Hartman Creek State Park

Introduction of Hartman Creek State Park

Hartman Creek State Park in central Wisconsin is a 1,500-acre natural paradise that offers visitors a tranquil escape. The park is located in Waupaca County, between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, and is home to central Wisconsin’s Chain O’Lakes. Hartman Creek State Park has its own distinct natural beauty and tranquil environment that any true RV enthusiast must experience.

The park officially opened in 1966, and it has a rich history that can still be seen today. Camping in the beautiful campgrounds is like living inside an oil painting, with breathtaking views of the lakes, trees, beach, and open sky. Towering pine, oak, maple, and tamarack trees surround several small, spring-fed lakes that are home to numerous bird and wildlife species.

The park is ideal for taking photographs, having a picnic, or simply taking in the scenery. Outdoor activities at Hartman Creek State Park include lake and stream fishing, pleasure boating, hunting, hiking, and biking.
Hartman Creek State Park is open all year, and while summer is the busiest season for visitors, it is a beautiful place to visit any time of year. The park’s main campground provides spacious sites with some modern amenities, and a large group campground makes it simple to reserve a site for groups of up to fifty people at a time.

Hartman Creek State Park Camping

Hartman Creek State Park’s sheltered buildings can be reserved for large group gatherings. The Allen Lake Shelter is a wooden open-sided structure that can hold up to 40 people. The paved trails leading to the shelter make it accessible to people with disabilities, and water, electricity, and vault toilets are nearby. The Beach Shelter, located on the east end of Hartman Lake, is the largest of the shelters and can accommodate up to 50 people. It has stunning views of both the beach and the lake. There is electricity on-site, and vault toilets are nearby. Another enclosed shelter, on the west side of Hartman Lake, is slightly smaller but still capable of accommodating up to 50 people.This shelter includes amenities such as a wood-burning stove, a table and chairs, and power outlets. Each of these shelters can be reserved through the parks system’s website.

Hartman Creek State Park has 103 standard family-friendly campsites located in the forest’s grassy and wooded areas. From April to November, reservations are accepted for the campsites, the majority of which are large enough to accommodate even the largest rigs. While there are no length restrictions for RVs, trailers, or big rigs, you should double-check your reservation to ensure that the driveway is long enough for your equipment.. Electrical hookups, a campfire ring with a hibachi-style grill, and a picnic table are all provided at each campsite. The family campgrounds provide easy access to drinking water as well as a fully functional shower and flushing toilet. Pets on leashes are welcome to accompany their owners to Hartman Creek State Park, but they are not permitted to enter certain areas of the park, such as buildings or beaches.

Hartman Creek State Park Activities

Biking

If biking is your preferred form of recreation, Hartman Creek State Park has you covered. Over 15 miles of unpaved single-track bike trails wind through the park’s dense forest and lakes. While visiting the park, make sure your bicycle is in the campervan, but don’t worry if you forget your bike. During the summer, Hartman Lake provides bike rentals. The sensation of pedalling through the picturesque woods and alongside the peaceful, tranquil lakes is hypnotic. The ride allows cyclists to appreciate the natural beauty of the area.

Hunting and Trapping

During the hunting season, which typically occurs in the fall and winter months, the park’s vast areas are open to hunting and trapping activities. White-tailed deer hunters will find plenty of them here, as will wild turkey, grouse, and rabbit hunters. Although the park’s public areas are closed during hunting season, hunters should exercise caution when approaching hiking trails. There are numerous rules and regulations for hunters, and it is critical that you understand these rules before embarking on your hunt.

Fishing

Hartman Creek State Park is teeming with largemouth bass, perch, and bluegill, and the park’s rivers and streams are teeming with brook, brown, and rainbow trout. There are several fishing piers along the eastern shore of Allen Lake, as well as another pier at Whispering Pines on Marl Lake. Both of these piers are accessible to people with disabilities, and any angler can pick up essential fishing equipment at the Park Office for free during the summer months. There are also more secluded fishing spots throughout the park for anglers who want to spend some quality time fishing away from the sounds of people.

Hiking

Hiking trails are open all year, with several miles of different trails for hikers to explore. The Ice Age Trail, a moderately steep out and back trail that is slightly more than 11 miles long, is the longest. The Dike Trail, an easy 2.5-mile trail with picturesque views of the springs and lakes, or the Allen Lake Loop, a one-mile loop around Allen Lake, are both suitable for beginners or those looking for a more relaxed hike.

Hartman Creek State Park Location

Hatman Creek State Park is located about an hour west of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and only ten miles west of the small town of Waupaca. The roads leading into this area are mostly two-lane paved roads with few twists and turns. The roads are generally straightforward, even for those driving large rigs and trailers. The main roads within the park are similar, but the park’s landscape is much more forested than the areas surrounding it. Driving in this area requires extreme caution. Wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, have been observed darting out into the road, especially at dawn and dusk.

Wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, have been observed darting out into the road, especially at dawn and dusk.
The roads within the campground are more winding and narrow than the main paved roads, making larger vehicles difficult to navigate. Being aware of your surroundings is especially important in the campgrounds because this is a family and pet-friendly campground with many children playing. Campsites can vary greatly in size and configuration, and some are narrow or overgrown with trees, making parking larger vehicles difficult.

Parking

Most trailheads and picnic areas have paved parking areas large enough for most RVs as well as vehicles towing trailers or boats.

Public Transport 

Public transport is not available