Governor Dodge
As Wisconsinites, the typical Holy Grail of campsites is Devil’s Lake in Baraboo. In an effort to check out a campground neither of us had ever been to, AJ booked us a site at Cox Hollow Campground at Governor Dodge State Park in Dodgeville.
Compared to Devil’s Lake-
The Cons: With a couple exceptions, the majority of trails offer less stunning views than Devil’s Lake.
The Pros: Practically nobody on the trails, a few scenic gems not offered at Devil’s Lake, two lakes with more nooks and crannies to explore via kayak/paddleboard, and a ton of wildlife!
In fact, we loved it so much that we camped there a second weekend this summer!
The best scenic trails:
Pine Cliff: Offers a beautiful overlook of Cox Hollow lake from the top of a cliff (Side note: Right below this overlook is a great place to pull your kayak over and swim)
Stephens Falls: A quaint and semi-secluded waterfall
Meadow Valley: The majority of this trail is grassy and flat. Recommended for families with smaller children. The highlight is joining up with the short cave trail where you will find a small cave you can go inside (you will have to squat inside)
Other recommendations and highlights:
Twin Valley Lake is better for fishing ; Cox Hollow Lake is more fun and scenic for paddling. The dog beach is lots of fun for dog owners.
Jumping rock! Not sure if there is an official term for this rock, but it has made a reputation for being a fun place to jump into the water. It is not a tall rock, but it is fun nonetheless. You will have to access it by kayak. It is across from the Cox Hollow beach - you will most likely see people jumping off the rock already or lined up in boats for their turn. If you’re lucky, you’ll have it all to yourself!
If you need a break from camping or need to get out of the rain, head into the city of Dodgeville and check out Bob’s Bitchin’ BBQ for an amazing meal! Allie’s sauce recommendation is the Mango Red Pepper and AJ’s is the BrewBQ. Can’t decide which sauce you want? Luckily for you, you can try them all! Don’t forget to get some fresh sugared donut holes as dessert, you won’t regret it!
House on the Rock is only a ten-minute drive away in Spring Green.
