Lake Dubay Shores Campground

Campsites at the Lake DuBay Shores Campground are just a short drive from the George W. Mead Wildlife Area, which sprawls across 33,000 acres to the west. It encompasses grasslands, hardwood forests, and conifer bogs, as well as wetlands and lowlands that were used for farming in the early 20th century. More than 70 miles of hiking trails traverse the wildlife area, as does a seven-mile bike loop that winds around the Berkahn Flowage. It’s also a popular birdwatching destination, with around 250 bird species recorded here. Don’t miss a visit to the Stanton W. Mead Education and Visitor Center, which was sustainably designed in 2005 and features exhibits detailing the local flora and fauna. Also nearby is the Big Eau Pleine Woods State Natural Area, a tract of old-growth forest on the shores of the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir. The gently rolling terrain is dominated by mature maple, yellow birch, and red oak trees, with fallen trees creating a variety of microhabitats for native plants and animals. A short drive from the Big Eau Pleine Woods State Natural Area is the Big Eau Pleine County Park, which encompasses just over 2,000 acres along the Big Eau Pleine Flowage. Here you’ll find 12 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, as well as groomed snow biking trails that are accessible during the winter months. Fishing is also possible from the shores of the reservoir, or there are three boat landings if you want to get out on the water. Around an hour’s drive south of the Lake DuBay Shores 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.