Willow’s floppy ears fly backward like long, flowing hair as she rips and roars around camp. She’s a 3-month-old labradoodle and it was her first time camping.

A sweet pup, she’s got a bunch of energy - sometimes too much. But nothing takes it out of you like putting in the miles on the road and on the trail.

My wife Ashley and I were itching to get out of the house before summer left us for the year. Last minute, I searched for campsites and scoped out the very few state parks that still had openings. Moose Lake was among them.

Nestled between Jay Cooke State Park, south of Duluth, and St. Croix State Park, even farther south, Moose Lake is a small park that’s only a couple of miles from I-35.

It’s not a grand facility like Itasca or Gooseberry Falls or even Afton. No, it’s much more modest - more like Lake Maria. That’s likely part of why there were still sites open less than a week before booking leading up to one of the busiest camping times of the year.

When we exited the highway and pulled up to the park office, it was a familiar welcome. One that made me think of all the times I’d run into a campground just for the night or left the city for the day, or as a kid about to go exploring.

Walking in, the desk flanks left and a small exhibit of agates is off to the right, just passed a large stuffed moose - not like one you’d expect to see on a hunter’s wall. This moose had never seen a bad day as far as I could tell.

I walked back to the car with two bundles of firewood, a park map, and a new T-shirt. We drove to site number two and set up home for the night.

When it comes to car camping, I’ve got it down to a science.

Tent.

Tarp.

Two-burner Coleman.

Lunch.

After nearly two hours in the car, it was nice to just stretch out and do something. But camp almost went up too fast. It was almost too easy. Is that even possible?

Campsite number two is not necessarily ideal because you’re roadside and at the entrance of the campground. You get all the traffic.

Thankfully, we made it on a particularly sleepy weekend. We were among the first to set up that morning, and even as it started filling in, the campground had an unexpected quiet to it. Either that, or we lucked out with very courteous neighbors.

If you’re looking for one of the better sites at Moose Lake, I think four or five would be winners.

After lunch, we set out to hike the main loop north of the park.

The trails are well-groomed and wide. Mud was minimal, roots weren’t rude, and rocks kept to themselves. We saw a porcupine on the Wildlife Trail and enjoyed the sights and sounds as they came.

With Willow being so small still, the hike took it out of her. By the end of it, she was ready for a nap. But really, the hike was about as tame as you can get.

Just like setting up camp, it was over a little too soon for me. Willow and Ashley seemed content enough, but I was looking for a bit more to do before calling it a day.

After a quick lunch, we hit the road again for Pattison State Park in Wisconsin. Pattison is south of downtown Superior about 15 miles, and it’s home to the tallest waterfall in the state.

We got our day pass at the park office, then headed to the waterfall down the road. It’s basically roadside. You can walk less than a mile before reaching one of the main viewing points of the waterfall, as well as the panoramic vista that stretches on and on and on. This deck would be a great spot to check out fall colors, which are likely peaking right about now.

The tallest waterfall in Wisconsin at Pattison State Park.

We didn’t linger. It’d been almost an hour drive from Moose Lake, after the already two hours in the car to get to camp from the Cities - not to mention the hike and a modest lunch. We drove back, fired up the Coleman and made the rest of the hot dogs, a box of shells and cheese, and crushed some chips.

Willow the labradoodle was pooped. We were too. We got a fire going, letting the blaze burn fast and hot. We enjoyed every bit of it in the cool fall air.

For fun, I took a few nighttime camp photos before turning in. Willow plopped down in the tent and balled up on the sleeping bag, out for the night.

What a trooper.

My Advice for Camping with a Puppy

I’m not an expert. But what I’ve found through leading trips with friends and family, assisting with outings through volunteer work at the Sierra Club, and going on guided trips, one thing is clear:

Make it a positive experience.

The first time I took my now wife, Ashley, backpacking was at Itasca State Park. We booked a backpack-in site for my birthday, which is in June. I scoffed at the two miles to the campsite, but the mosquitos and poor packing got the best of us. We packed like we were car camping, which made that two mile trek a slog through moist air swarming with buzzing and biting.

Needless to say, it wasn’t a totally positive experience. (I’m a glass half-full type of person, so I tend to think of the good things from that trip.)

For this go around, we didn’t want to bite off more than we could chew. Our goal was to introduce camping and sleeping in a tent to Willow. It wasn’t about venturing into the wild or having an epic trip. It was meant to be relaxing and easy going. And it was.

We packed the right way.

We set the right expectations.

We didn’t push it.

We kept it light.

Which made it positive.

Now, I imagine the next time we ask Willow to jump inside the tent, it’ll be with a little less skepticism and more comfort and familiarity.

Baby steps.

Or, should I say, puppy steps. (I realize how corny that is but I couldn’t resist.)

Our Puppy’s First Camping Trip at Moose Lake State Park

My Advice for Camping with a Puppy

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