Hartman Creek State Park — Hotel in Town of Dayton

Little to no access to the creek. Not enough water access to any of the water although plenty of water is there. Crowded beach. Campsites have wooden fences in many of them which ruins the whole natural area vibe in my opinion Rentals for recreational waterway use I consider high cost. Nice amphitheater area which is why I gave it one star. It was useful to go, I'm using it as a personal example as to what I am going to try to avoid when selecting areas of outdoor recreation. If I were in the area and were to go back I'd focus on fishing opportunity, the person I was with said he could see pan fish in the water from a fishing area and also would check out if there is anything interesting going on in the outdoor theater area which to me has the basic components of what makes a suitable venue for that in a natural area which isn't very common based on what I have seen. That being stated this could be a 5 star place depending on who is writing the review. I like lake water that is on the cooler side with natural aspects to it, sand / stone mix, this is a sand beach at this location. It also had sort of a college get away vibe in my opinion or the city dweller goes country landscape instead of "forest lake area" which is more of what I like. Some of my opinion may just be differences between "parks" vs. public land access, the latter of which I've spent a lot more time at. Still yet, I can't help but have a negative opinion about land use decisions especially in regards of lack of access to the creek which is actually supposed to be the main feature which brings people there based on the park name. It might be fun potentially for the beginner at fishing to get a campsite near the trail to the fishing area and then see if you can get enough for your own small fish fry at a campsite, I did notice there is a trail from the family campground to that area.. so there "could be" some potential there, depending on what a person plans to do at the park. If I had never camped before I'd have a comfort level to try it there or for those who have never done much outdoor activities to see if it's something a person likes or not. I've been progressively having a desire to seek out camping further and further north, most of which is getting to be too far away for just a quick camp out, so part of the appeal of it here is that it's not so far to go especially for people in the Appleton area. Considering the short distance from there it's probably a better option than most things to do depending on where a person is driving from. More fun to have a picnic there if nearby than a food court in a mall or something like that, my opinion. Although in some areas due to the vibe I was sort of thinking, is there going to be cold frappies sold around the bend??? Which of course there wasn't. There are trees and there are campsites, which is something... I think the campsite fee is high for what a person actually gets with it. Probably the best potential use for the camping would be with a young couple to figure out if outdoor adventuring is something they want to build together, if they don't know if it is or not... that might be sort of a good use for it. A starting point, that can be a fun thing to do with someone for certain couples who find that shared interest. I guess it depends upon if a person or couple has started tailoring what it is they have the most passion for regarding the outdoors, this is sort of a "general use" kind of area. As a couple you'll find out real fast if you have a high level of liking the way someone goes about doing things or the opposite on a basic camping trip. Who I am with, he helps set up a nice campsite, and I have to remember that...

We stayed there for 5 days and were fascinated by its beautiful scenery. It is conveniently close to the beach to which you can ride your bike (very clean beach where you can rent a kayak, canoe, and paddle board, too). The kids had a blast. The bathroom was clean and well-maintained despite challenges posed by COVID-19. Recommend it for sure. Just a couple of notes here: there was a storm in 2019 or so that caused some damages to the trees in some part of the campground. They had to cut several trees. I typically reserve partially-shaded campsite a year ahead and, looking at the picture on Wisconsin’s DNR website, the campsite I had chosen was like that. We arrived there this year (2020) only to learn that the trees around that area were being cut so we had a couple of hours of partial share. It was not a big deal but in case it matters, you may want to double check with them. With COVID-19, I didn’t expect them to update the website regularly.

The other thing is that some areas there were surrounded by pine trees. In case you want to season your cookware (I do it normally), just be advised that soft woods burn pretty quickly and sooty. The soot would be an issue for seasoning (I am not a Pro but that’s what happened to my cast iron and further reading showed that pine would not be a good wood for seasoning). So, make sure to buy some other hard wood (oak, for example) and take...

One of my favorite state parks in Wisconsin! Still close to the valley, but far enough away from all the noise and lights.

At the camp sites there are restrooms as well as access to tap water. No garbages except for the dumpsters at the entrance to the camp sites. So what you bring in, you bring out!

The woods are beautiful, I really enjoy the hiking trails. They are hilly and adventerous, yet maintained and not depreciating. There's also a trail that circles the lake, and a dam that's exciting to look down into.

All of the camp sites I've stayed at have been great, although sometimes it's hard to find a spot for the hammocks. There are pictures of the camp sites on the reservation website which are awesome for "scoping out" a site.

The beach! Whether we are at one of the lakes swimming, fishing, or out on our kayaks and paddle boards, it's always a perfect mix of exciting and relaxing. No bug issues out on the lake at all, just be sure to bring sunscreen!

One additional feature of Hartman Creek is a large, flat field right by the camp sites. They maintain the grass, making it the perfect place to play football, soccer, volleyball, or just have a little picnic and...