Kettle Moraine State Forest near Wales, Wisconsin sits on a glacial landscape formed over 10,000 years ago, creating its distinctive rolling hills and kettles. Camping sites throughout the forest range from 700-1,000 feet in elevation, with summer temperatures typically reaching highs of 80°F and dropping to 55-60°F at night. Pine needles cover many tent sites instead of gravel, creating softer ground for camping.
What to do
Hiking to natural springs: Visit Scuppernong Springs accessible from several campgrounds. "Beautiful campground (Ottawa Lake campsites) Great Lake, hiking to see the natural springs which is the coolest!! Drank fresh spring water!" says Autumn S. about Ottawa Lake Campground.
Mountain biking trails: The forest offers single-track trails for cyclists. "20 minute drive to the awesome Kettle Moraine biking trails. Yee haw!" notes Heather H. about Ottawa Lake. Bruce G. adds that Kettle Moraine Southern Unit has "Awesome single-track mountain bike trails."
Winter camping options: Unlike many Wisconsin campgrounds, several sites remain open year-round. "No showers in winter but awesome," reports David H. about winter camping at Ottawa Lake. Tim H. adds, "You can camp year around in this campground... No host so buying wood is an issue, but pick a site on the edge and there is more than enough free. Bring a saw."
Astronomy observation: Some areas have dedicated stargazing spots. Susan S. recommends the "interpretive astronomy trail" at Pike Lake and suggests visitors "take the walk up Powder Hill to the tower!"
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campsites offer good separation from neighbors. Jack D. found Pinewoods Campground to have "well wooded and very spacious" sites, adding that his site "had a decent clearing for some sun and the driveway was longer setting it back from the loop road."
Quiet camping areas: For those seeking peace, Loop 1 at Pinewoods provides a 24-hour quiet area. Wendy Z. states, "We liked this site because it was on the 'quiet loop.' No radios or pets allowed... it was a beautiful site and wonderfully quiet for the long weekend over the 4th of July."
Lake swimming: The forest's lakes offer clean swimming options. Neysha R. notes that at Ottawa Lake, "The lake is very clean and the site are a good size." Teresa D. adds that at Pinewoods Campground, "There's a lake for swimming, fishing and boating only 4 miles down the road at Ottawa Campground."
Backpacking shelter options: Designated backpacking sites with amenities are available. Andrew S. describes the backpacking sites as "Reservable backpacking sites about 45-60min away from nearest parking. Fire pit, shelter, and picnic table at site." Erin Z. found KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site to be a "Great backpack camp site. Decent walk and terrain to get to the site. There is an open shelter to put your tent if you prefer to outside."
What you should know
Summer crowds: Weekends can become very busy during peak season. Neysha R. warns that Ottawa Lake "Gets very busy on the weekends!" GA J. advises that the "Busiest days are after memorial day weekend and to labor day weekend."
Road noise: Some campsite loops are affected by nearby highways. Linda N. notes, "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."
Black bear activity: Bears have been reported in the area. Abbe W. from Pinewoods Campground mentions, "There was a posting about black bear sightings in the area. We did not experience that, just chipmunks and birds."
Insects: Bug spray is recommended during warm months. Adam from Ottawa Lake suggests visitors "Bring bug spray" and Amanda F. emphasizes "Definitely make sure to bring your bug spray for this location!"
Poison ivy awareness: Some trails have poison ivy. Brendan E. advises, "The bugs weren't bad, but beware of the poison ivy."
Tips for camping with families
Dog swimming areas: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Wales offer dedicated pet swimming spots. Lesley R. notes that at Naga-Waukee Park "There's swimming, access to most of the hiking trails available in kettle Moraine, and all within walking distance of where you park your tent or vehicle."
Playground access: Some campgrounds have play areas for children. Matt N. observed that Menomonee 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."
Junior ranger activities: Educational programs are available for kids. Jill G. recommends visitors "Pick Up the activity book for kids it is a great adventure lots to do at the lake!!!"
Family-friendly hiking: Trails vary in difficulty to accommodate all ages. Art S. describes, "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."
Tips from RVers
Electric site locations: Not all sites offer electrical hookups. Sugar Maple S. notes, "Generally, the inner ring is electric (except #23) and the outer ring is non-electric." They add that sites "#2 #4, #29 #31 is okay, but smaller" are "large and flat perfect for a class A."
Tight turns: Some campground roads have challenging turns for larger rigs. Sugar Maple S. warns, "There is a TIGHT turn in the campground loop near site #17 to be aware of with longer trailers."
Winter camping preparations: RVers staying during cold months need special planning. Tim H. notes winter camping requires self-sufficiency: "No host so buying wood is an issue, but pick a site on the edge and there is more than enough free. Bring a saw."
Local shopping access: Resupply options are available nearby. Sugar Maple S. mentions Pike Lake is "Close to all of the troubleshooting options for new campers (Walmart, grocery, fast food, vegan grocery store & coffee shop)."
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