Camping Policies - Jump to a Section

• General Camping Policy
• Campground Reservation Policy
• Campground Reservation Refund Policy
• Group Site Reservation Rules
• Camper Storage Policy
• Camping Fees
• Firewood Policy

General Camping Policy

Self Registration

If you have not made a reservation in advance, you may select a campsite that is not posted as reserved. Before setting up camp, fill out a self-registration form at the fee station for the chosen site. Place the proper fee into the envelope and drop the envelope into the collection box. Place proper portion of fee envelope on post at campsite. If camping more than two days, please check with the camp ranger to make sure there isn't a reservation coming onto the site. Campers who self-register must set up and occupy the site immediately following registration. Proceed to set up camp at registered campsite.

Advance Reservation

If a reservation has been made, campers may proceed to set up camp on their reserved site. Campers should have confirmation information with them. Campers may occupy the site until 12:00 noon (check out time). Campsite must be cleaned and vacated by 12:00 noon. Sunday check out time is 3:00 p.m., unless the site is reserved for Sunday night.

Handicapped Campsite Reservation

Each campground will have at least one campsite designated and signed for use by handicapped campers. Advance reservations for handicapped campsites can be made by handicapped campers only (possession of a Wisconsin disabled card or disabled license plate required). Handicapped sites that are not reserved will be held open and can be registered to non-handicapped campers for one day only with camp ranger approval after 10:00 a.m.

Campground Reservation Policy

The Wood County Park & Forestry Department will take reservations for camping eleven (11) months or less in advance (i.e. a campground reservation for July 1-4, 2010, can be made on August 1, 2009, or any date after August 1). 10% of the sites are designated as non-reservable. Reservations can be made for camping from the Memorial Day weekend thru the Labor Day weekend. Camping before the Memorial Day weekend or after the Labor Day weekend is on a first come, first serve basis (self-registration only).

• On-site registration for non-reserved sites begin May 1 at the campground through the park closing date, October 31, except at Dexter Park, which remains open for camping through the deer gun season.
• A reservation fee will be charged per site being reserved.
• No reservations will be made for a campsite later than 2 days prior to the initial date of occupancy (ie. Wednesday before 3:00 p.m. for a Friday date of occupancy).
• Reservations are not accepted at the campgrounds. Reservations may be made Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m-3:00 p.m. by calling 715-421-8422 (with a VISA or MasterCard credit card only) or in person at the office (with VISA, MasterCard, cash or check).
• Once payment has been made for a reservation, which includes the camping fee plus the reservation fee, the person making the reservation will be issued a confirmation letter containing the camping regulations. All campsites, reserved or self-registered, must be paid before occupying the campsite.
• The camper must bring the confirmation information (written or verbal) with them to the designated park. Late Arrival: You will not be admitted to the campground area after 10:00 p.m. without your confirmation letter.
• During the period from Memorial Day through Labor Day, a campsite must be occupied within 24 hours of the first night (10:00 p.m.) of your reservation. No campsite may be left unoccupied for more than 24 hours to prevent reassignment of that site to another party.
• The person reserving or self-registering a campsite will be the person who is responsible for and who is named on the reservation or self-registration envelope. Each reserved campsite has a named responsible party. One person cannot be registered for more than one site on the same date.
• Reservations must be made for at least two nights. On holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day), the site must be reserved for three nights.
• Wood County reserves the right to make adjustments in assigning reserved sites. If you are reserving a handicap site, you may be requested to show verification of handicap status.
• Any extraordinary circumstances requiring a decision regarding refunds will be made by the Park Administrator or his designee.
• Maximum length of stay for a reservation or self registration is 14 consecutive days.
• Re-registering for a campsite must be completed prior to 10:00 a.m. and only if there is not a prior reservation for the site requested. If self-registering for more than two (2) days, confirm with the Camp Ranger.
• Only one (1) camping unit and one (1) family unit will be permitted on each campsite, unless there are children under 18, then a small tent can be put on the same site for them.
• An additional nonrefundable reservation charge may apply for each reservation change.

Campground Reservation Refund Policy

• Once a reservation is confirmed and made, you will not be refunded the reservation fee.
• Cancellations made less than 7 days prior to the date the site is to be occupied will result in the forfeiture of the reservation fee and one nights camping fee.
• No refunds will be made for a cancellation received the day the site was to be occupied (2-day weekend and 3-day holiday weekend inclusive.)
• No changes or refunds will be accepted for any reason for reservations during the State Water Ski Show Event at South Wood County Park.

Group Site Reservation Rules

At this time, the North Wood County Park is the only park that has an established Group Site Area. Following are the rules to reserving the Group Site Area:

• A minimum of 2 camping units are required if self registering on the group area and a minimum of 3 camping units are required if reserving in advance.
• No more than 4 mobile campers are allowed.
• A maximum of 8 total camping units at any time. (mobile campers & tents)
• There are (2) electrical pedestals available with (2) 20-amp; (1) 30-amp; and (1) 50-amp outlet each for a total of 8 outlets.
• All units in the group area will be charged at the electrical rate.
• (6) picnic tables are available for your use.
• One fire ring is available.
• Only 6 vehicles are allowed at any time and all other vehicles are to be parked in the Visitor Parking lot located north of the Ranger's cabin.
• Campers are responsible for following all other camping regulations.
• Any violations resulting in evictions can result in the whole group being evicted from the campground.

Camper Storage Policy

Wood County allows storage of campers, charging $40.00 per month, or $10.00 per week. The following criteria applies for any camper being stored in any of the Wood County Park & Forestry campgrounds:

• Camping storage is allowed in loops 2 & 3 at Dexter Park, on Hawthorne Hill at North Park, and the first loop at South Park.
• A camping storage contract/letter must be signed by the camper and the storage fee collected for the proper amount/length of time camper will be stored prior to allowing the unit to be stored in any of the County parks.
• To allow campers to be stored, normally these campers are stored in a designated camping storage area at each park. During the Wisconsin hunting season (normally starting the second weekend of September), units would be allowed to be stored in the defined loops as described above, provided that the camping fee is collected in advance for the following weekend.
• If the camper is not returning the following week and storage is longer than one week, the unit must be moved off the site and stored at a designated area in the campground for camper storage.

Camping Fees

Firewood Policy

In an effort to stop the spread of invasive pests and diseases that are harmful to Wisconsin's trees and the impact to Wood County Tourism, as of May 1, 2008, only firewood from the following counties is allowed: Wood, Adams, Clark, Jackson, Juneau, Marathon, and Portage.

Also, firewood that has been stored, purchased, or harvested in the following areas may not be moved out of these areas: Ozaukee, Washington, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan Counties in Wisconsin, anywhere in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Lower Michigan, and portions of eastern Upper Michigan and Ontario, Canada.

Acceptable Firewood:

Firewood logs are allowed in Wood County Parks only if the wood was harvested in Wood County or the adjacent counties of Clark, Jackson, Juneau, Marathon and Portage.

People camping in Wood County Parks are allowed to bring scrap lumber for campsites as long as there are no nails or screws in them such as 2-by-4's and 2-by-6's used from a building project. Lumber is fully dried and debarked before it can be used in building, which means it cannot harbor pests and diseases of living trees like raw wood or logs can.

Be aware, if you transport firewood from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, or Lower Michigan, and portions of eastern Upper Michigan and Ontario, Canada, you can be liable for federal fines up to $1,000.00.

Minimally processed wood such as full or partial pallets, skids, or slabs will not be allowed in Wood County Park Campgrounds.

Please know that toxins are released when wood that is painted, treated with preservatives, or made up of a composite of wood and glue such as chipboard and plywood is burned and this is a serious health hazard. This type of wood will not be allowed to be burned on County property.

Illegal firewood will be confiscated immediately and double bagged in heavy plastic until it can be treated in a manner that will kill any forest pest hiding under the bark.

Firewood can be purchased in Wood County Park campgrounds.