Four campgrounds within three different parks offer unique camping experiences.  Approximately 75% of the sites are reservable in advance.  Call the dedicated campsite reservation line at 715.261.1566 Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. from January 3 through September 5, 2012 to check on availability or to make your reservation.  Any site not reserved is available on a drive-in self-registration basis.  Campground Managers post red reserved tags with reservation dates on them on the posts at the end of the camping pad.

Season:  Campground season:  April 20 through October 31, 2012.  Camping reservations can be made for the nights of April 20 through September 9, 2012.  After September 9 all campsites are available on a drive-in self-registration basis.  Also, during the regular camping season, you may drive-in and self-register at any of the camp sites that are not reserved.

Camping in County Forest Units

Campground Maps (all maps are appx. 45kb PDF's)
Marathon County Campgrounds Map Big Eau Pleine South Campground Map Big Eau Pleine West Campground Map Big Eau Pleine Park Overview Map Dells of the Eau Claire Campground Map Dells of the Eau Claire Overview Map Marathon Park Campground Map Marathon Park Overview Map

Big Eau Pleine Park - West Unit Campground
This popular campground is located on the southwest end of the 1,450 acre Big Eau Pleine Park that extends two-miles into the waters of the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir.  Campsites 30 - 40 are sunny with a view of the flowage.  Campsites 41 - 46 are partially shaded with a view of the flowage.  The other sites are partially shaded under the second-growth mixed hardwoods.  Within a short walking distance is a swimming beach, playgrounds, 18 hole disc golf course, nature trails, and a boat launch.

• 46 sites
• All sites have an electrical pedestal containing a 20 amp and 30 amp circuit plug in
• Gravel camping pads
• All sites are back-in and range in length from 40 to 60 feet
• Fire rings
• Dump station with fresh water fillup located at the A-Frame
• Presserized jug fillers within the campground
• Paved Camping Loops
• Vault restrooms

Big Eau Pleine Park - South Unit Campground
Popular with the fisherman due to it's close proximity to two boat launches this campground has both electric and non-electric sites.  The sites are all partially shaded under a canapy of even aged mature northern hardwoods.  Within a short walking distance is access to picnic areas, nature trails, and horseshoe pits.

• 60 sites
• Sites 1 to 24 have electric with 20 amp plug in;  Sites 25 to 60 are non-electric
• Gravel camping pads and camping roads
• All sites are back-in and vary in length from 40 to 60 feet
• Fire rings
• Dump station with fresh water fillup located at the A-Frame
• Presserized jug fillers within the campground
• Vault restrooms

Dells of the Eau Claire Park Campground
This 28 site campground located 20 minutes east of Wausau features the Eau Claire River with it's towering palisades of rock out croppings rising up at the 'Dells falls.  Other highlights of the park include a high bridge, a State Scientific Area, and the Ice Age Trail.  Within walking distance are a swimming beach, playground, picnic area with several shelters, and nature trails.

• 28 sites
• 17 sites have electric with 20 amp service; 11 sites are non-electric
• Gravel camping pads
• Paved camping roads
• All sites are back-in and vary in length from 45 to 60 feet.
• Fire rings
• Presserized jug fillers within the campground
• Vault restrooms

Marathon Park Campground
This campground is located in Wausau with easy access just off the intersection of STH 29 and US 51/I39.  Located within Marathon Park, home to an outdoor amphitheater and fairground buildings this park is less a mile from downtown Wausau.  Features include several playgrounds, Marathon Junction concessions, a Splash Pad, and many reservable shelters.

• 28 sites; 27 reservable; 1 administrative site (#28) that is not reservable
• 21 sites have electric with 20 amp and 30 amp service at each electrical pedestal
• 2 sites have electric with 30 amp and a 50 amp service at each electrical pedestal (Sites 16, 25)
• 4 sites are non-electric, tent sites (Sites 9 - 12)
• Gravel and grass camping pads
• Paved camping road
• All sites are back-in and vary in length from 45 to 60 feet
• Showers
• Dump station with fresh water fill up
• Flush restrooms
• no fires allowed

2012 campsite reservations for camping at Big Eau Pleine Park, Dells of the Eau Claire Park and Marathon Park campgrounds can be made in person or over the phone through Wednesday, September 5, 3 p.m. for occupancy dates through Sunday, September 9, 2012.

Campsite Reservation Policy

*Reservation Fee, Change Fee, and Cancellation Fee apply on a per site basis

Group Campgrounds:
Big Eau Pleine Park (200 maximum capacity).
Contract #P-173 must be completed at the park office for group campsite.
1 - 25 people, $80/day 2012 rates
26+ people, $120/day 2012 rates
Key deposit $20 (Key provides access to the Group campground area only).
Tents only allowed on the turf.
Camping units and vehicles must stay on the asphalt parking lot.  Electric outlets are adjacent to the parking lot for camper hookup.

Dells of the Eau Claire Park (300 maximum capacity)
Contract #P-173 must be completed at the park office for group campsite.
1 - 25 people, $69/day 2012 rates
26+ people, $107/day 2012 rates
Key deposit $20 (Key provides access to the Group campground area only).

Firewood:
Firewood is available to purchase at posted hours at Big Eau Pleine and Dells of the Eau Claire Parks.  There are no fires allowed at Marathon Park because City of Wausau ordinance prohibits ground fires.  Portable grills are allowed for cooking food.  Big Eau Pleine firewood sales hours are 1 - 2 p.m., and 5 - 6 p.m.  Dells of the Eau Claire firewood sales hours are 2 - 2:30 p.m., and 5 - 5:30 p.m.  After these posted hours check with park staff on duty.

In 2007, the Wausau and Marathon County Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department developed a new rule that prohibits visitors from bringing firewood into county parks, forests and campgrounds. This new rule is necessary because firewood can harbor many different kinds of invasive pests and diseases harmful to Wisconsin’s trees. Pests like gypsy moth and diseases like oak wilt are easily spread through infested firewood. Wisconsin is now faced with the very real threat of becoming the next state to discover the emerald ash borer within its borders.
This beetle, which commonly moves around on firewood, has already killed 20 million trees in southeast Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Ontario, Canada. In 2006, emerald ash borers were discovered in Maryland and Illinois. If an emerald ash borer infestation is found, state plans call for the removal of all ash trees within ½ mile of the affected site.
For this reason, campers will be required to obtain their firewood at the county campgrounds. Campers can either purchase wood at $4/rick on site or gather up dead or down wood they may find on site. If they choose to gather their wood, chain saws will not be allowed to be used for this purpose. Per City of Wausau ordinance no campfires are allowed at Marathon Park campground. Portable grills are allowed for cooking food.
If you have any questions, please contact the Park Office at 715-261-1550.

Sanitary Dumping Station:
Marathon Park & Big Eau Pleine Park campgrounds each have a dump station availabe for a $6 use fee.  There is no dump station at the Dells of the Eau Claire Park.

Refer to Marathon County Ordinance, Chap. 19, Sec. 19.10, Camping, for additional information on camping.

• The Wausau and Marathon County Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department will accept campsite reservations at each of the four campgrounds.  The non-reservable sites will continue to be available to campers on a "first come-first serve", self-registration basis.
• Campers are limited to a 14-day stay at any one park.
• No more than one family or individual group will be permitted on each campsite, with at least one person being 18 years of age or older.
• Dogs must be under immediate control on a leash not exceeding 6 feet in length. No pets are allowed on the bathing beach, picnic area, or children's playground.
• Winter camping is allowed with the Operations Superintendent/Customer Service permission. No restrooms are open and ground fires are not permitted.
• At Dells of the Eau Claire Park Campground and Marathon Park, if only sites with electricity are available and a party doesn't want electricity, they will not be charged for it; At Big Eau Pleine Park Campground, if you camp at a site with electricity available, regardless of whether you use electricity or not, you are required to pay for electricity.
• Per City of Wausau ordinance no campfires are allowed at Marathon Park campground. Portable grills are allowed for cooking food.

Generators Use Policy:
Generator use is not allowed in campgrounds except to accommodate medical conditions, and only if no electrical sites are available. If no electrical sites are available, the park manager will try to find and assign the camper to the site where the noise of a generator will be least disruptive to other guests. Permission to operate a generator must be granted by the manager at each campground and may be revoked at any time.
 

Camping in the County Forest Units is allowed on an individual permit basis.  There is no charge for the permit.  Visit the Park Administrative Office to secure a permit, or call the office at 715.261.1550.  If the required information is provided over the phone, we can mail, fax, or e-mail the permit to you.

• Maximum camping period is 14 nights; permits are issued for the number of nights user anticipates camping.
• Self-contained camping units may park in the parking lot.
• Tent may be pitched in the forest.
• Leave no trace; take all garbage with when you leave
• Indicate the specific parking lot you are interested in camping at.
• Provide name, address, phone number, dates, vehicle make, model, license plate, color, number of people camping, type of camping unit.
• No firewood is allowed to be brought in to County Forests effective 2007 (precaution against Emerald Ash Borer).  Dead and down wood may be collected in the forest and burned.
• Permit must be displayed in the vehicle dash.