Wyalusing State Park sits at the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers in the far southwest corner of the state, and Wisconsin Ridge Campground occupies the bluff above that junction. The tradeoff at the heart of this campground is well-documented by visitors: ridge-facing sites in the 120s and 140s look out over the river valley but have no electric hookups, while interior sites have electricity and none of the views. Sites are close to the campground road, and privacy is limited throughout.
Wind is a real factor on the bluff. Several campers note that open sites like 125 catch strong gusts, particularly in spring. Nights in April can drop to freezing, and at least one visitor left early after freezing rain combined with exposed conditions made tent camping uncomfortable. Fall visits draw speculation about the leaf color, and summer brings mosquitoes that can make trail time unpleasant depending on the week. Raccoons and skunks pass through campsites after dark, and bald eagles are commonly spotted from the ridge.
Karla W. notes that "you can hear the train all night long plus some air traffic" from ridge sites, which is worth factoring into site selection. Cell coverage is generally workable, with multiple reviewers reporting LTE or 5G on US Cellular. Bathrooms are cleaned on a regular schedule, though some visitors have found them less tidy on Mondays after busy weekends. The concession building near the campground sells firewood, ice cream, and live bait, and also rents canoes and kayaks for access to the Mississippi backwaters.
Trails connect directly from the campground to the bluff system, including the Bluff Trail leading to Treasure Cave, a small passage campers can crawl through. There is no swimming in the park, and Jay W. cautions to "be prepared to walk through knee high water if you want to use the pier" when river levels are high. Reservations are strongly recommended during peak season, with rates running $23 to $40 per night. Campers looking at other options within the park can compare the Homestead Campground — Wyalusing State Park, which sits back in the woods with more tree cover and a quieter feel. For a broader look at the region, Prairie du Chien provides resupply options, and there are places to camp near Prairie du Chien for those planning a longer itinerary in the area.
Description
At Wyalusing, camp 500 feet above the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers. One of Wisconsin's oldest state parks, Wyalusing features family and group campsites, hiking trails, a canoe trail, Native American burial mounds, bird watching, fishing, boating, bicycling and picnicking near scenic overlooks. More than 100 campsites are found at Wyalusing. Several picnic shelters on the bluff tops are also reservable. Wyalusing's overnight group lodge and dormitories can be reserved by contacting the property office.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsWisconsin Ridge Campground is located in Wisconsin near Prairie du Chien
Public CampgroundDirections
https://maps.google.com?daddr=42.9778,-91.1139
Address
13081 State Park Lane
Bagley, WI 53801
Coordinates
42.99381408963128 N
91.11858874047245 W
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Site Types
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Picnic Table
- Reservable
- Electric Hookups
- Pets
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Pull-Through Sites
- 30 Amp Hookups
- 50 Amp Hookups
Drive Time
- 1 hr 10 min from Dubuque, IA
- 1 hr 22 min from La Crosse, WI
- 1 hr 50 min from Waterloo, IA
- 2 hrs 1 min from Cedar Rapids, IA
