Blue Mound State Park
Perched atop the largest hill in southern Wisconsin and just 40 minutes west of Madison, Blue Mound State Park is the paw-fect spot for a weekend getaway. With spectacular views, excellent hiking, a popular summer swimming pool, and a pet-friendly campground, the park offers a diverse range of outdoor experiences all year round.
The wooded campground features 77 sites for tents and RVs. Each site has its own picnic table and fire ring, and there's a modern restroom and shower building across from site 30. Vault toilets and drinking fountains are spread throughout the camping area.
There's a decent amount of space between sites so you aren't right on top of your neighbors, and the park is typically clean and well-maintained. Please note that only a small percentage of sites have electric hookups, so choose your site carefully if access to power is important for you.
Pets are welcome on all sites, but you'll need to ensure that your pooch is leashed, under control and cleaned up after at all times. There are also five hike-in sites and seven bike-in sites located between the main campground and the Military Ridge Trail. Offered on a first-come-first-served basis, these sites offer a little more seclusion than a stay in the main campground.
The park also features a rustic accessible cabin for people with disabilities, but this building is not pet-friendly.
Daily vehicle admission stickers in Blue Mound State Park are $8 for Wisconsin visitors, but $11 for visitors from out of state. Camping costs vary depending on the site you select.
With your accommodation taken care of, you can then set out to explore everything the park has to offer. There are two observation towers offering impressive views of the surrounding area, while there are several reasonably easy hiking trails to explore. The self-guided 1.3-mile Flintrock Trail is perfect for those wanting to explore the geology of this part of the world, while the one-mile Weeping Rock Trail follows a spring-fed creek.
Bike riders are well catered for with more than 15 miles of off-road trails, while cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding are all offered in the winter months. And if you're visiting during summer, kids will love cooling off at the 1,950-square-foot swimming pool and splash pad. The pool is open between Memorial Day and Labor Day and there's a $2 entry fee.
If you're planning a pet-friendly camping trip in southern Wisconsin, Blue Mound State Park has a lot to offer. However, please note that there's a similarly-named Blue Mounds State Park in Minnesota, so make sure you've chosen the right park when reserving your site.
