Ottawa Lake Campground in the Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit offers diverse camping options 26 miles from Muskego, Wisconsin. Visitors can enjoy hiking on the Ice Age Trail system, swimming in the clean lake, and canoeing or kayaking in clear waters. The campground remains open year-round with both winter and summer recreational opportunities, providing a balance of natural experiences and basic amenities.
What to do
Hike the Ice Age Trail: At Ottawa Lake Campground, visitors have access to various trails through the Kettle Moraine State Forest. "The campground was close to our intended hiking trail — the Scuppernong section of the Ice Age Trail. It's absolutely gorgeous and will be why we come back again," notes Linda N.
Kayak in clear waters: The lake at Ottawa Lake Campground offers excellent paddling opportunities in clean water. According to Heather H., it's "a nice little lake to swim or paddle on" with convenient access to trails. The water clarity allows you to see fish swimming below your boat.
Visit natural springs: Explore the unique natural springs within hiking distance of the campground. One camper shares, "Beautiful campground (Ottawa Lake campsites) Great Lake, hiking to see the natural springs which is the coolest!! Drank fresh spring water!"
Horse riding and archery: Menomonee Park offers diverse recreational activities beyond standard camping. According to Matt N., "The park has a lot of trails for hiking, biking and some horse trails. The quarry is good for swimming, kayaking, or canoeing... There is a beach with life guards, pavilions to rent, horse riding trails, archery range."
What campers like
Winter camping options: Unlike many seasonal campgrounds, some locations near Muskego offer winter camping opportunities. At Ottawa Lake Campground, David H. notes it's "Great for winter camping" despite having "no showers in winter."
Clean swimming areas: The quarry at Menomonee Park provides a supervised swimming experience with lifeguards. Kyle B. mentions, "The pond has a great beach for kids," making it ideal for families concerned about water safety.
Firewood delivery service: Several campgrounds offer convenient firewood delivery service directly to campsites. Kim from Menomonee Park appreciates that "the Ranger will come by often with wood to buy," eliminating the need to leave your site or transport firewood.
Proximity to Lake Geneva: Big Foot Beach State Park provides affordable camping near upscale Lake Geneva. Brenton S. notes it's a "great place to quickly get in and set up, easy access to all amenities, the ranger station, and camp hosts if needed."
What you should know
Seasonal crowds: Most campgrounds near Muskego become very busy during peak summer months. At Ottawa Lake Campground, Neysha R. observes that the campground "gets very busy on the weekends!" Consider weekday visits for more solitude.
Road noise: Some campgrounds experience highway noise due to their proximity to major roads. A camper at Big Foot Beach State Park reports, "The road noise is absolutely noticeable. It was incredibly loud when we drove through the loop closest to the highway and was significantly better even just one section over."
Tick awareness: Ticks are common in Wisconsin's wooded areas. Prepare with appropriate repellent and clothing. One camper at Chain O'Lakes State Park warns, "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks... they literally fall out of the trees into people!"
Limited pet areas: Some parks have unexpected restrictions for pets. At Big Foot Beach State Park, Alexandria P. cautions, "Dogs aren't allowed in large swaths of the park nor on the (tiny tiny, bordered by loud highway) beach."
Tips for camping with families
Look for recreation staff: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park offers organized activities for children. Ginny B. shares, "Plenty of things to do all day with the rec dept staff and lots of sightings of Yogi, Boo Boo, and Cindy Bear! Pool and Bear Paw beach are both nice, the kids had a blast at both."
Consider site locations: When glamping close to Muskego, Wisconsin with children, site selection matters. At Chain O'Lakes State Park, one parent advises, "We chose the loop 11 was on because it was close to the path to the playgrounds and lakes plus bathrooms... avoid the first 2 sites from either end as the ones closest to the main loop aren't very deep."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Cora M. notes excellent wildlife viewing while kayaking at Turner Lake South: "I've seen beavers, minks, ferrets, and sand cranes on my two trips so far. I enjoy this route for the wildlife and nature scenery."
Multiple playground access: Menomonee Park features multiple play areas throughout the grounds. One parent mentions, "The park has a lot of trails for hiking, biking and some horse trails... pavilions to rent... There are miles of nice hiking trails, a nice beach, pavilions to rent."
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup variations: At Fox Den Campground, RVers benefit from dedicated electric posts at each site. Debra M. explains, "Fox Den is superior to Honeysuckle Hollows because each site has an individual electric post. Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts too far from parking pad."
Site selection for larger rigs: When glamping near Muskego with larger RVs, site selection matters. According to Debra M., "We originally booked 96 but could not extend our slide because of large trees on either side of the pad and then the electric was about 50 feet away. Moved to 50, one of the nicest spots."
Dump station timing: Plan dump station use strategically to avoid wait times. One camper at Chain O'Lakes notes, "The dump station was near the entrance to the camping loop and had potable water. It was also very busy and we had to wait when filling up and again when dumping."
Full hookup availability: For those seeking luxury camping near Muskego, be aware that full hookups are limited. Jeanne M. advises, "The only big minus is the full hook ups fill up fast, no spur of the moment camping unless it is early or late in the season."
