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    Barton Lake Boat Launch

    5.0 (1 review)

    Barton Lake Boat Launch Boating Photos

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    9 years ago

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    Lakeview Park

    Lakeview Park

    4.5(2 reviews)
    5.8 mi

    It really is such a shame that this park doesn't have a beach. We are super fortunate to live on…read moreone of the Portage lakes and have access all the time, but between West, Austin, and Long Lake's parks only Long Lake has a beach (at Ramona Park). Nonetheless, this park has incredible views and offers decent fishing opportunities off of two extended docks, one of which features a large covered gazebo with benches. The playground area here looks legit, and my partner and I always enjoy stopping for a break here when we do a 9-mile cycling route that basically wraps around Austin Lake plus an extra mile each way to access the route from where we live. As with Long Lake, the boat launch is at a completely separate location from the park. Unlike Ramona Park, there is no charge to park at Lakeside Park. We are super excited at the prospect of all the cycling routes in the Vicksburg and Portage area connecting soon. Work got underway on connecting the Vicksburg path into Portage early last year but was halted due to the pandemic. So happy to have a little bit of spring-like weather this week to get out and celebrate all the wonderful natural spaces in our community.

    Thanks to our friends, we had a chance to see and enjoy this park…read more The park has great view to the lake with two decks on each side. We saw some folks fishing while we were there. There's also a small trail where you can exercise too. Don't worry, there are a couple of picnic areas for you and your family to bbq and enjoy the serenity of the beautiful lake. The parking lot has lights so when you leave the park at sunset, you won't be walking in the dark to your car.

    Photos
    Lakeview Park - This was Tuesday. Probably completely melted now

    This was Tuesday. Probably completely melted now

    Lakeview Park
    Lakeview Park

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    Oak Shores Resort Campground

    Oak Shores Resort Campground

    4.0(4 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    Great family-friendly RV campground / resort…read more Our site was beautiful - it backed up against a forest and was close to the pond. It was a bit tight / cramped (my picnic table was virtually on top of the neighbor's sewer line), but the neighbors were friendly and everything was clean and well-kept. The restrooms and showers were spotless. Cute playground - we loved the pirate ship. The pond was a great place to walk our dog, and it seemed like most people (like us) were cleaning up after their pets because we didn't see dog piles everywhere like many other campgrounds in the area. One warning: This place is surrounded by a pond, a lake, and plenty of forest, and has a serious (but understandable) mosquito problem. We tried to sneak in eating 2 slices of pizza quickly upon arrival before putting on bug spray, and my youngest son got 14 bug bites on his legs in less than half an hour. Beware and plan accordingly! I'd highly recommend long sleeves, long pants, and shoes and socks, even if it's hot outside. Biggest qualm: my son was crying for the last 10 minutes of our drive because he was going to pee his pants and this is in the middle of nowhere - we hadn't seen a gas station or anywhere legal for him to go "number 1" since leaving I94. I'll admit I drove 15mph in a 10mph zone on the way in, because the map showed a bathroom next to the pool on the entrance road (before any of the campsites, before any pedestrian areas), and I wanted to avoid a pee-pee incident. After dropping them off, I stuck to the speed limit even when it dropped to 5mph. I was chastised (politely) upon check-in to watch my speed, which is completely reasonable. Separately, someone ran up to my wife and child (neither of whom were driving) as my 5-year-old came out of the bathroom and yelled at them, which is not okay. There are good ways to handle an admonition, and bad ways, and whoever yelled at my wife and son needs to learn a bit of tact. This is the only reason our stay wasn't a 5-star experience. It wasn't an isolated or stranger incident as the yeller was also the person who called the front desk to complain about it and I'm certain was a local / seasonal / permanent resident. There's "enforcing rules" and then there's "yelling at children for something they had no control over," and the management here was much closer to the latter.

    This is a great campground. Very nice lots. Good pool & playground for the kids. The owners are…read morevery nice & take good care of the place. It is quiet but pretty close to Vicksburg & Portage.

    Photos
    Oak Shores Resort Campground - Halloween Party

    Halloween Party

    Oak Shores Resort Campground - Halloween Party

    Halloween Party

    Oak Shores Resort Campground - Halloween Party

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    Halloween Party

    West Lake Nature Preserve - These things smelled as cool as they looked. Bees were loving them

    West Lake Nature Preserve

    4.5(2 reviews)
    6.1 mi

    The unique and fragile ecosystem located in this park is even more amazing when you consider it's…read moreat the heart of the city of Portage. Some of the first stops along the sanctuary's trail are viewing platforms overlooking a marshy area, which, though enjoyable, still require you to press on to reach the five-star attraction -- a wetland bog featuring carnivorous pitcher plants, sphagnum moss, and tamarack trees. You will have to walk awhile on paths through the woods before you reach the actual bog, which must be traversed on a floating boardwalk. Choose to wear shoes that will keep your feet dry. (At certain times of the year the boardwalk may even be flooded and inaccessible.) Mosquito spray and drinking water are also must-haves. Autumn is a particularly beautiful time to visit; the colors are spectacular. The trek ends with a glorious view of West Lake. You can sit on benches on the viewing platform before the trip back to the parking lot. Your wetland adventure will take 45 minutes or more depending on your pace and frequency of stops. Also, beware of poison sumac growing along the trail through the bog; the risk of getting a rash is a great deterrent to picking any pretty plants along the way.

    Yet another Portage Park that has elevated walkways over the bogs. Be aware both that when you walk…read moreover these rubber walkways, water will squirt up through the holes so you're likely to get damp (not a huge deal on a hot summer day, but pretty intense when you're going on a run in the late fall or early spring). Also, despite being a fairly neutral looking gray, these elevated walkways get incredibly hot. I noticed my chihuahua was lifting his paws so I reached down and touch the surface and it was scalding, so we carried the dogs for those stretches of the paths. We saw lots of butterflies, birds and a gorgeous turtle on our recent visit. Our cousin had a hard time finding the geocaches that were supposed to be on our route, though. There's a beautiful West Lake view at the end of one of the elevated platforms and lots of yummy wild blackberries to forage if you happen to be at the park in early July. We're always on the hunt for great spots to take our dogs for a nice afternoon hike, and this will be becoming one of our go-to spots.

    Photos
    West Lake Nature Preserve - Taking a break

    Taking a break

    West Lake Nature Preserve - The Moss is very cool and damp, a great place for a puppy to cool off on a hot day

    The Moss is very cool and damp, a great place for a puppy to cool off on a hot day

    West Lake Nature Preserve - Our Chihuahua hates walking on these (and be sure not to take dogs on these in the summer since they get incredibly hot)

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    Our Chihuahua hates walking on these (and be sure not to take dogs on these in the summer since they get incredibly hot)

    Lake Drive Marine

    Lake Drive Marine

    2.3(6 reviews)
    34.9 mi

    I took my boat to them for warranty repair and to have a fish finder installed. 3 weeks to get the…read morework done, but they are probably busy. They wanted to charge significantly more than they initially quoted for the fish finder work. After my complaining they reduced the labor. My biggest issue is when I got the boat home and took off the cover there was lots of fiberglass shavings at the helm and styrofoam pieces all over the place. The interior was filthy and there was lots of water in the bilge making me believe that they stored the boat in their yard with the cover off (I delivered it clean with the cover on). Not a professional operation in my opinion.

    In March of 2025 my 2024 Lund Impact 1775 was at Lake Drive Marina for warranty work. The rear…read morecasting deck was installed tilted by the manufacturer. In an attempt to correct this problem, long self tapping screws were used. This caused an unsafe situation for myself and ruined the ice container. I took the boat back and the question to me was"do you even use this as an ice bucket". I had hoped their only concern was to return my boat to its original condition. I was told then they would order a new container; to date nothing has been done to rectify this. I have stopped in to the dealer twice and have called many times each with an answer that they will call me back but that has not happened. Due to heart issues I am on blood thinners and the screws that went into the rod area poised a safety concern for me because I bleed very easily. I did replace those screws with stainless steel bolts. They did remove the screw that ruined the ice container and installed a bolt so it could be used and water would not leak into the hull. My last conversation with Jaren (owners son) was on May 13, 2025. He was to find out the status and return my call. As of this post, still nothing! On a positive note, I love my boat and have found a dealership to service it.

    Photos
    Lake Drive Marine - Long self tapping screws

    Long self tapping screws

    Lake Drive Marine
    Lake Drive Marine

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    Barton Lake Boat Launch - boating - Updated June 2026

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