Backpacking/Walk-to Sites at Governor Dodge State Park. Beginners & Experienced!

Walk-to/Backpacking Sites 805 & 806 Reserved

This camping trip is open to all. If you are a beginner backpacker or if you’ve already backpacked before and want to improve your ultralight gear, then this is for you. This is not a backpacking trip per se, we are setting up our tents at walk-to sites that are about 1/2 mile from parking and practicing for future backpacking trips. If you’d like to load your backpack with a heavier weight than usual, to test your skills and endurance, or if you’ve purchased new gear that you’ve been wanting to try out and haven’t had a chance to, then this is the trip for you.

GOVERNOR DODGE STATE PARK

In 1948, Iowa County presented one of these farmsteads—the Henry Larson estate—to the state of Wisconsin. These first 160 acres provided the nucleus for what was to become Governor Dodge State Park. Ten years later an earthen dam was constructed across Mill Creek and Cox Hollow Lake was created. The new park was well on its way to becoming one of Wisconsin’s finest recreation areas.

As years passed, the state purchased neighboring farms to add to this sprawling giant. Governor Dodge now contains 5,350 acres.

A second earthen dam was built in 1966, forming Twin Valley Lake. Beaches, campgrounds, bathhouses, trails, shelters and other facilities have been constructed throughout the years to add to your park enjoyment.

Gone now are the buffalo hunters and their spears. Gone are the lead miners and their picks. Gone are the farmers and their plows. But the land that they changed remains. Traces of these men and women remain in the stone arrowheads, crumbling rock foundations and rusted barbed wire that is still found throughout the park—traces that every year become harder to find as the land struggles to restore itself to the wild, natural area it once was.

Governor Dodge State Park's entrance is about 3 miles north of Highway 18 in Dodgeville.

Coordinates: 43.0184778, -90.1440415

By foot or bicycle, you can get to Governor Dodge by way of the Military Ridge State Trail. There's a surfaced access trail from the Military Ridge to the park just east of County Highway Z. Follow the signs for the walk-to/backpacking sites to our reserved sites at 805 & 806.

Governor Dodge State Park
Backpacking Sties 805 & 806
4175 State Highway 23 N
Dodgeville, WI 53533

This will ge a great opportunity to test your backpacking gear while we still have decent weather and learn what works for you and for others during this trip. If you don’t have backpacking gear, that’s ok, just bring a cart and roll your gear from the parking lot about a 1/2 mile to our campsite. We are only backpacking to the backpacking sites & setting up camp there. This is a low commitment camping & backpacking trip to test gear and fine tune your skills. We are not through hiking, but we will hike the cool trails in the park. Load your backpack with a heavier weight to test your skills and endurance, or bring other new gear that you’ve been wanting to try out but haven’t had the chance to, this is the trip for you to try something new!

Weather
This is a late fall trip, please check the weather forecast and come prepared for cooler temperatures.

Friday
We will be at backpacking sites 805 & 806 both nights. Arrive any time after 3pm. Have dinner, get your tent set up and relax. We will probably go in town for our usual Friday night fish fry if you would like to join.

Saturday
Have breakfast and let’s discuss gear, then explore the park. We can plan a morning & afternoon hike, and enjoy the day.

Sunday
Check out is at 1pm. We’ll pack up and have breakfast, and we can do another hike if you have the time.

Fees
Your $15.00 meetup fee covers $10 in 2 nights of camping costs, $3 in Meetup fees and $2 in firewood. The fee DOES NOT cover personal equipment or food. You will need a WI state pass to enter the park. Payment is due 48 hours after signing up. Full refunds will be honored if notified by September 1. Please send your fee by Venmo @SweetDlV or by PayPal to Danielle Domnitz 702-750-6687. When you make your payment, please let us know what trip this is for since we have many trips scheduled, and only a few organizers handling the funds. Thank you