Pokagon State Park Driving Tour

Lake Lonidaw

Entering Pokagon State Park on State Road 727, you will notice a small lake on the left side of the road. This is Lake Lonidaw, a “kettle lake” formed as the Wisconsin Glacier retreated. Lake Lonidaw has a creek that leads into the lower basin of Lake James. This lake is named in honor of the wife of the Potawatomi Indian Chief Simon Pokagon.

The Gatehouses

At the main entrance gate, you will see two gate houses. The gatehouse on the right is the original gatehouse constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1935. The gatehouse on the left was built in 1989.

The Saddle Barn

As you follow the park road, the next building on the right is the saddle barn. This was constructed by the CCC in 1937. This barn is the starting point of the horse trail rides through the park. As you continue through the park, you pass under the County Road Bridge. This was constructed by the CCC and completed in 1936.

Taking the second right after the bridge, you will head to the Pokagon campgrounds. This area consists of five campgrounds and 278 individual sites, a group camp and a youth tent area. The entrance to this area is marked by the campground gatehouse and a camper’s store. Take the first right after the gatehouse to enter campground 3. This is the largest of the campgrounds and has 97 individual sites.

The CCC Shelter

When leaving campground 3, you will notice the entrance to campground 4, an electric campground, and campground 2, a non-electric campground. Turning left leads to the entrance to the camping area. At the camper’s store, turn right at the second entrance and follow the lane past the store. On the left, you will see the Black Cherry Shelter and picnic area. Turn left at the road and you will notice the CCC Shelter on the right hand side. This shelter was built by the CCC in 1935-36 and is on the hillside above the Pokagon main beach and bathhouse.

The Nature Center

Passing back under the County Road Bridge, follow the road to the second right turn. This will lead to the nature center, which was built in 1980 and remodeled in 1989. This is the central location for interpretive programming at the park.

.

The Toboggan Slide

Returning to the main road, on the right side you will see the toboggan slide tower. This is a ¼ mile refrigerated track. The first toboggan slide was built by the CCC in 1935. There have been several changes to the slide. It was refrigerated in 1971 and completely remodeled, with the warming center added in 1986.