DuBay Park Campground

The Great Outdoors

Campsites at the DuBay Park Campground are a good base for exploring the George W. Mead State Wildlife Area, which encompasses 33,000 acres to the west of the RV campground. It was historically developed as farming land, but agriculture proved unsuccessful due to the acidity and cold temperatures of the lowlands. Today, the area’s grasslands, conifer bogs, wetlands, and hardwood forests provide important habitat for birdlife, with more than 240 species having been recorded here. Begin your visit at the Stanton W. Mead Education and Visitor Center before heading out to explore along one of the former logging trails or marked cycling trails.A 25-minute drive from the RV campground is the Big Eau Pleine Woods State Natural Area, where old-growth forests line the shores of the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir. It’s largely dominated by mature maple, yellow birch, and red oak trees. It provides a picturesque background for fishing and boating. The Big Eau Pleine Woods State Natural Area also connects to the 2,000-acre Big Eau Pleine County Park. Sprawling around the Big Eau Pleine Flowage, it features around 12 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails, as well as groomed snow biking trails that are accessible during the winter months.Around an hour’s drive south of the Lake DuBay Park Campground is the Sandhill State Wildlife Area, a 9,150-acre reserve that sprawls across a series of gently rolling ridges. Aside from sandy uplands dominated by oak, aspen, and jack pine, there are also large tracts of marshes and flowages. A small herd of American bison calls the wildlife area “home,” as do white-tailed deer and furbearers. Birdwatchers should keep their eyes peeled for Canada geese, ruffed grouse, and bald eagles that are regularly spotted here.

Exploring the City

The DuBay Park Campground campsites are a 20-minute drive from Stevens Point, where you’ll find plenty of supermarkets for stocking up on grocery supplies. There are also several gas stations here if you need to fill up your RV rental and a great choice of fast-food restaurants, pubs, and eateries.While you’re in Stevens Point, don’t miss a visit to the Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum, which is packed with hands-on and interactive exhibits. It was created to promote early learning and engage kids through STEM programs, with a fully-stocked art room among its highlights. History buffs visiting Stevens Point should make a point of visiting the Christina Kuhl House, a heritage-listed Second Empire residence that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.The DuBay Park Campground can also be used as a base for exploring Wisconsin Rapids, which serves as the seat of Wood County. It’s packed with cultural museums and historic sites, such as the South Wood County Historical Corporation Museum and the Wisconsin River Paper Making Museum. The latter occupies a 100-year-old mansion and presents engaging exhibits about the region’s paper-making history, as well as hosting traveling exhibits about paper making around the world. Wisconsin Rapids is also home to the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial, which remembers those who lost their lives in the line of duty.While you’re visiting Wisconsin Rapids, don’t miss a visit to the Alexander House Center for Art & History, which lies a short drive south of the city center. It houses a collection of works owned by the former Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Company, whose mill was established in 1896 by John Edwards. Local, regional, and national artists are represented in the period-furnished rooms, which also feature exhibits detailing the early years of lumbering and papermaking in the region.Whether you want to wildlife spot in Wisconsin’s nature reserves or discover the museums of Wisconsin Rapids, book a camper rental in Portage County and start planning your next vacation.