#TeamFrank Travels: Camping at Mirror Lake State Park

We kick off our camping this year at the Mirror Lake State Park, located in Baraboo, WI. It's pretty close to Devil's Lake and is also not that far from the Dells.

Our initial schedule to camp was last June at Copper Falls State Park, but due to the weather we had to cancel because it rained all week. Since we go to a different State Park each time (except for two exceptions - High Cliff and Devil's Lake), we were lucky to be able to secure this site. I always do our booking online on the Wisconsin Going to Camp Website.

We secured a pretty nice campsite (as always, sans the Racoons but I love them anyways). Mirror Lake is definitely family friendly - the trails and the location is not difficult, it's great for the puppies. I would say it's definitely picturesque, also very touristy. We set up camp quickly and it's time to relax!

✨ Beautiful Sights ✨

The trails have a lot more to offer as we go deeper into the woods. A bit of an incline here and there, wouldn't say it's comparable to some trails at Devil's Lake (like the Pothole Trail that got us on the side of the mountain - which I liked! Bear? Vertigo alert - not so much).

Image: Mirror Lake State Park Summer Map, Wisconsin DNR

​There are a lot of trails in the area, but we trekked the ones closer to the campsite. We took the Echo Rock Trail and crossed the bridge and did the little loop and back. We decided not to take the rest of the Ishnala Trail, as it was also starting to get dark. It wasn't a very long walk, we're not as sporty as some folks. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful sight.

The Echo Rock was not just a rock, like how I imagined it would be. It was a pretty huge rock to walk around. Quite whimsical if you add a bit of imagination to it.

✨ Smore & Racoons ✨

Of course, camping is never complete without S'mores and, well, trash pandas!! I also always pack up some sausages and kielbasa to grill on the fire. I found a cute Hershey's tackle box at Meijer while shopping for supplies, and grabbed a glow in the dark pokey stick (whatever you call that!).

You see, I never had S'mores until I moved to the U.S. We never really went camping back in the Philippines, and those who do typically do mountain climbing, or something. It's not a "thing" so to speak. I'm sure there are people who camp on a regular basis, but it's not something common.

I know I often sound childish, which in fact I truly am, but I do enjoy these seemingly simple little things that I am getting to experience now. And yes, that includes S'mores.

Just when we thought we were in the clear, we learned that we were not!

From all the parks we've camped in, I know that High Cliff has the highest concentration of trash pandas. They even have photo reminders to not feed them, these chonky devils. The first night was quiet but the last few were not. They started to sneak in while we were even up and having a fire!

We caught them in action but was too fast... little trash pandas got up the trees really quick!

As much as they terrorize campers, they do not faze me and I still adore these brazen creatures. They're really cute, and just like everyone else, they are just trying to survive. However, no, I am not sharing my food! 

Do not feed the trash pandas.