Kettle Moraine State Forest offers diverse glamping and camping options near Waterford, Wisconsin. This 30,000-acre forest features glacial terrain with kettle depressions, moraines, and kames formed during the last ice age. Camping sites range from primitive backcountry shelters to full-hookup campgrounds with sites available year-round, including winter camping opportunities at Ottawa Lake.
What to do
Kayaking and canoeing: Chain O' Lakes State Park provides interconnected waterways perfect for paddling. "I love to kayak through here because I don't need to paddle through the river unless I'm feeling competitive. I enjoy this route for the wildlife and nature scenery. I've seen beavers, minks, ferrets, and sand cranes on my two trips so far," notes Cora M. from Turner Lake South Campground.
Natural springs exploration: Take a 2-mile hike from Ottawa Lake to Scuppernong Springs. "Beautiful campground (Ottawa Lake campsites) Great Lake, hiking to see the natural springs which is the coolest!! Drank fresh spring water!" shares Autumn S. from Ottawa Lake Campground.
Ice Age Trail hiking: The Scuppernong section of the Ice Age Trail offers scenic hiking through glacial terrain. "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," explains Linda N., who stayed at Ottawa Lake Campground.
Winter activities: Several campgrounds remain open for winter camping. "No showers in winter but awesome," reports David H. about Ottawa Lake Campground, making it a year-round outdoor destination.
What campers like
Lake access: Multiple camping areas offer direct lake access for swimming and fishing. "The lake was very clean and the site are a good size. Gets very busy on the weekends!" notes Neysha R. about Big Foot Beach State Park, where glamping options include yurts.
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds feature well-separated sites with natural screening. "Sites are medium sized. We had full hookup which was nice. Plenty of things to keep kids busy," says Kim Z. about Jellystone Park Caledonia.
Seasonal events: Fall and winter camping offers unique experiences. "We booked a site here for Halloween and had a great time. My kids love Halloween Weekend camping at the various JellyStone Campgrounds. This location did not disappoint," shares Marc W. who visited Jellystone Caledonia for their themed weekend.
Lake views: Tiered camping provides scenic vistas. "Beautiful views overlooking Turtle Lake. Friendly and helpful staff," reports Carole X. who stayed at Snug Harbor Inn Campground.
What you should know
Alcohol policies: Rules vary by campground. "ALL Illinois State Parks are now enforcing a no alcohol policy even if you are on your own site," advises Jeanne M. about Fox Den Campground.
Wildlife awareness: Prepare for local wildlife encounters. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks," warns Meg at Honeysuckle Hollow. "The raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched."
Road noise: Some campgrounds experience traffic noise. "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," notes Linda N. about Ottawa Lake Campground.
Reservation timing: Popular sites book quickly during peak seasons. "The full hook ups fill up fast no spur of the moment camping unless it is early or late in the season," explains Jeanne M. from Fox Den Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Choose campgrounds with swimming options. "The beach and lake was incredibly clean (they had a triathlon there we weekend we stayed). Scuppernong Springs was also a treat for the kiddos although I highly recommended planning for a solid 2 mile hike if you're with kids," advises Linda N. from Ottawa Lake.
Playgrounds access: Select sites near recreation areas. "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. Closer to the center of this row is best," recommends Meg about Honeysuckle Hollow Camping Area.
Budget-friendly options: Look for affordable primitive sites. "These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly. There's some small trails around as well that are beginner," notes Addison G. about Turner Lake South Camping Area.
Containment solutions: Bring screen houses for children. "Plan for toddlers and babies to have a contained covered screen house and have them wear hats or a wagon shade on walks so nothing lands in their hair," suggests Meg about dealing with ticks at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Tips from RVers
Hookup accessibility: Check power post locations before booking. "A lot of the spaces are also crowded together. Recommend sites 23 to 46 for spacing and electric distance. 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," cautions Debra M. about Honeysuckle Hollow.
Campground layout comparison: "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. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees. In Honeysuckle you will have clear line of site to very close neighbor," explains Debra M.
Dump station timing: Plan for potential waits during busy periods. "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," notes Tina about Honeysuckle Hollow.
Private sites: For more seclusion, "Fox den at Chain-o-Lakes state park provides a more secluded camping experience than Honeysuckle or the 2 tent camping areas. Pads are pretty level, and each site has some semblance of privacy from other campers," recommends Ian C.
