and stay away from the beaches, lakes or tall trees since these areas are prone to be struck by lightning.

Listen to radio station Milwaukee 620 AM (WTMJ) for weather information.

Site Descriptions
Partial site descriptions are available online. Each campsite description includes the maximum vehicle length, number of vehicles, driveway length, double-wide driveway or not, back-in or pull-through, paved or gravel, and shady or open.

More campsite information can be found on the campground maps, also available at any forest office.

If you have personal preferences not listed, such as multiple tents, more privacy, lake view, or adjoining campsites, call forest staff for suggestions. Likewise, if you call for a reservation and there are only a few sites to choose from, don't hesitate to call forest staff before you make the reservation.

Swimming
The state forest has two swimming beaches.

The Transfer List is for registered campers who wish to change sites either due to personal preference or an incoming reservation on their site. Being on a transfer list does not guarantee a site to transfer to the next day.

The transfer list for the next day begins when the previous day's transfer list is processed. Campers who have placed their name on the transfer list, and are present at the time the transfer list is processed (9 a.m.), will be given the opportunity (in the order in which their names appear on the list) to accept or decline potential transfer sites.

If a camper declines all available sites, he/she will be given the first opportunity to be placed on the next day's transfer list. Campers are not automatically placed on the next day's transfer list. To be placed on the next day's transfer list, a camper must make this request.

For potential openings over a day away, it is in the camper's best interest to place his/her name on each day's transfer list and be present the next morning at 9 a.m. to be placed immediately back on the subsequent day's transfer list. This insures the camper the same (or higher) spot on the transfer list.

NOTE: Registered campers who are physically present in the entrance station will be given priority over campers who choose to phone in a request to be placed on the next day's transfer list.

The Waiting List is for individuals interested in obtaining a site and who are not registered campers. A waiting list will only be started once the campground is completely filled. On the following day, sites are assigned to people (in the order that their names appear) on the waiting list after the Transfer List is completed.

Water Availability
No campsites have water hookups. There are water fountains throughout the campgrounds and water at the sanitary dump stations. At least one source of water is available year round in each campground.

During the spring and fall, call ahead to determine if the water systems will be operational. We may turn off water systems and close buildings if there is threat of freezing.

All water sources (Highway 67 Wayside, Forest Headquarters and Whitewater Entrance Station) for backpackers on the Ice Age Trail are available year round.

Wisconsin Explorer booklets are available at Forest Headquarters, Ottawa and Whitewater Lake entrance stations. When your child has finished the required tasks, stop back to pick up his or her patch.

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)

Horserider’s Campground
Camping from April 1 to December 1
W830 Little Prairie Rd.
Palmyra, WI 53156

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

Last Revised: Wednesday October 21 2009