New Glarus Woods State Park

It was around 11:30 PM and we were hanging out with our friends around the fire. They were registered campers from another site. Next thing we know the Park Ranger is kicking them out of our site. He was extremely rude and completely unreasonable. They have a crazy rule that no matter how quiet you are after a 11PM you can’t have campers from other sites in your site. The whole point of us camping was to hang out together not be separated and treated like prisoners. It was a very unpleasant experience.

This is small park in comparison to others and how much you like it depends on your expectation and activities. Example, it’s a beautiful place for a short hike so a nice escape. I couldn’t imagine ‘camping’ here like others have mentioned too many bugs and way to close to town roads. Yet there are gently rolling hills, open prairie views, and a whole bunch of hickory stands so nice variety. Stop by if you are in the area, but don’t travel too far just to see this park.

Worst campground ever! The rangers are extremely strict. Quiet hours and dogs I leash enforced at all times. Would never go back!

Would not recommend anyone go to camp at this State park. Found the park rangers here to be more than difficult and rather unreasonable. With so many places to camp in Wisconsin I wouldn’t waste my time on this location. Park rangers or not as campers we are the parks customers. Won’t be going back that is for sure.

Spent a few nights bicycle camping here in early August of 2014. We rode down from Madison on the Badger State Trail and cut over via a few rural roads. Total ride time, while pulling a Burley trailer was just over 2-​hours. Not bad.
+ Online reservations were simple and site was ready for our arrival
+ Rangers were friendly, efficient, and helpful
— Walk-​in sites are located on the north end of the park, right along highway 69, which is extremely noisy, save for the hours between 2am — 6am. You’re quite honestly 50 yards from the roadside, and it’s on a hill, so you hear constant acceleration from vehicles at all hours. Harleys, big rigs, every jack-​and-​ape with a glass pack on his rusted-​out Chevy truck… you get the idea.
— Most of the sites are very sloped; neither of us could situate either of our tents so that they sat level. We talked to some people at other sites who said they had similar problems/​challenges. I saw one couple at an adjacent site resorted to using hammocks instead.
+ Several sites are raised-​up above the walk-​in path, which is nice
+ Heavily wooded sites means the temperatures are cool; you’re almost always in the shade
— Bugs LOVE shade (and me) ;-)
+ Excellent fire ring quality — perfect cooking grates
— No holes in the bottom of the ring means that if it rains, the ring becomes an ashy swimming pool
— Very limited facilities; one water station located nearer to the walk-​in entrance. One set of pit toilets. No showers. Firewood station is located at main entrance, which is a haul from most of the walk-​in sites.
— Only one garbage/​recycling station for the entire park, and it’s located along highway NN. I understand why they do this (to minimize trash), but come on…
So… I realize I’m camping, and I’m truly roughing it by essentially back-​pack camping on the south side of New Glarus. But, the noise from the roads and the lack of decent facilities means I probably won’t be back any time soon.
Also, to note — the site is about 1.5 miles from town, which is nice and close, and you can follow a trail without having to battle traffic. However, the site is on a fairly sizable hill, so be prepared for a bit of a hike/​climb on your way back into the park. It’s not insurmountable, but you’ll definitely notice the incline.