Governor Dodge State Park sits within Wisconsin's unique Driftless Area, a region untouched by glaciers during the last ice age, creating a landscape of steep hills and narrow valleys. The park rises to elevations of 1,200 feet, with temperature variations between ridge tops and valley bottoms sometimes differing by 5-10 degrees. Surrounding Boscobel, several equestrian campgrounds offer trail access through the region's distinctive terrain, with most requiring reservations during peak seasons from May through October.
What to do
Kayak the Kickapoo River: Wildcat Mountain State Park provides an excellent base for exploring the Kickapoo River, known for its winding nature. "We kayaked the Kickapoo river and stayed here for a night. Hiking trails were pretty close and we had quite the exercise going up/down the mountain," notes Joyce B., who recommends bringing a high-clearance vehicle as "if you have a low car, the front end is going to get scraped at the bottom of the mountain."
Explore trout streams: Yellow River State Forest in nearby Iowa offers excellent trout fishing opportunities across its multiple campgrounds. "Trout fishing is good with seasonal stockings," according to James M. at Creekside Equestrian Campground. The forest maintains a stocking calendar for anglers planning trips around prime fishing periods.
Visit geological features: Wyalusing State Park features distinctive rock formations and caves along its trail system. "There's some really nice trails and cool rock formations, couple this with the playground and nice bathrooms it makes for an ideal campground for families with younger children," writes Connor M., who advises caution as "it's on a bluff so there are some steep drop-off points that children could take a pretty nasty fall from."
What campers like
Spacious equestrian sites: Frontier Equestrian Campground in Yellow River State Forest provides well-designed facilities for horses and riders. "Very nice spacious sites for horses/riders including tie-ups, fire rings, tables at each site," reports James M., who appreciates the "manure station with tools" and notes that "some trails are multiuser."
Privacy between sites: Twin Valley Campground at Governor Dodge State Park offers good separation between campsites. "Well wooded and spacious sites," writes Dawn A., who mentions that "this is a state park so amenities are electric and the campgrounds do have public showers. Great little lakes for canoe, paddle board, kayak and fishing."
Modern shower facilities: Cox Hollow Campground at Governor Dodge State Park earns praise for its updated facilities. "Bathrooms were clean but a little dated. Didn't see hooks in the shower stalls," notes Lee D., who advises that "except for the handicap accessible sites, all are non electric." The reviewer also cautions that not all "driveways" are level, which may present challenges for larger vehicles.
What you should know
Seasonal access limitations: Multiple campgrounds in the Boscobel area have varying seasonal availability. White Mound County Campground offers reasonable rates calculated per person and service. "Fees were incredibly reasonable for such a nice campground," writes Amy G., who details the pricing structure: "$5 per adult, $5 per car or vehicle, $5 if you didn't have a park sticker, $5 if you made the reservation online or by phone, $5 for electric."
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons are particularly bold in several area campgrounds. "Beware of raccoons at this campground they are BOLD!" warns Jen L. about Governor Dodge State Park, while Sarah R. at Twin Valley cautions: "PSA (obvi) keep your food and garbage locked up and away from your site. The raccoons here and insanely bold, we had one frequently visit our site and get VERY close to us and in the evening ended up ripping thru the roof of our tent."
Cell service variability: Connectivity varies significantly across horse campgrounds near Boscobel. Tori L. reports that at Big Paint Campground, "I had no phone service," while Connor M. notes that at Wyalusing, "Cellphone coverage wasn't a problem either."
Tips for camping with families
Look for interactive programs: Wyalusing State Park offers educational activities for younger visitors. "The nature program was great for our son who was 2 at the time," shares Jennifer B., who also recommends visiting "the sand caves are cool, lots of unique hiking features."
Consider waterfront access: Yellowstone Lake State Park provides beach access appropriate for children. "There's a nice beach for kids and adults to relax at and lots of kayaks on the water," reports Ryan K., who found the "campsites were good and bathrooms were clean enough."
Find kid-friendly hiking: Governor Dodge State Park features trails suitable for various skill levels. "Perfect for a family get away - showers, flush toilets, lots of hiking (but trails aren't very challenging), swimming area and boat launch, playground," reports Jen L., who appreciates that it has "basically a little bit of everything that makes it family friendly."
Tips from RVers
Check site leveling: Multiple campgrounds in the region have uneven sites that can challenge larger RVs. "If camping with a trailer or RV check to make sure you will get a campsite that is level enough for your vehicle. Lots of the campsites are uneven and larger vehicles may have issues getting level," advises Jeanne M. about Yellowstone Lake State Park.
Consider accessibility issues: Road access varies significantly between campgrounds. "The driveway leading to the campground is a bit daunting (especially if pulling a camper), but its well worth it!" notes Holly W. about Wildcat Mountain State Park, while Paul C. states that Governor Dodge is a "Great campground for everything but big 5th wheelers and motorhomes."
Reserve water hookup sites early: Limited full-hookup sites are available at some campgrounds. "We were at site 125 which has fantastic views of the river and surrounding area's, but the wind is stronger at this spot because it's open," shares Connor M. about Wyalusing State Park, adding that "the entire campground is situated on top of a bluff so this compounded our wind issue."
