By:
Submission
Mill Bluff is on both sides of Interstate 90-94. Take the Oakdale exit #48 or Camp Douglas exit #55 to U.S. Highway 12/16. Follow signs to the park.
Nice small state park. Trail up to the top of the bluff via the stairs is a challenge, but the views are worth it. There is a small lake for swimming only, picnic tables a plenty, a playground and there are restrooms available.
I booked this campground as an overnight site on a return trip from South Dakota back to Kentucky. The price of $38.95/night was on the high end for a state park, especially with the $11/day vehicle fee I had to pay upon entering. I knew this was a bare bones campground, but the location was convenient for my traveling needs. This campground is close to a highway and heavily used train track. It was in very poor condition and with its limited amenities, should have a flat rate of $20/night at the most & no vehicle fee on a great day. First of all, The entrance to the park, much less the campground is poorly marked. The sign for the for Mill Bluff State Park is on the opposite side of the road that the vehicle entrance is on and it sits back, hidden by tree branches. The only sign that might give you a clue that it is the entrance says, "Entering Fee Area". I thought it was just the parking lot for the picnic/swimming lake and drove past it, as there were small yellow signs as I continued down the road that stated "State Park". There is not one sign that says, "Campground". After turning around and finally entering the park, I pulled up to the small check in station and saw the attendant sitting behind the desk looking at her cell phone. She made no attempt to get up and greet me until I exited my truck and walked into the shack. I asked her about the reception for rv tv antennas and she said, "I don't know." I payed the $11.00 vehicle pass, went to my campsite, and set up my travel trailer. I observed a lot of fallen branches around the park that had simply been pushed to the side, a broken picnic table, and a deteriorating parking lot at the picnic area, as well as one at the nature trail area. I attempted to obtain potable water from the community water source in the campground area. It was a pump water source instead of a spigot, which was broken, with a trash bag over it. I found a second water pump source, but the water from it was brown and obviously not for human consumption. I walked across the road from the entrance to walk the short Mill Bluff trail. I observed a sign that welcomed hikers had rotted off at the bottom of its post and had been propped up against another sign. After walking to the top of Mill Bluff there were signs that provided information about the site, one of which had a distorted plexiglass covering and couldn't be read at the bottom. Another sign's plexiglass covering was broken. There were also fallen branches in the trail area at the top.
Most of my stays are in state parks. I have stayed in many. This is the worst one I have ever stayed in. It is a shame that this state park isn't given the attention and care to keep it clean and tidy. It's as if it was established and left to rot. It could be a real gem.
Great day for a hike, lots of leaves covering the trails. But it just made it that much more beautiful. Dogs are PROHIBITED on the trail
That's not good.... no playground. Beach across the street. I did not notice a picnic area.
Mill bluff State Park main area with the bathroom, picnic tables, and playground was closed for the season. I walked up the path across the street. Steep stairway and all fenced in above! Neat overlook on the left side.
Cool Rock Formations, A few hiking trails. The Camels Bluff trail is an easy 1.25 mile round trip hike. Part of the Ice Age trail runs through the park. Easy access off of I-90/94 from Camp Douglas or Oakdale exits
