“picnic in paradise!”
The 2,800-acre Governor Thompson State Park is 15 miles northwest of Crivitz in Marinette County, part of Wisconsin's Northeast Sands ecological landscape. The site protects 5,300 feet of shoreline on Wood and Huber Lakes and protects Handsaw Creek and Woods Lake Outlet. The main parcel creating the park is the former 1,987-acre Paust Woods Lake Resort and about 200 acres of wild-looking lakefront bought from Wisconsin Public Service Corporation on Caldron Falls Reservoir.The park includes about 6.5 miles of undeveloped shoreline on Caldron Falls Flowage, backed up by forested uplands, and frontage on Woods Lake and Huber Lake, as well as several streams. Visitors will find an atmosphere that is perfect for solitude, reflection, recreation, and education.The park was established in 2000, the Wisconsin State Park System's centennial year, and is open as a day-use park. While the park is developing more recreational areas there are many things for visitors to do such as boating, hiking, berry picking, fishing, swimming, picnicking, relaxing, and deer gun hunting.The park has developed a picnic area and enclosed shelter on Woods Lake. The park has also rebuilt Boat Landing 13 on Caldron Falls Flowage with additional ramps, parking, and restrooms.
Reviews of Governor Thompson State Park
3 people have reviewed this location
Ratings Summary
Cell Coverage
Verizon 4G
Confirmed by 2 users | Last reported on May 23, 2021The campground in this state park is new so all facilities were great. There are very nice hiking trails where we saw deer and bear on our hikes. The only drawback is that there were a lot of ticks when went in May (one dog of ours had 40 ticks on him).
Nightly Rate: $28.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: -
This park has big sites, someone who will electricity, and hot showers. There are lakes, rivers, multiple trails. There's nothing about this park we didn't like.
Nightly Rate: $28.00
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: 69
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
Who would love this park the most?
- People who fish
- People who canoe/kayak
- People who bike
- People who love quiet and solitude
- Tent campers
Who would like this park least?
- Families with small kids
- Folks looking for attractions not related to fishing, boating or dinner clubs
- Full-timers who work remotely and need reliable data
Governor Thompson is the most recently developed state park, and it was revealing to see how contemporary campground designers work these days. In general, all of the sites were about the same size, the electric sites were easy to back trailers into, and the power pedestals were perfectly placed and protected by steel posts. Most telling, there were no double sites to be found. The sites themselves are very spaced apart. This campground was designed for folks (like us) who don't camp with others and enjoy the solitude and quiet. There is no camp host; ice and wood were available through the park office. There were two ADA sites.
The park is fully modern. The sanitary dump can be used from both sides. The shower building, as seen in contemporary design, has external shower access with individual shower stalls. We only saw signs for onsite canoe/kayak rentals, and cannot confirm is they were actually operating. Seven dollars gets you a hefty bundle of firewood, and a double order gets you a wheelbarrow full of wood. Even the vault toilets were a pleasant experience.
The town of Crivitz is 16 miles away, and there is a convenience store about 5 miles away. The area is all about outdoor activities. You won't find much for young children. Fishing and hunting are the big draws, with ATV riding a close third. There are enough Geocaches to keep you busy for the weekend, but May is tick season, and they were abundant. Good thing it was cool enough for long pants.
Full timers working remotely will need cell boosters for reliable data. Sites 22 through 27 are on higher terrain and have the best chance for reception.
This was our first visit here (3 hour trip) and our immediate question is why we waited so long. We love this place, and it will be on our regular rotation.
Nightly Rate: $28.00
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: 22
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
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Governor Thompson State Park
Hours
- Mon - Fri: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
- Affiliation
- State park or forest
- Last Nightly Rate
- 28.0
- Longest Vehicle Length Reported
- 35.0
- Lowest Nightly Rate
- 16.0
- Max Stay
- 14
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Fifty Amp
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Full Hookup
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Rec Facilities
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Pull Through
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Tent Sites
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Dump Station
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Big Rigs
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Open Seasonally
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Age Restricted
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Boondock
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Cabin Sites
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Dispersed Sites
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Firewood
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Fulltime Residents
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Group Tent Sites
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Laundry
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Mobile Homes
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Permit Required
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Potable Water
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Propane
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Public Water
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Pull Through RV Sites
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Reservations
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Sewer Hookup
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Showers
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Standard Tent Sites
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Water Hookup
Campground, Restrooms
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