Best Camping in and near Kettle Moraine State Forest (Pike Lake Unit)

80% (11 reviews)

Live like an Ice Age human in a huge state forest near Milwaukee.

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Top-rated campgrounds near Kettle Moraine State Forest (Pike Lake Unit)

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Purplehaze Acres

9 sites · Lodging, Tents60 acres · Rubicon, WI

Purplehaze Acres is a 60-acre organic rustic farm in Rubicon, WI and resides at the beginning of the approx. 650-mile Niagara Escarpment--known locally as "The Ledge". We are in close proximity to the Ice Age Trail, and the natural treasures of the great Horicon Marsh, Lake Sinnissipi/Rock River with canoeing/kayaking/fishing, Ledges County Park, and the world-renowned Holy Hill Shrine. Nearby Hustisford ("Husti") offers unique shopping and dining experiences. Need a few organic groceries? Make sure to visit Back To The Best Organic grocer only 3 miles away, featuring food raised on local organic farms including Purplehaze Acres. We offer a variety of camping alternatives, with 7 tent sites, 1 group site, and a cabin. There is potable water, charcoal grills, firepit grates, eggs and, available for purchase, firewood. COMING SOON: Did you forget something? If so, check out our Camp Cupboard Store. Your approach via 1/2-mile dirt drive up the hills and through the woods . . . to not your grandmother's typical house you go. You'll find wonderful vistas, wildflowers, berries, trails up into the woods, a 900' grass runway for aviators on an overall great "peace" of earth. ☮

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Cricket Ranch

5 sites · Tents53 acres · Cascade, WI

We are honored to again be named one of the Best Hipcamps in Wisconsin for 2024. Thank you to our guests for your wonderful reviews and helpful suggestions! And a special thank you to one of our guests, Brandon "Da Garbage Disposal" Clark, for featuring Cricket Ranch in his YouTube series "Outdoors Unsupervised: Survival Season 6". Learn more about this land: Cricket Ranch is a crazy combo of Nature's past, present, and future. The property was a farm with 75% of it corn fields until 30 years ago. It has been virtually untouched since then and in just a few decades it has reinvented itself as a forest. Chambers Creek runs thru the west side of the property. As a headwater of the Milwaukee River, it is part of the Great Lakes Basin and a source for Lake Michigan. Wisconsin has identified Chambers Creek as an Exceptional Resource Water (ERWs), Less than 10% of Wisconsin waterways carry this designation. What we do (or don't do) now affects the Great Lakes later. And you'll find fossils in the rock walls of some of the earliest examples of complex life on Earth (from 460 mya, Ordovician, Cambrian). No digging required. Seriously. How they got there is a very long story in the making and involves ancient inland seas, plate tectonics, glaciers, German immigrants, and 19th-20th century farming. Off the Beaten Path @ Cricket Ranch provides a true back to nature environment for campers, sometimes called "backcountry camping". Located on 50 acres of private forest, field, and valley, our campsites are very secluded and separated by acres of woodland. Each layout is unique, embracing what nature has provided. Backpacking (or wagoning) to your camp from the parking area is necessary as the 5' wide paths do not accommodate cars/trucks. Hiking distance from parking area: (1) Camp Cricket is 600 Ft. (2) Haen Hollow is 250 ft. (3) Rocky Top is 700 ft. (4) Grapeline is 1000 ft. Feel fee to explore the land! We are located near the Niagara Escarpment so, as previously mentioned, you might even find a 460 million year old fossil on one of the field rock walls. Keep it! So we can keep a count of how many are found, and out of an overabundance of curiosity, please let us know and send some pics of your find. Chambers Creek provides a spot to cool your feet, stone step, or just listen to the relaxing sound of a babbling brook. The creek is overgrown with brush so access is limited but we do have a trail that follows the creek for about 300 yds. We intend to clear some more of the underbrush in the near future to allow for better enjoyment and management of this invaluable natural resource. Near by: Kettle Moraine National Forest is a 10 minute drive, boasting great hiking and the can't-miss-it view from atop Parnell Tower. Lake Ellen has a nice no-fee public boat landing just 2 miles away. The lake has clear water and is stocked periodically with Pike and Walleye. It is surprising how un-busy this lake is so bring your boat, kayak, paddle board, and/or assorted flotation devices and check it out. Our parking area can accommodate boat trailers during your stay.

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Ice Age Retreat

3 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Palmyra, WI

Surrounded by the Kettle Moraine Forest, we purchased this property in October of 2022 to be closer to nature and to share this property with you. We look forward to hosting you. The forest provides many opportunities enjoy! Close to the Ice Age Hiking Trail, Blad Bluff Scenic Overlook within walking distance of our retreat. Hiking, Moutain Biking, Cross Country Skiing, Snow Shoe, Horse Back Riding and much more

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Mayville Farm

2 sites · RVs11 acres · Wind Lake, WI

Our home and property was originally built by the Norwegian immigrants that emigrated to the US, settling and founding North Cape. This property has evolved and devolved in the last 170 years and I’m working hard to restore it all again. I also keep sheep for wool and ducks, chickens and geese for eggs.Learn more about this land:Hobby farm, just starting out. Historic property, sheep, ducks, geese, chickens. Very quiet, peaceful place! I also make soap (check out The Humble Soaping Company), home brew beers wines, meads, spirits and gardens abound all around the property! We do have pets, it can interact as much or as little as you’d like. Our place is the perfect one-night stop when traveling long distances!

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Leon's Lakeview Campground

3 sites · RVs, Tents25 acres · Stockbridge, WI

This site is a 25-acre parcel of land which is part of the "Niagara Escarpment" and offers breathtaking views of Lake Winnebago along with beautiful sunsets. Consists of approximately 20 acres of wildflowers and prairie grasses and 5 acres of woodlands. There are grass walking trails around the entire perimeter and three spacious campsites to choose from. Conveniently located, just minutes away from High Cliff State Park, Calumet County Park, Columbia Park, Mulberry Lane Farm, LaClare Creamery, Ziegler Winery, shopping, restaurants, supper clubs, live music venues and much more.

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70s Vintage RV, City Glamping

1 site · Lodging1 acre · Milwaukee, WI

Our property is in the bay view neighborhood of Milwaukee, Walking distance to the shores of Lake Michigan. My partner and I our run our business on our property. Aaron owns a skate shop called Sky High and I run a vintage business out of my studio upstairs! Our neighborhood is full of nature and quite peaceful, but close to just about everything you need! Learn more about this land: Arrive in Milwaukee in the hip Bay View neighborhood where there is tons of great food and nature. You will be staying in my newly renovated 70s Motorhome with a private camping yard stocked with fire wood, an outdoor sink, picnic table and a fireplace!

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Cambridge Wood-fired Pottery

1 site · Lodging2 acres · Cambridge, WI

Located just 20 minutes from Madison, the property is at the dead end of a long lane and home to a pottery shop that has been in business for 35 years. The cabin is surrounded by farm fields and woodland were you will experience solitude and privacy yet have easy access to our local community that hosts shops and restaurants. The property is also adjacent to The Dane County Camrock Park system known for premier mountain biking as well as walking paths.

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Armstrong Orchard And Winery

15 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Campbellsport, WI

We have a small apple orchard on 5 acres and we have a big open field. We have a small playground and some picnic tables. Also, right next to the winery and parking lot. There are porta potties outside. It is very scenic, nestled in the Kettle Moraine Forest. Very peaceful and private property surrounded by trees. You can see the stars well at night and we often have deer on the property. Dogs are welcome.

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Small Orchard on 150 acre Farm

5 sites · RVs, Tents150 acres · Ixonia, WI

CAMPSITE IS LOCATED IN THE ORCHARD. Please do not enter the main farm driveway. If you are not looking at Apple trees you are in the wrong place. Pets need to be on a leash and cleaned up after. Please do not leave them out of the orchard. My grandfather purchased the property and everything you can see 360° around you in 1953. The orchard was started in 1962 and the large trees date back to that time and still produce apples. My dad took over in 1985 and it has been part of my life ever since. After my dads passing in 2017 the property fell to me. At it's peak there were 85 trees that produced 500 bushels of apples per season. All hand pruned, sprayed and picked. We sold them 5 days a week at local farmers markets. Currently, about two dozen trees are maintained, the rest feed the local wildlife. An orchard is a year round commitment. Enjoy your stay. ~Dale This is a small working family orchard. Sites are rustic. RV and trailers can park on grass or the driveway. Tents ⛺ can set up on the grass. Sites are not marked. HipCamp requires that I list them separately for reservation purposes. The location is not busy. Maybe one or two reservations a weekend in the summer. Pick a spot you are comfortable & enjoy your stay. One picnic table on site. One fire pit. Minutes from the Rock River for paddling and fishing. No bathroom on site. No water onsite. No onsite camp host. My Uncle is your neighbor, so I will hear about any mischief you might get into.

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Simply Maple Farm Tipi🪶🏕️🛶

1 site · RV, Tent100 acres · Mukwonago, WI

Reconnect with nature at our secluded campsite nestled next to the Fox River. You can bring your own RV/tent/campervan or choose to stay in the tipi. There are two kayaks labeled for guests to use during their stay and could use to fish The Fox River. As you drive on the dirt road to the site there are farm fields to your left and the Fox River is straight ahead. If needing to to get groceries, Walmart and Aldi's are about 5 minutes away. Local towns are Mukwonago and East Troy. Chicago is 90 minutes away and Milwaukee and Lake Geneva are 30. Fork in the Road is a popular restaurant in Mukwonago or try Mead in East Troy at the Hive! The Alpine Valley Music Theatre is 15 minutes away. Location is near I-43 & Highway 83. You can Venmo or use cash while you are at the campsite to purchase wood for one dollar a piece.

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Kettle House

2 sites · Lodging77 acres · Eagle, WI

We found our Kettle House in 1999 when we were in the market for a vacant parcel to pitch a tent after a long day of riding the single track trails in the State Forest. We are originally from Dane County Wisconsin, which like the Eagle area is graced with terminal moraine geology. A terminal moraine is where the last glaciation stopped and dropped everything it was carrying. These deposited sand and gravel hills and interim kettles, many of which include lakes and wetlands, are the topography we are inherently drawn to. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to better balance our city living with a country weekend retreat in such a special area. The site's historic ecosystems (woodland, savanna, prairie and aquatic) were in rough shape when we bought the property which had been suburbanized to large degree, but as ecologists, we knew there was lots of potential to restore the site and reclaim a special part of Wisconsin's natural environment. It is our responsibility and privilege to care for this property and you may see evidence of our regular site work during your visit. We hope you mostly see and enjoy a nice example of natural Wisconsin in various stages of restoration!Learn more about this land:This amazing property is located 20 minutes northeast of Geneva Lake and Delevan Lake, 75 minutes southeast of Madison, 45 minutes southwest of Milwaukee and 1.75 hours northwest of Chicago. It is situated within minutes drive of the gorgeous Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit parcels (10 minutes to Emma, 15 to John Muir, 5 minutes to McMiller trail heads). Additionally, the remarkable LuLu Lake State Natural Area is within a 10 minute walk down Nature Road. These nearby large scale natural areas offer many miles of trails and expanses of uninterrupted nature. Thus, we offer perfect accommodations for birders and outdoor recreationists, as well as family gatherings.In addition to the large public open spaces nearby, our site’s 77 acres are incrementally being restored and managed as woodland, savanna, prairie, wetland and aquatic native ecosystems. Miles of private mowed trails launch from the front door of the house, providing access to a beautiful private park with four fishing ponds. Hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and limited single track biking and fishing are allowed. The mid-century modern house is modest, partially renovated, and very well situated on the terraced site, with lots of indoor-outdoor views and amenities including two indoor wood burning fireplaces, outdoor hot tub, an outdoor fire pit on the patio, a gas grill, lots of bird feeding stations and patio seating. Spring and fall warbler migration are particularly wonderful times of year here!In the immediate yard of the house, a small outdoor heated pool frames a lovely rear yard that includes a fountain and a screen porch. A remnant gravel hill prairie covers what would typically be mowed lawn. Respecting the site’s plants while enjoying them will be expected of all guests, as is being courteous of all neighbors in this quiet rural setting. We have enjoyed this incredible property for 20 years and are at a point in our lives that we are ready to share it with others who will appreciate the opportunity to immerse oneself in a beautiful environment while not being far from three large metropolitan areas. The ease of access to nearby amenities, especially the State Forest trail systems and the Villages of Eagle, East Troy, Mukwonago and Palmyra (restaurants, gas stations, Old World Wisconsin, Alpine Valley, Elegant Farmer, Eagle Spring Lake, LuLu Lake and Crooked Creek, etc.) all make staying here very easy, relaxing, recreational and enjoyable. The house has the potential to sleep 10, with three private bedrooms (one queen bed and two double + twin bunk beds), a long living room couch and a super single fold down couch by the fireplace in the breezeway. Sheets and towels provided, to be laundered by guests. Two bathrooms include a walk-in shower and tub/shower. Washer and drier available. Kitchen includes gas stove and range, refrigerator, freezer, dorm dishwasher, microwave, toaster and general kitchen equipment, dishes and utensils.Skylights and lots of windows provide ample light and views of surrounding savanna that features a handful of old bur and white oaks, intermixed with hickories. Our favorite room is the living room where floor to ceiling windows make it feel as if you are sitting outside all year round. During the winter, a fire in the hearth with a drink and a game or movie on the flat screen TV offer a great place to kick back. If you can’t completely unplug, complimentary WiFi and a corner home office + artist’s easel in the breezeway allow for dedicated work and creative space.

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Indigo Zen Gardens

7 sites · Lodging10 acres · Caledonia, WI

Come and enjoy the peace and serenity that is the Indigo Zen Garden. Wake up with the butterflies and smell the wild flowers dance through the wind. Easily pitch a tent or pull into our intentionally landscaped Nature spaces. Many trees and tall grasses provide adequate privacy and cover while spending time outdoors . Immerse yourself with the wildlife and environment by taking a stroll through our walking paths - or forage for seasonal goodies from many wild medicinal plants, herbs, as well as fruit trees that are available for harvesting during different times of the year. Campers can choose an interactive & immersive experience with their host : Military Veteran, Nature Artist & Water Advocate with more that 25 years experience connecting with Nature. Have your group safely guided & educated on the local plants & wildlife that inhabit the area! Take home your own hand carved & one of a kind wooden memento to remember your stay & all of the memories created.

The best camping near Kettle Moraine State Forest (Pike Lake Unit) guide

Overview

About

Take a break from civilization just 25 miles north of Milwaukee. Walk on 30 miles of hiking trails, including the Ice Age Trail. See the entire park from an observation tower. These are just some of the fun things to do in the Kettle Moraine State Forest.

Fish in 446-acre Pike Lake, where the fish are plentiful. Catch a tasty dinner thanks to abundant walleye, panfish, bass, and northern pike. Feel free to bring a boat or cast your line from the shore.

Hike along the ridgeline overlooking the lake for majestic views. Fall foliage makes for great photo ops. Don't miss the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, part of which goes through this park. This particular trail marks the farthest southern advance of glaciers in the last ice age 10,000 years ago.

Camp from April through mid-October. Eleven campsites have electricity, while 21 are more rustic.

When to go

The ideal time to visit Kettle Moraine State Forest's Pike Lake Unit is during the warmer months, from late spring to early fall, when the full range of activities can be enjoyed. Winter offers a quiet, snowy retreat, but some amenities may be limited. Avoid peak holiday weekends for a more tranquil experience.

Know before you go

Ensure your vehicle has a valid admission sticker before entering the park.
Check the latest property notices for any updates on closures or conditions.
Remember that the park hours are from 6am to 11pm year-round.
For any inquiries, contact the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Pike Lake Unit at +1-262-670-3400.
Stay connected with the park's updates by following their social media channels.