Fort McCoy’s Pine View Campground and Pine View Recreation Area (Wisconsin) have entered their fall season, offering visitors a range of outdoor activities following the conclusion of a busy summer.
Maintenance Supervisor and Facility Manager Alex Karis, with the Fort McCoy directorate of family and morale, welfare and recreation, said the area continues to provide opportunities for visitors throughout the year.
“Pine View Recreation Area offers four-season, year-round activities to include camping, hiking, fishing, and more,” Karis said, as reported by DVIDS on September 28. “And in the fall, there’s lots to enjoy as well.”
He added that the location offers a wide range of options for people looking to experience the outdoors.
“In the entire Pine View Recreation Area there’s opportunities to enjoy some fantastic outdoor recreation opportunities,” Karis said. “This is a wonderful place with lots to offer.”
Pine View Campground is part of the larger recreation area, which marks 53 years of use in 2025.
The property spans hundreds of acres and features hiking trails, the La Crosse River, Trout Falls, Suukjak Sep Lake and Creek, Whitetail Ridge Ski Area, and Sportsman’s Range.
Karis highlighted Trout Falls as a notable spot during the autumn months. “If you want to see something incredibly beautiful, then come see Trout Falls,” he said.
Fishing remains a key activity during the season, with Wisconsin’s trout season continuing through Oct. 15.
Anglers can fish along the La Crosse River within the recreation area, provided they hold both a Fort McCoy fishing license and the required Wisconsin licenses and stamps.
Additional fishing opportunities are available at Suukjak Sep Lake, a man-made impoundment that was renamed from Squaw Lake.
“Suukjak Sep Lake also offers a place for anglers to try their hand at fishing,” Karis said.
The name “Suukjak Sep,” meaning “black wolf” in the Ho-Chunk language, was adopted as part of recent renaming efforts.
The creek feeding the lake, formerly Squaw Creek, was renamed Suukjak Sep Creek. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout each spring and also contains species such as bluegill and bass.
Hunting season also draws visitors to Fort McCoy in late fall, with the campground remaining open through November. Hunters can bring their own campers or rent one during the archery and gun-deer seasons.
Karis said recreational equipment rentals continue to be available for campers during the fall months. This includes items through the Recreational Equipment Checkout program.
Amenities at Pine View Campground include full-service campsites, cabins, yurts, tent sites, and electric sites. Facilities also feature comfort stations, a camp store with delivery options, and recreational activities such as shuffleboard, miniature golf, basketball, volleyball, and horseshoes.
Guests also have access to hiking trails, playgrounds, pavilions, and a lake and beach area, though no lifeguards are on duty.