Photo By Scott Sturkol | A scene at Pine View Campground is shown Aug. 21, 2026, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Located...... read more read more
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As summer begins to give way to cooler temperatures and colorful autumn scenery, Pine View Campground and Pine View Recreation Area at Fort McCoy offer a variety of opportunities for visitors to enjoy the outdoors during September and October.
Pine View Campground, managed by the Fort McCoy Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (DFMWR), has experienced strong visitation during the 2026 camping season, including full weekends, increasing extended stays and steady demand for outdoor recreation.
The campground opened for the 2026 season May 1 and is celebrating its 54th year of providing camping and outdoor recreation opportunities at Fort McCoy. The campground remains open through the fall camping season until Nov. 30.
“Pine View Recreation Area offers four-season, year-round activities to include camping, hiking, fishing, and more,” said Alex D. Karis, supervisory recreation specialist and facility manager with the DFMWR Business Recreation Division’s Outdoor Recreation program. “In the entire Pine View Recreation Area there’s opportunities to enjoy some fantastic outdoor recreation opportunities.”
Pine View Recreation Area encompasses hundreds of acres and includes Pine View Campground, miles of hiking trails, the La Crosse River, Trout Falls, Suukjak Sep Lake and Suukjak Sep Creek, as well as Whitetail Ridge Ski Area.
Fall colors and outdoor recreation
One of the biggest attractions during September and October is the changing fall scenery throughout the recreation area.
The La Crosse River winds through the Pine View Recreation Area and flows over Trout Falls, providing one of the area's most scenic locations for visitors to experience autumn colors. Hiking trails throughout the recreation area also provide opportunities to enjoy the changing landscape.
“If you want to see something incredibly beautiful, then come see Trout Falls,” Karis said. The fall season also provides opportunities for fishing. Anglers can fish along the La Crosse River near the campground and at Suukjak Sep Lake, which provides opportunities to catch species including rainbow trout, bluegill and bass.
Anyone fishing at Fort McCoy must follow installation fishing requirements and have the required Fort McCoy fishing license and applicable Wisconsin fishing license and trout stamp. Current fishing rules and requirements are available through the Fort McCoy iSportsman program.
Camping continues through autumn
Pine View Campground offers more than 170 campsites along with cabins and other lodging options. Available accommodations include full-service campsites, electric sites, tent sites and yurts, as well as multiple cabin options.
Campground amenities include hiking and fishing opportunities for registered guests, rental equipment, a camp store, comfort stations, playgrounds, pavilions, miniature golf, shuffleboard, basketball, volleyball and horseshoes.
Visitors can also access the nearby La Crosse River and Suukjak Sep Lake, providing additional opportunities for fishing, hiking, photography and enjoying the fall landscape. Karis said the campground's strong 2026 visitation has included more guests extending their stays beyond traditional weekends.
“We’re starting to see people taking a little bit more of an extended weekend type thing and making it a three- or four-day weekend instead of just coming out Friday and Saturday and going home on Sunday,” Karis said.
That trend can continue into the fall as visitors take advantage of cooler weather, autumn scenery and the campground's extended operating season.
A four-season recreation destination
Pine View Campground is part of a larger recreation area that offers opportunities beyond camping.
The Recreational Equipment Checkout offers equipment for visitors interested in exploring the area's lakes, trails and other outdoor spaces.
The Pine View Recreation Area also provides access to Whitetail Ridge Ski Area and numerous other outdoor recreation opportunities, making the area a destination that changes with the seasons.
With approximately 65,000 visitors annually, Pine View Recreation Area remains one of Fort McCoy's premier recreational destinations for military members, their families, Department of War civilians, veterans and members of the public.
For September and October visitors, the combination of fall colors, cooler temperatures, hiking, fishing, camping and other outdoor activities provides an opportunity to experience a different side of Fort McCoy.
“Visit the campground and the recreation area in the fall,” Karis said in a previous fall-season interview. “There’s so much to enjoy here and it’s a beautiful area. Come and see what’s here.”
The Pine View Campground reservation office is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To reserve a campsite or cabin, call 502-898-3517. Additional information about Pine View Campground, including current rates and fees, is available through the Fort McCoy DFMWR website.
Pine View Campground is scheduled to remain open through Nov. 30, 2026, giving visitors an opportunity to enjoy the recreation area throughout much of the autumn season.
(The Fort McCoy Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation contributed to this article.)
| Date Taken: | 08.25.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.25.2026 23:42 |
| Story ID: | 573226 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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