Southern Unit Horseriders Campground in Kettle Moraine State Forest offers facilities specifically designed for equestrian campers. The campground connects directly to over 40 miles of bridle paths through diverse woodland and prairie terrain. Sites include electrical hookups, drinking water, modern toilet facilities with showers, fire rings, and picnic tables. The campground is open from April through November, allowing horse owners to plan their trips during prime riding seasons. Sites accommodate various horse trailer sizes with designated parking areas. The extensive trail system features paths of different difficulty levels for both novice and experienced riders. Water access for horses is available along the trails, but campers should bring their own feed storage containers. The campground requires proper manure disposal in designated areas to maintain cleanliness. The rolling terrain includes wooded sections that provide natural shade during summer months, with trail maps available at the ranger station.
What to do
Beach activities: Lake Kegonsa State Park offers swimming options with separate areas for different preferences. "The pedestrian beach is to rocky for my liking, but the dog beach is nice and sandy yet small. There is also a bit of a hike to get there. So if you take a cooler you may want a wagon," notes Ted W.
Horseback riding: Southern Unit Horseriders Campground provides direct access to extensive equestrian trails. Josh F. mentions, "There are also nice touches, such as a small stair-step for beginners or young people to mount their horse...There are ample places to bridle horses and shared corrals every four or five campsites."
Hiking: Pinewoods Campground offers accessible trail systems for all levels. "We asked the ranger about hiking and she gave us a map to a trail system that connects to this campground between the group sites and loop 3. We enjoyed a 4 mile hike from camp to the observation trail," shares Art S.
Mini golf: Harnischfeger County Park features an affordable mini golf course near the campground. "Has a 9 hole mini golf course that cost $1 a person. Has trails, disc golf, and rock river for kayaking," notes Brittany R.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Pinewoods Campground receives praise for secluded sites. "The sites in Loop 1 are varied as far as tree coverage, seclusion, and terrain. Our site (22) was relatively flat, felt secluded, had good tree coverage with some filtered sunlight," writes Abbe W.
Family-friendly amenities: Merry Mac's Campground offers numerous activities for children. "Fun place to take the family. Super fun campground with so much to do! Lots of games for all up by lodge. DJ dance party on the deck at night. Lake full of all kinds of floats the kids can climb and jump on," explains Tracy C.
Clean facilities: Lake Kegonsa State Park maintains well-kept bathroom facilities. "Clean facilities, friendly staff, and great trails. No bugs!" reports Brendan E. Another camper, Hubert M., adds, "My site was right next to camp hosts, and very near showers which were clean and lots of hot water."
Seasonal ambiance: Kettle Moraine South Camping offers year-round options with special appeal during certain seasons. Cathy L. notes, "We go there every year. The campsites are large with lots of foliage for privacy. It's so pretty in the fall. Red Trail, Paradise Trail, Rice Lake are all great hikes."
What you should know
Road noise: Some campgrounds near Marshall have traffic and train noise issues. At Kettle Moraine Southern Unit, Christie Z. advises, "We would recommend staying further from the road as there is some road noise but it didn't really bother us at all."
Weather challenges: Rain can create muddy conditions at some sites. Glenn S. observed at Kettle Moraine SF Southern Unit, "One thing that I didn't like as well as Bong State Park was that there was very little grassy area in the site. When it rained the first night, most of the site was mud."
Insect activity: Mosquitoes can be problematic in certain areas. At Menomonee Park, one reviewer warns about neighboring parks, "Not huge but a good size for a country park. The Ranger will come by often with wood to buy... The quarry is good for swimming, kayaking, or canoeing."
Low clearance hazards: Lake Kegonsa State Park has hazards for large RVs. Kathy L. warns, "Major CAUTION for RVs: there is an oak tree near entry with low branches and it took the AC off our friend's fifth wheel. There is also a low hanging overpass and it took the roofs off TWO fifth wheels while we were staying there."
Tips for camping with families
Group campsites: Menomonee Park offers specific areas for larger family gatherings. Matt N. notes, "There are a few group sites separate from the family camping. Large but in wide open fields. The park has a lot of trails for hiking, biking and some horse trails."
Beach access for children: Lake Kegonsa State Park provides family-friendly water features. Matt N. shares, "A nice state park. Clean bathrooms with showers. Good sized site with nice privacy. Good hiking around the lake and mostly dog friendly. Nice play ground with horse shoe pits."
Varied accommodation options: Merry Mac's Campground offers alternatives for families with elderly members. Cherie J. mentions, "My family and I love the yurts and the giant pool/pond. The park model rentals are nice now that my grandma is getting older."
Off-season visits: Consider weekday visits to avoid crowds. Heather H. from Lake Kegonsa State Park reports, "Beautiful sites super quiet" when visiting on weekdays.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: Sleepy Dragon Campground offers pull-through options for easier maneuvering. Patti M. shares, "I enjoyed it so much decided to stay permanently. My original site was 120, then moved to 114, it's a corner site. Has shade and sun at different times of the day. Large to medium camp sites, grassy, concreted if that's what you like."
Electrical options: Several campgrounds offer various electric hookups for RVs. At Southern Unit Horseriders Campground, electric sites accommodate different needs. Josh F. recommends specific pull-through sites for easier trailer access: "There's also a series of pull-through sites that would make it easier for those who don't care to back trailers in or out of the site. These include electric sites 405, 404, 403, 402, and 401."
Dump station availability: Most state parks and county parks provide sanitary dump stations. Michael D. from Merry Mac's Campground advises, "We only stayed a few nights, chose a pull thru site. The staff is great, the pool is brand new! They have a huge pond with inflatables. Firewood for sale, great wifi, clean bathhouses/rooms."
Site drainage: Choose sites with good drainage after rain. At Pinewoods Campground, Jack D. suggests, "We stayed in loop 3 site 273 as we were camping in the early season and loops 1-2 were closed. The site was well wooded and very spacious! It had a decent clearing for some sun and the driveway was longer setting it back from the loop road."
Legend
