Well known for dozens of family-oriented water parks, the Wisconsin Dells area also offers a variety of outdoor entertainment options for families traveling with pets. Located in south central Wisconsin, the Dells area includes the surrounding towns of Baraboo, Lake Delton and Wisconsin Dells, where you can find pet-friendly state parks and private campgrounds.
State's Rules
Wisconsin maintains a list of regulations regarding pets in state parks. Owners must keep pets on leashes no longer than 8 feet in all park areas, as well as remove waste properly. Pets should be kept in camping units overnight to help them feel more secure in new surroundings. Pet control ranks high on Wisconsin's rules list. Unruly animals that disturb others are not tolerated, and owners can be asked to leave a state park or even issued citations.
Private Resorts
While common-sense rules apply to pets on private resort or campground property, including disposing of waste and controlling animal behavior, Wisconsin's private resorts may have their own additional regulations.
Baraboo
With its 10,000 acres of trails and rock formations, Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo permits dogs with current rabies vaccinations and licenses. Dogs are not allowed in swim or picnic areas, beaches or playgrounds, but they can be kept at camp and tent areas and on the dog-walk path so long as they're on 8-foot leashes.
Lake Delton
Yogi Bear's Camp Resort & Water Playground at Lake Delton allows dogs of all sizes and does not assess an additional fee for pets. Animals must be well-behaved and leashed at all times. Camping and tent areas permit dogs, as well as the dog-walk area, but no pets are allowed in rental cabins or chalets. Yogi Bear's is open May 1 through Sept. 1.
Wisconsin Dells
Situated on 167 acres in the Upper Dells, Holiday Shores Campground and Resort offers everything from RV and campsites to a motel, guest houses and cottages. Campground regulations permit dogs on a leash in the camping and tent areas, as well as on the dog walk. Dogs are not allowed in any of the rental units. For human visitors, a swimming pool, bath houses, playgrounds and a drive-in theater provide entertainment.
Meanwhile, located two and a half miles from the Dells, the Summer Breeze Resort welcomes pets to its camping and motel facilities with a charge of $10 per pet, as of 2010. Owners must leash their pets and clean up after them. In all, Summer Breeze offers five wooded acres and a variety of activities and amenities, plus a dog-walk area.
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