Highland Ridge Campground
Spring Valley, Wisconsin · on Lousy Creek
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $24
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Highland Ridge Campground
Highland Ridge Campground sits within the US Army Corps of Engineers' Eau Galle Recreation Area near Spring Valley, Wisconsin, on the 150-acre Eau Galle Reservoir, a lake to swim in as well as camp beside. The swimming hole here is a designated sandy beach, most directly accessed from the separate Main Day Use Area a short drive from the campground itself.
The reservoir sits in a heavily wooded, hilly landscape of steep bluffs about 4 miles south of I-94, within a 648-acre Corps-managed recreation area that also includes equestrian and hiking trails, wetlands, and two day-use areas.
Swimming at Highland Ridge Campground
A designated sandy swimming beach on the Eau Galle Reservoir is listed as an official recreation activity by the managing agency and described by visitors as a 'great beach for kids' suited to family swimming and beach play (volleyball, picnicking) rather than deep-water or current-driven swimming; the lake is closed to gasoline-powered boats, keeping the water calm.
How to get to this swimming hole
The recreation area is reached via W501 Eau Galle Dam Rd near Spring Valley, Wisconsin, about 4 miles south of I-94; Highland Ridge Campground and the swim beach at the Main Day Use Area are separate facilities within the same recreation area, roughly a 10-minute drive apart by camper account.
The hike in
No hike is needed to swim, the beach is a drive-up destination at the separate Main Day Use Area, roughly a 10-20 minute drive (accounts vary) from the Highland Ridge Campground itself. Exact walk time from the day-use parking lot to the water's edge was not specified in any source found. The wider recreation area separately maintains about 7 miles of hiking/equestrian trails (one camper called them 'in poor shape'), but these are unrelated to reaching the swim beach.
Multiple camper reviews stress the beach/day-use area is reached by car, not on foot, from the campground; one reviewer noted GPS can misdirect visitors toward the wrong entrance, adding to the drive time.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Designated sandy swim beach at the Main Day Use Area is described by a visitor as 'clean and well maintained,' with nearby playgrounds and free life-jacket loaner stations posted at both the beach and the boat landing. The reservoir is closed to gas-powered boats, keeping the swim area calm/wake-free. One reviewer reported taking kids and now grandkids there for over 30 years.
Parking
Paid
Recreation.gov states all visitors to the Main Day Use Area (where the beach is) must pay a day-use fee, valid per vehicle, payable at an automated fee machine at the project entrance or the main office. The dollar amount and lot type/capacity were not published in any source found.
Restrooms
Yes
Highland Ridge Campground loop (sites 1-27) has flush toilets/showers, cleaned daily around 6 AM per camper reports; the equestrian loop (sites 28-38) has vault toilets only. The Main Day Use Area/beach itself also has restroom facilities that a visitor called 'clean and well maintained,' though the exact fixture type (flush vs. vault) at the beach specifically was not specified in sources found.
Water clarity
Often murky
Wisconsin DNR's official lake page states plainly that 'the lake's water clarity is low.' The lake's 5-year average trophic state index is 59 (Eutrophic), which DNR rates as 'Good' for a reservoir-type lake. Volunteer Secchi-disk monitoring of the lake began in 2025.
Hours
Highland Ridge Campground operates roughly April through November, with exact open/close dates varying by weather conditions per Recreation.gov; specific daily hours for the beach/day-use area were not found in any source.
On the water
Restrictions: Eau Galle Lake/Reservoir is open to non-gasoline-powered boats only (gas engines prohibited); two developed boat launches serve the lake. Paddleboards are not explicitly addressed in any source found but would likely be treated as hand-powered craft like kayaks/canoes.
Free life-jacket loaner stations are posted at both the swim beach and the boat landing, per visitor reviews, useful for kids or anyone paddling without their own gear.
Rentals nearby
Self-service kayak rental (app/QR-code unlock, includes paddle and life vest)
Prices: ~$25 for two hours (per search-indexed pricing; not independently confirmed on a live page)
Lakeside Park on Lake Menomin, Menomonie, WI, roughly 18 miles from Eau Galle Lake/Spring Valley, WI. Note: this is NOT on Eau Galle Lake itself; no rental outfitter serving Eau Galle Lake directly was found. This is the nearest kayak rental option located.
What regulars say
Visitor reports describe Eau Galle/Highland Ridge as a small, quiet family destination rather than a big-crowd lake: the campground runs about 60-70% full even on weekends, with 'lots of available sites' reported by a Thursday-evening arrival. Regulars call the swim beach 'clean and well maintained' with playgrounds nearby, and multiple families report returning for generations. Downsides noted by visitors: heavy insects (especially in August), inconsistent cell coverage by carrier, and hiking trails described as 'in poor shape.' Wisconsin DNR's own water-quality data backs up an unglamorous but expected profile for a shallow reservoir: low clarity/eutrophic, so expect green-brown rather than clear water, consistent with 'small and beautiful for paddling' rather than clear-water snorkeling.
Highland Ridge Campground: FAQ
Does Highland Ridge Campground charge a fee?
Highland Ridge Campground camping fees range about $24-$280/night; the Main Day Use Area (day pass/shelter) ranges about $35-$50/night, per Recreation.gov; a camper review also cites Corps of Engineers campsite pricing around $12-24/night.
Is Highland Ridge Campground kid friendly?
Designated sandy swim beach at the Main Day Use Area is described by a visitor as 'clean and well maintained,' with nearby playgrounds and free life-jacket loaner stations posted at both the beach and the boat landing. The reservoir is closed to gas-powered boats, keeping the swim area calm/wake-free. One reviewer reported taking kids and now grandkids there for over 30 years.
Do I need to hike to reach Highland Ridge Campground?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Highland Ridge Campground?
Recreation.gov states all visitors to the Main Day Use Area (where the beach is) must pay a day-use fee, valid per vehicle, payable at an automated fee machine at the project entrance or the main office. The dollar amount and lot type/capacity were not published in any source found.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Highland Ridge Campground?
Free life-jacket loaner stations are posted at both the swim beach and the boat landing, per visitor reviews, useful for kids or anyone paddling without their own gear.
What are the rules at Highland Ridge Campground?
Corps-managed site; Eau Galle Lake is restricted to non-gasoline-powered boats only. Campground rules include 1 PM check-in / noon check-out, quiet hours 10 PM-6 AM (no generators), site occupancy limits (1 camper plus 1-2 tents, 6 person max), pest-free certified firewood required, and ATVs/motorized scooters prohibited.
What water body is Highland Ridge Campground on?
Highland Ridge Campground is on Lousy Creek, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
