This trail is an excellent alternative to the longer, more strenuous nearby Scuppernong Trails just…read moreeast of here. But unlike those color coded trails, there's more to see along this 1.2 mile trail. Some of the springs are just mesmerizing. Seeing water bubble up from underwater sands is almost hypnotic. Other springs flow out of the ground and hillsides. Although shorter than even the shortest of the neighboring trails, definitely plan on spending an hour here, you'll be stopping often to take in the many features along the trail.

The Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail, across from the Ottawa Lake Recreation Area check in, is an…read moreeasy hike featuring dozens of natural springs, and the remnants of an old marl works plant. Differing from the other more wooded Scuppernong Trail, the Springs Nature trail is unique in its spring features and history. Check out the self guide for an explanation of natural springs, the marl plant and hotel, and the Native American settlement previously here. http://dnr.wi.gov/files/PDF/pubs/pr/PR0230.pdf The springs bubble up through the sand like something out of the movie the Labrynth, and also flow out of the hillside. It's a really unique feature. This is an easy unique hike that the whole family can enjoy.

I love this county park mainly for the dog park! Separation for breeds with a water faucet, poop…read morebags, trash cans and gated entry for both areas. They have small, large and an area for shy/lazy dogs. All of these areas are massive!!! The bathroom by the dog park is just a porta potty but in the actual park across the street are building bathrooms. The park is always super well landscaped. The trails aren't marked very well but if you walk from picnic area one (by the office) to the entrance and back it's about 1 miles and paved. I personally haven't tried any camping there or the beach but I have heard it is super nice. The beach is dog friendly too!

Went here for paddle boarding with my friend and our pups. It was a nice park didn't mind paying…read morefor a day visit, however for 2025 I think I will get the Waukesha Park annual pass. They do need to work a little better on parking signage! That would be the only feedback since it is labeled for boats and seems like that is the only type of parking that can take place in the lot. So we drove in circles a little bit, but then saw a park worker who was able to point us in the right direction. We also came across park staff on the beach and they were very nice as well.

I give 4 stars due to the fact that there are not enough or long enough walking or running trails…read morebut it's beautiful! There are 3.5 mi of walking/running trails along water and through a wooded area, I would say there and back. If you like beauty and trail running, it's useful. Also it is home to many birds and animals some of which only reside there. There is a breeding time for frogs and turtles which is a great time to nature hike with kids as well and you would be assured to see many. Dog friendly, required to be on leash during bird breeding and nesting times. Many fish here, I do not. You can canoe or kayak when the water is high enough and it usually is. There is hunting as well but I do not and have never had a problem running on the trail along side hunters. I would say visit. Also Frog Alley Greenhouses is right down the street and has some of the best vegetation for purchase and a lot of information and advice.

This short little trail can be walked in less than ten minutes and may not offer much in the way of…read morebreathtaking natural splendor, but I did see or hear at least ten different kinds of birds, including several warblers. The trail itself is a mix of wood chips and mowed grass, and a few sections may pose a challenge to people with problems balancing on uneven ground. That said, there was no poison ivy anywhere close to the trail. The trail criss-crosses with the Van Slyke Creek, a creek that is roughly 8' wide and rolls along at a decent clip. If you're patient and have good timing, you can see trout and other fish as well as frogs. For younger children, there are a few stations at which the book "Old Shell, New Shell" are posted. To read this start to finish, one should start the trail at the Mill House Pavilion at the west end of the trail, close to the Fontana Elementary School.

Our family loves to camp a few times a year, and most recently we tried Ottawa for the first time…read more Overall I think it was a lovely campground! It's Situated conveniently between Milwaukee and Madison, serving as more than just a campsite, but a great spot to hike, fish, and swim. It's a really big park (literally 100 sites!) so there is plenty of peaceful outdoor space to enjoy. We were lucky enough to snag an electric site, which comes in handy for our RV. Beyond the RV we had two tents, and everything fit comfortably. This site in particular was tucked back close to the lake, but I can see how the outskirt sites closer to the highway might be not as well enjoyed. This campground is fairly wooded with plenty of shade which we appreciated. All of the grounds are well-kept, including the paved pathways throughout. We loved the various playgrounds for our kiddos too. The lake itself has a fishing pier, solid sand area for swimming/hanging in the warmer months, a boat launch, adjacent restrooms that are clean, and lots of walking paths surrounded. All in all, it was a goodie and we had an enjoyable time.

Stopped to camp here on our way to the Oshkosh airshow. Campsite was nice. Nice grill for cooking…read moreoutdoors and plenty of room at the campsite. Restrooms/Showers dated and not the cleanest but useable. The campsites back up to a busy road with lots of traffic noise late ino the night. Sounds like motorcycle races go on after dark. We had to use our air conditioner to drown out traffic noice. Will probably find another campground next time in this area

The Fox River Sanctuary is just shy of a 100 acres of river front park land. On any given morning…read moreyou'll find a perfectly groomed dew adorned lawn sparkling in the sun's rays. This is one of the most peaceful parks in the Waukesha area despite being bounded on the south by an industrial park and on the north by INNIO Waukesha Gas Engines Inc. (previously occupied by GE Power & Water). The park serves as a flood plain for these areas and the Hamilton Ave Neighborhood to the east. Towards the east end of the sanctuary, wildlife enthusiasts can make use of high wooden stands/benches/tables (not entirely clear what these are) as they observe their surroundings, jotting the highlights down and taking snapshots. In fact the Fox River Sanctuary is home of the E.B. Shurts Environmental Education Center. A great place to visit and immerse one's self in the grandeur offered by the area. On the west end of the sanctuary is an old abandoned railroad trestle which you can get to by following the Glacial Drumlin Trail, cutting right when you hit the railroad bed. Follow the old rails though the thicket and you'll soon find yourself there. Great park to explore in all seasons.

Big Foot Beach State Park was conveniently located near a wedding, allowing us to camp here instead…read moreof doing a hotel. The state park is much smaller than average. Additionally, there is not as much to do. There are some trails, although they were cutting plants and working on some. The main attraction was the lagoon near the road. The city was working on gates from the lagoon with painted crosswalks. Given the minimal traffic past downtime, walking on the side of the road is safe enough. It connects to the Lake Geneva lake trail that goes through the backyards of nice houses. Calling it a beach state park is a bit of a stretch. Across the road from the entrance lays about 2 feet of sandy beach. The campsite does have RV options.

Its ok. The beach area is very small, if they simply raked the beach to make a bigger beach area,…read morethat will eliminate the weeds and burs, along with the sticks and other debris. Lots of big rocks after walking into the lake, wear water shoes. It is marked off so boats and jet skis can't enter the area. Easy access from Big Foot Camp grounds.

We were driving from Madison to Kopps in Brookfield and decided to stop by this forest since we've…read morepassed it so many times. We parked at the south unit, where there's plenty of parking, and set out on the trail during the first week of September. Be prepared for mosquitoes; definitely bring repellent and consider wearing dark-colored clothing. The trails are generally well maintained, though some areas have taller shrubs. We saw a couple of Indian springs. Overall, it's a fairly easy and enjoyable hike.

The Kettle Moraine State Forest (southern unit) encompasses a few campgrounds, many hiking trails,…read moreOttawa Lake, and is home to two of the best mountain biking trails in the State. Easily accessible from Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, it feels remote without being too far from the closest cities. I've camped in the Pinewoods Campground here for many falls- and biked both the Emma Carlin and John Muir Trails. The mountain biking is great, but (as a novice) I always bump the given difficulty levels up a notch. Medium is Difficult, etc. Ottawa Lake campgrounds is good for families who want direct access to the Lake. The Lake has a beach, a fishing pier, a dog pier, kayak/canoe launch. Pinewoods sites are actually really secluded. True to name, they're amongst towering pines. The facilities are cleaned once a day. Scuppernong Trail is a great system of a few hikes amongst the pines, and the Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail is an easy hike with bubbling springs, that the family will love.