Free camping along McCaslin Brook comes with a few logistics worth knowing before you load the car. There are three sites in this Nicolet National Forest corridor, each with a picnic table, fire ring with cooking grate, and a pit toilet. The $5-per-night fee is collected at Wheeler Walker Beach, roughly two miles away, so pay before you arrive or be prepared to wait for a ranger to stop by. Campers driving anything low-clearance should note that the site entrances are washed out where they drop from the paved road, and at least one reviewer bottomed a minivan on the approach to the third site.
Site placement matters here. Sites one and two sit close to the road and see regular daytime traffic from cars, UTVs, and cyclists. Site three sits deeper into the trees, away from the road, and offers more space. Maxine S. describes it as having "tons of tree cover," which also means solar panels and satellite internet won't function well. T-Mobile users have reported around 20 Mbps down; AT&T coverage is minimal.
The brook runs alongside all three sites. Heavy shade keeps temperatures down but limits sky views. Sites fill by midday on summer Fridays, so arriving early is worth planning around. Campers wanting paved access and reserved sites can explore places to camp near Lakewood or consider Maple Heights Campground to the north for a more developed alternative.
Description
Dispersed camping is the type of recreational experience that is outside the confines of a developed campground setting. It’s just you and the woods without latrines, fire rings, or any other type of amenities you’d find in a campground. There are still some rules that need to be followed to preserve places for others to enjoy.
There are still some rules that need to be followed to preserve places for others to enjoy.
Please follow Leave No Trace practices to make sure no evidence of your visit remains. This means packing out all garbage and supplies you brought with you– leave the site cleaner than when you found it. Where toilets are not provided, bury and cover waste in a shallow trench at least 200 feet away from any water. Be aware of fire restrictions that apply to campfires outside of developed campsites. In dry conditions, campfires may be banned in the general forest, but still allowed in campgrounds. Never leave a campfire unattended. Be sure your fire is out before you leave the campsite. Check the most up to date Motorized Vehicle User Map (MVUM) to make sure the Forest Service road you wish to drive on is open to motorized vehicles. Please contact your local Forest Service office to obtain the latest copy of the MVUM map. Motor vehicles may be parked up to 30 feet from the edge of the road surface when it is safe to do so without causing damage to National Forest resources or facilities, unless prohibited by state law, a traffic sign, or special closure order. Parking motor vehicles or trailers is not allowed where it will impede traffic, harm vegetation, or impact soils. For example, driving and parking in open fields beyond the shoulder of a road right-of-way. Parking in front of gates is prohibited. RV or vehicle campers may utilize shoulder parking pull off areas or closed roads with a berm to park and camp. Visitors who are tent camping should be a minimum of 150 feet from the edge any trail or Forest Service road. Camp sites must be 200 feet away from any water or lakeshore. You may not construct any “improvements” at your camp. Examples of prohibited improvements include digging ditches, cutting of live trees or other vegetation, or construction of permanent fire rings. Disperse all signs of a campfire once it is extinguished, if you use one, or use a camp stove. You may not leave your camping equipment unattended for more than 24 hours. Occupancy is limited to 21 days at the same site within a 30 day period, one mile away from previous site. Be considerate of other campers or users that may be in the area. Hold down the noise please. Use only dead and downed material for firewood. Do not carve, chop, cut, peel bark, install nails or screws, or do any other damage to live trees. Use of wheeled carts or any mechanized or motorized equipment is prohibited in all designated wilderness areas.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsMcCaslin Brook Dispersed site is located in Wisconsin near Lakewood
Coordinates
45.28784 N
88.475541 W
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
Features
For Campers
- Phone Service
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
DISPERSED CAMPING
Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.
Drive Time
- 1 hr 8 min from Green Bay, WI
- 1 hr 20 min from Wausau, WI
- 1 hr 21 min from Appleton, WI
- 1 hr 39 min from Oshkosh, WI














