Camping

Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest offers 10 remote campsites, seven boat-in campsites and one family campground. Fees are required for stays at the boat-in campsites and the family campground, and each vehicle at the family campground, as well as a designated parking area for the backpack site, must have an admission sticker.

Governor Earl Peshtigo River camping [PDF]

Reservations

Reserve campsites at Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest.

Old Veteran's Lake Family Campground

Located on Parkway Road approximately 3.5 miles north of County Road X, the Old Veteran's Lake family campground has 16 sites and is open from April 27 through the end of November. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and parking for two vehicles. Pit toilets and a solar-powered drinking fountain are available.

Old Veterans campground map [PDF]

Remote camping

The state forest has 10 designated remote campsites. Three sites are located on the Johnson Falls Flowage and canoeists/kayakers can launch from boat landing #14. Currently, there are no marked hiking trails to the sites, with the exception of the trail to the remote backpack site. Hikers can follow volunteer trails or use GPS coordinates to find the sites. Six additional sites are located on the Peshtigo River between the Johnson Falls Dam and Spring Rapids. One backpack site is located North of Old Veteran’s Lake Campground. Various launches are available downstream from the dam.

A free permit [PDF] is required to be filed with the forest office before camping on a remote site. Please email filled-out permits to Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest.

Yellow signs visible from the water indicate each campsite's location in the state forest [PDF].

Each site consists of a tent pad, fire ring, picnic table and an open-air privy is available nearby. There is no potable water available. Stays are limited to one night only.

Please do not leave your garbage or recyclable items for the next camper. This is not appreciated by your fellow campers and can distract from the rustic setting. Please leave the forest cleaner than when you arrived.

Boat-in camping

The state forest now offers four boat-in sites on High Falls Flowage [PDF] and three boat-in sites on Caldron Falls Flowage [PDF]. These sites require fees, can be reserved and provide a very unique camping experience.

Each site consists of a tent pad, picnic table, benches, canoe/kayak rack and fire ring, and a privy is available nearby. There is no potable water available. The sites are accessible by watercraft only. Campers must check in at our office within Governor Thompson State Park prior to setting up on the boat-in sites.

Please do not leave your garbage or recyclable items for the next camper. This is not appreciated by your fellow campers and can distract from the rustic setting. Please leave the forest cleaner than when you arrived.

Firewood

Firewood is for sale at the forest office and the Governor Thompson State Park office.