By:
Submission
Blackhawk Park is located on a forested bend of the main channel of the Mississippi River. The campground is the largest public use facility in Mississippi's Pool 9, offering a wide variety of recreational activities.
Boating, kayaking, canoeing and fishing are Blackhawk's most popular forms of recreation.
Park rangers provide a variety of programs and activities throughout the summer. Interpretive programs are based on recreation, local history and the environment. Other activities range from guided walks and campfire talks, to natural crafts programs.
Here, one can view majestic bluffs and rich backwater vegetation. Sometimes a river barge or classic paddle-wheeled steamboat can be seen journeying up the river.
The campground offers 150 campsites, including 73 with electrical hookups. All sites have a picnic table and fire ring provided. Flush toilets and showers are located in the West Camping loop. There are no full-hook up sites but a dump station and potable water are located within the park. The park also has a beach, two picnic shelters, two boat ramps, two playgrounds, a volleyball court, horseshoe pits, fishing docks.
This peaceful park is situated on the main channel of the Mississippi River. Cottonwoods, green ash, swamp oaks, river birch and willow trees forest the site, offering nice shade in the summer and beautiful fall colors in autumn.
Visitors commonly see a variety of wildlife, including bald eagles, blue herons, ducks, geese, whitetail deer and wild turkey.
The small river towns of DeSoto, Wisconsin and Lansing, Iowa are nearby. DeSoto is 5 minutes south, Lansing is 15 minutes south with a few restaurants and shops. LaCrosse, Wisconsin is 30 minutes north, with restaurants, shops, galleries and farmers markets. Effigy Mounds National Monument which is operated by the National Park Service (NPS) is located about a 40 minutes south of Blackhawk Park and offers excellent hiking opportunities, and well as picturesque views, and a visitor center, and is free to enter. The Driftless Area Education And Visitors Center in Lansing Iowa is a short 15 minute drive south, and explores the cultural, recreational, natural, and historical significance of the Driftless Area.
From DeSoto, WI, travel 3 miles north on HWY 35 and turn left on County Road BI. From LaCrosse, WI, travel 25 miles south on HWY 35 and turn right on County Road BI.
Quiet and peaceful, Has a pretty busy boat ramp. No water hookups for camping but potable water stations, dump station. Verizon and US cell both had service.
This is a clean, well cared for campground. You can't beat COE parks for affordable camping. The park staff was very friendly and helpful also. The bathrooms were modern and clean. We loved it here!
Note: there is high manganese levels in their water. There is a filter on one of the spigots but it would be best to arrive with plenty of your own drinking water.
Enjoy the park, nice big sites. We are here during Turtle season. They have been laying eggs right near our rig. We have enjoyed driving The Great River Hwy.
Blackhawk lake campground is another fine example of the core of engineers campgrounds. I travel out lot across the country by camper van and find that the Corp’s campgrounds are so well-maintained and this one is no exception. The entire area is beautiful and the facilities in the bathroom were well maintained.
