Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- 32 campsites
- Official site
- dnr.wisconsin.gov(262) 670-3400
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 2
Construction Pike Lake Unit KMSF Beach Parking Lot Construction Notice (Sept. 29 through Nov. 2026)Construction on the beach parking lot at Pike Lake will begin on Sept. 29 and continue through fall 2026. Parking at the beach will be limited,… (more)
Construction on the beach parking lot at Pike Lake will begin on Sept. 29 and continue through fall 2026. Parking at the beach will be limited, especially on weekends. The boat launch and 50 vehicle stalls will remain open during construction. Impact: Moderate.
Posted by the park 2026-08-03. Official alert
Weather Pike Lake Unit KMSF Beach Restrooms NoticeThe beach bathroom will close for the season in late September 2026. The amphitheater bathroom will remain open as weather allows, approximately… (more)
The beach bathroom will close for the season in late September 2026. The amphitheater bathroom will remain open as weather allows, approximately through mid-October 2026. Impact: Low.
Posted by the park 2026-08-03. Official alert
Overview
In Washington County, about 2 miles southwest of Slinger, Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit covers about 777 acres.
The park supports canoeing and kayaking, hunting in season, boating, swimming, and biking. Camping is available: 32 campsites across 2 camping areas, including tent sites and primitive or hike-in sites.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. | — |
| Daily | 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round. The forest is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Pets
Pets allowed on a physical leash no longer than 8 feet at all times and under control; loose pets may be seized. Property-specific pet areas/restrictions appear on park pages.
Statewide rule from Wisconsin's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
Per vehicle, resident vs nonresident pricing: a vehicle admission pass is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas (daily $13 WI / $16 out-of-state; annual $28 / $50; rates effective Aug. 19, 2025). State trails use a per-person trail pass for certain uses. Heritage Hill SP charges a per-person admission instead.
Statewide fee rule from Wisconsin's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Wisconsin park passes
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (Wisconsin plates) — $28. All Wisconsin state parks, forests and recreation areas for 12 months Details
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (out-of-state plates) — $50. Same, nonresident vehicles Details
- 12-month pass, Wisconsin residents 65+ — $13. Resident senior vehicles Details
- 12-month reduced-rate pass (additional household vehicle) — $15.50 resident / $32.50 nonresident. Additional vehicles at the same household address; bought with a full-price pass Details
- Daily vehicle admission pass — $13 resident / $3 resident 65+ / $16 nonresident Details
From the Wisconsin state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Not required
- Booking system
- Wisconsin State Park System reservations (Camis 'Going to Camp')
- Phone
- 1-888-947-2757
If a campsite is not reserved, it can be registered on a first-come, first-served basis.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise campground There are 32 campsites — 24 wooded and eight open. Eleven campsites have electricity. All sites except #22 (campground host site) and #32 are reservable. If a campsite is not reserved, it can be registered on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Campground map
Campground amenities:
• Shower building;
• Flush toilets;
• Water fountains;
• Dumping station ($10 fee is required for non-registered campers at the Pike Lake Unit); and
• Picnic table, fire pit and tent pad at each campsite. | 32 | Electric (some sites)Showers | — |
| Backpack campsites Pike Lake has three backpack campsites along the Ice Age Trail that are open year-round. | — | — |
Camping details from the park
Camping is available at Pike Lake from early April through the third weekend in October. Pike Lake has a family campground and three backpack campsites.
Sunrise campground: There are 32 campsites — 24 wooded and eight open. Eleven campsites have electricity. All sites except #22 (campground host site) and #32 are reservable. If a campsite is not reserved, it can be registered on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Campground map
Campground amenities:
- Shower building;
- Flush toilets;
- Water fountains;
- Dumping station ($10 fee is required for non-registered campers at the Pike Lake Unit); and
- Picnic table, fire pit and tent pad at each campsite.
Backpack campsites: Pike Lake has three backpack campsites along the Ice Age Trail that are open year-round.
Firewood: Firewood is available for sale at the main office and at the camp host site. Ice is available for sale at the camp host site.
Don't move firewood!
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BikingBoatingCanoeing and kayakingCampingFishingHikingHuntingPicnickingSwimming
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
Camping
- Tent camping
- Primitive or backcountry camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit offers several accessible opportunities including accessible campsites, an accessible fishing pier, a boat launch with an accessible boarding pier, and an amphitheater with accessible seating and universal paths between parking lots and park spaces.
The Pike Lake Unit also offers a beach wheelchair and a manual all-terrain GRIT Freedom wheelchair. Both chairs are available to check out from the office at no charge. Call the property for more information on the outdoor wheelchair.
A universal kayak launch will be installed in early June 2025. This launch features an accessible route of travel, a transfer bench, handrails, and rollers or launch guides to help the vessel glide into the water.
This property features universally accessible trails. For more information, visit the Accessible Recreation.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Nearest town
- Slinger — about 2 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 43.3196, -88.3195
- Phone
- (262) 670-3400
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Pike Lake is on State Highway 60 between Hartford and Slinger. It is about 25 miles north of Milwaukee, 60 miles east of Madison and 40 miles south of Fond du Lac. The forest entrance is about 3 miles west of U.S. Highway 41 and 7 miles west of U.S. Highway 45. • Get directions
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Wisconsin State Park System — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Wisconsin DNR 'Find a Park' directory (server-rendered Drupal view, ?page=0..5), filtered to /topic/parks/ property pages
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology