Camping near Aniwa, Wisconsin offers year-round opportunities in the dense mixed forests of central Wisconsin's glacial terrain. Winter camping options exist at select locations like Council Grounds State Park, which remains accessible when many other campgrounds close their facilities. The region's elevation ranges from 1,450 to 1,650 feet above sea level, creating varied topography for hiking and recreation.
What to do
Ice Age Trail hiking: Marathon County Dells of the Eau Claire Park connects directly to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. "Great place to explore. Beautiful water side trails. Connects to ice age trail. Basic sites. Can be a bit crowded," notes a visitor to Dells of the Eau Claire Park Campground.
Disc golf: Veterans Memorial Park offers an excellent disc golf course for players of all skill levels. "Nice campground with a nice beach area and fantastic disc golf course!" reports one camper at Langlade County Veterans Memorial Park.
Swimming in natural settings: Many campgrounds feature swimming areas in lakes and rivers. At Tilleda Falls Campground, visitors appreciate "swimming area, waterfall, steam, fishing. This camp has it all."
Paddling and water sports: Game Lake at Veterans Memorial Park provides free canoe usage. "This campground is right on Jack Lake and Game Lake. There are a bunch of trails right in and around the campground, as well as opportunities for canoeing on Game Lake (there is a canoe you can just use for free)."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campers value space between campsites in the region. At Council Grounds State Park, "Sites are wooded and offer plenty of shade. Well spaced so you feel like you're all alone."
Family-friendly amenities: Pine Grove Campground features extensive facilities for children. "Lots for kids to do in their kid-friendly pool, arcade, park, and bounce house area that our group of kids loved. They offer golf carts to rent which is very nice (but a bit pricey)."
Natural water features: Tilleda Falls Campground receives consistent praise for its waterfall. "On the Embarrass River, a lovely small cascading falls and swimming area. Small store, nicely maintained grounds. Rachel, the owner is very nice."
Clean facilities: Tigerton OHV Park maintains well-kept facilities according to campers. "The management is awesome, the sites are large or very large. 10 are riverfront, amazing. It's clean, well kept, bathrooms are updated, love this place."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have limited or no cell reception. At Dells of the Eau Claire Park, campers report "No reception for verizon users. Tmoblie had a bar but spotty."
Site selection matters: Some campgrounds have significantly varied site quality. "We didn't mind but didn't love being as close to the other group sites as well," noted one Council Grounds camper, while another mentioned "We may choose a different site next time as ours was a bit close to our neighbors."
Noise considerations: Urban campgrounds like Marathon Park Campground experience city noise. "Sirens all the time, no wildlife outside of squirrels and birds. Didn't feel like a vacation," reports one camper.
Reservation requirements: The best places to camp near Aniwa often require advance planning. Most campgrounds have online reservation systems with specific rules, like Marathon Park where "There is a 2 day minimum for online reservations. That's not required for walk up self registration."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities for various ages: Pine Grove Campground offers graduated water features for different age groups. "Has a nice sand beach with clear water for swimming, as well as a pool area that are both great for the kids."
Budget for extras: Some family-oriented campgrounds charge for activities beyond basic camping. One camper noted at Pine Grove Campground, "To rent a paddle board it was $15 per hour. By the time you got them, got in the water, it cost us $45 for 3 kids for way less than an hour."
Playground access: Veterans Memorial Park includes playground facilities alongside other amenities. "This camping park has it all lake, campfire wood, store, fishing, nice swim beach, park to play volley ball play ground and modern showers."
Wildlife education opportunities: The natural setting provides wildlife viewing experiences. At Dells of the Eau Claire Park Campground, one camper "Ran into a bear around Xmas time, during a warm winter!"
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup availability: Most campgrounds near Aniwa offer electric hookups but not full service. At Great Northern Campground, "Roads leading to camp sites are narrow and can be muddy in the rain. The site we had was extremely unlevel and had a low spot that filled up with water/mud in the rain."
Dumping station policies: Rules regarding dump station usage vary by location. Great Northern Campground specifies "You only can use the dump station once at check out or you can pay a fee, but none of the sites have sewer."
Level site challenges: Finding level sites can be difficult at some locations. Campers should bring leveling blocks when staying at Great Northern Campground, where sites are reported as "extremely unlevel."
Road conditions: Access roads to some of the best camping near Aniwa can be challenging. Reviewers noted narrow roads at Great Northern Campground that "can be muddy in the rain," potentially creating difficulties for larger RVs.
