Established Camping
Blackhawk Park
About
US Army Corps of Engineers
Mississippi River - Pool 9
Overview
Blackhawk Park is located on a forested bend of the main channel of the Mississippi River. The campground is the largest public use facility in Mississippi's Pool 9, offering a wide variety of recreational activities.
Recreation
Boating, kayaking, canoeing and fishing are Blackhawk's most popular forms of recreation. Park rangers provide a variety of programs and activities throughout the summer. Interpretive programs are based on recreation, local history and the environment. Other activities range from guided walks and campfire talks, to natural crafts programs. Here, one can view majestic bluffs and rich backwater vegetation. Sometimes a river barge or classic paddle-wheeled steamboat can be seen journeying up the river.
Facilities
The campground offers 150 campsites, including 73 with electrical hookups. All sites have a picnic table and fire ring provided. Flush toilets and showers are located in the West Camping loop. There are no full-hook up sites but a dump station and potable water are located within the park. The park also has a beach, two picnic shelters, two boat ramps, two playgrounds, a volleyball court, horseshoe pits, fishing docks.
Natural Features
This peaceful park is situated on the main channel of the Mississippi River. Cottonwoods, green ash, swamp oaks, river birch and willow trees forest the site, offering nice shade in the summer and beautiful fall colors in autumn. Visitors commonly see a variety of wildlife, including bald eagles, blue herons, ducks, geese, whitetail deer and wild turkey.
Nearby Attractions
The small river towns of DeSoto, Wisconsin and Lansing, Iowa are nearby. DeSoto is 5 minutes south, Lansing is 15 minutes south with a few restaurants and shops. LaCrosse, Wisconsin is 30 minutes north, with restaurants, shops, galleries and farmers markets. Effigy Mounds National Monument which is operated by the National Park Service (NPS) is located about a 40 minutes south of Blackhawk Park and offers excellent hiking opportunities, and well as picturesque views, and a visitor center, and is free to enter. The Driftless Area Education And Visitors Center in Lansing Iowa is a short 15 minute drive south, and explores the cultural, recreational, natural, and historical significance of the Driftless Area.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonGood
- AT&TGood
- T-MobilePoor
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Phone Service
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Water Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
COE Blackhawk
Flat sites along MS river. Excellent staff.
Quite basecamp
Got into the park after 5pm, so went to my site as office was closed till 6. Discovered sites had no water spigot, so filled up by the office. Sites are fairly flat clay soil, so I didn't have to level much. A thunderstorm didn't create any driving issues. Campground is among tall trees, but I didn't have any issues.
Great stay here
Stayed here two nights in late August. From our site (30) we had a nice view of the water which was about a 3min walk. Site was mostly level with gravel, picnic table and fire pit/grate. The trees on this look are amazingly tall and provide great shade. Park was clean and maintained. We didn’t use the pit toilets, but we did walk (~10min)to the other newer loop and used the shower house which was nice and clean. The loop that the shower house is on has very young trees so little shade and the spots seemed closer together so I’d personally steer clear. Nice, quiet, and relaxing.
Location
Blackhawk Park is located in Wisconsin
Directions
From DeSoto, WI, travel 3 miles north on HWY 35 and turn left on County Road BI. From LaCrosse, WI, travel 25 miles south on HWY 35 and turn right on County Road BI.
Address
E590 CTY RD BI
Desoto, WI 54624
Coordinates
43.462153 N
91.223912 W