State Parks & Forests

Camping

Other Facilities

Indoor Group Camping in Wisconsin State Parks and Forests

There are four indoor group camps in Wisconsin state parks and forests. Those at Big Bay State Park and Point Beach State Forest are rustic, and those at Wyalusing State Park and Black River State Forest are modern.

You may reserve an indoor group camp up to one year before the date you want to camp. If the reservation is for a weekend night, it must be for at least two nights. Please begin by calling the park or forest where the group camp is located. Experience has shown that these preliminary discussions are valuable to groups. You'll get clear answers to your questions about availability, overnight accommodations, cooking facilities, recreational opportunities, etc. Then reserve your site:

Vehicle admission stickers are required at all the camps.

Modern Group Camps

Wyalusing State Park
Location 13081 State Park Lane., Bagley WI 53801
Telephone (608) 996-2261 (Park Office—for reservation information)
(608) 996-2224 (Pay phone at camp lodge—to contact someone staying at the camp)
Fees $4/person/night ($200/group/night minimum) plus $4 reservation fee.
Sleeping accommodations Four separate buildings, each accommodating 27 people (108 people total). Bunk beds with mattresses. Indoor showers and flush toilets. Buildings are heated.
Eating accommodations Eating facilities are in a separate building, which also serves as a meeting area/recreation hall. The kitchen and eating facilities are modern.
Availability: April 10 through mid-November
Black River State Forest
Location Camp, N9501 Campground Rd., Hatfield. Forest Headquarters, 10325 Highway 12 E., Black River Falls.
Mailing Address 910 E.Hwy. 54 , Black River Falls 54615-9276
Telephone (715) 284-4103 (Forest Headquarters) or for reservations, (888) 947-2757.
Fees $3/person/night; $40/group/night minimum, plus $10 reservation fee.
Sleeping accommodations The two-bedroom cabin is available for groups of up to 12 people. You may use tents, campers, or other outdoor camping shelters next to the cabin, but total group size may not exceed 50 persons. The cabin has radiant floor heat and a gas fireplace. Six bunk beds are provided but mattresses are not. Smoking is not allowed inside the cabin. In order to maintain sanitary camping standards, no pets are permitted inside the cabin. An outdoor 5- by 15-foot covered kennel is provided.
Eating accommodations The cabin has an electric cook stove, refrigerator, and kitchen sink. Bring your own cooking utensils. Outdoors are a large outdoor fire ring and a barbecue grill. Firewood is available on site. Campers must clean the cabin and surrounding area before checkout. Cleaning supplies are provided.
Located on Site: Horseshoe pits and sand volleyball court.
Availability Year-round.

Rustic Group Camps

Big Bay State Park
Location Madeline Island (across from Bayfield, by ferry), P.0. Box 589, Bayfield WI 54814-0589
Telephone (715) 747-6425
Fees $3/person/night or $40/group/night minimum; there is a $40 deposit plus $4 reservation fee.
Sleeping accommodations Sleeping is not allowed inside the two-story day use shelter building. This building can only be used for food preparation and meetings and will accommodate up to 20 people. Tents and/or 1 wheeled camper unit (i.e. pop-up camper, pickup camper) must be used for sleeping. The building is heated with a fireplace. Firewood is available from a self-pay location. There are no indoor rest rooms, only outdoor pit toilets.
Eating accommodations Kitchen and dining facilities are on the lower floor. Electricity is available. The kitchen has a stove, refrigerator, microwave and sink. Water is available from an outside hand pump. Bring your own cooking and eating utensils.
Availability May l through the second weekend in October for authorized nonprofit groups only. Maximum length of stay: three nights.
Point Beach State Forest
Location The Forest is north of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, along scenic Lake Michigan. The cabins are within a few hundred feet of the Lake Michigan shoreline
Telephone (920) 794-7480
Fees $60/cabin/night plus $10 reservation fee.
Sleeping accommodations Two buildings—The Coenen Cabin accommodates 16 people, and the Ketchbaw Cabin accommodates 14 people. These are rustic cabins. There is no electricity. Cabins are supplied with bunks and mattresses. Campers should bring sleeping bag and pillow, battery powered lanterns or flashlights. Water is available from a hand pump. Each cabin has a wood burning stove for heat.
Eating accommodations Cabins are supplied with tables, chairs, and countertop. Campers should bring cooking utensils. All cooking is done outside at the covered porch area. Pit toilets for restroom facilities. It is required that all campers clean the cabins and surrounding area prior to check out. Cleaning supplies are provided. Refuse disposal and recycling is located near the family campground.
Availability Year-round. The cabins may be reserved 11 months in advance. Call the park office for availability. A two-night minimum stay is required on weekends. Maximum stay is 7 nights.

For more information, ask Dave Benish, camping manager, (608) 264-8960.

Last Revised: Friday February 12 2010