A last minute decision to camp for a night led my son and I to the often visited Pike Lake unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Its a beautiful park and within 30 minutes of our home. We picked on of the three backpacking sites that are along the Ice Age Trail and away from the other traditional sites close to the lake. There are many trails, a observation tower with a view of Holy Hill and Pike Lake, and of course the Ice Age Scenic Trail.

We rolled the dice. Late spring Wisconsin weather made its presence felt, but we were undeterred. Its hard to be disappointed when faced with the spectacular views of the Apostle Islands. Kayaking was out but hiking was definitely in. A bit a solutitude on the trails was so rewarding. We chose a walk in site vs the drive in site and honestly we couldn't have made a poor choice after a nice walk through the campground. We will be returning for the kayaking of course and another camp in Big Bay is a given!

It was so pleasant to camp in relative seclusion after a day of exploring the scenic beauty and the many trails that twist around this fantastic national treasure. The night was clear, the stars out, and the sounds of the Atlantic nearby made a superb camping experience. With coastal hikes so close, sunrise hikes and exploring the tide pools were outstanding!