Hoffman Park
Located 6 miles west of Black River Falls, WI, this Gateway Area Council BSA operated wilderness camp provides a rustic adventure overlooking the Black River. Hoffman Park is perfectly suited for Wilderness Survival Merit Badge. The cliffs are will suited to climbing and rappelling for the experienced climber. While the camp ends at the Black River, there is no true canoe access except in really high water, and, then, that last step is a doozie.

Warning: this is a Leave No Trace area as there are no toilet facilities or garbage service. The only water is by filtering water from the Black River or the stream in the ravine on the north end of the park. Pack it in and pack it out.

This facility has a rough maximum overnight capacity of 20.  The main trail runs from the parking area (with a picnic table) to the bluff, then along the bluff to a larger camping area on the south end.  This open area has two picnic tables under a tarp frame (no tarp, though) and a fire ring with benches.

For a 2 minute tour, click here:  WindowMedia (8Meg) RealPlayer (4Meg)

From La Crosse or Holmen, WI, continue north on US-53 like you're going to Camp Decorah. Instead of turning on Council Bay Road, keep going north to State Highway 54; turn right.  (To cut 4 miles off, when US-53 North veers west, keep going north on County AA, which runs in to State Highway 54 in a mile; turn right).  It's 18 miles to Melrose, then another 7 miles to County X and another 1.2 miles to Nickols Rd.  (The street sign says "Nickols Rd" but Google Maps, Mapquest and Yahoo Maps use "Nichols Road" or "Nicols Road".)  Turn right and go 100 feet.  Nickols Road "Tee"s; go right again and then take the first drive to the left... You're at Hoffman Park.  (Nickols Road is a loop from Big Field Road back to County X.)