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Northern Highland State Forest campgrounds welcome pets throughout their network of sites near Arbor Vitae, including Crystal Lake, Clear Lake, Firefly Lake, and Buffalo Lake locations. Leashed dogs are permitted at all campsites with owners responsible for proper waste disposal. Patricia Lake Campground features a fenced dog run and designated swimming area specifically for pets, making it particularly suitable for campers traveling with dogs. Sites are clean and not excessively close together, providing ample space for pets and their owners. Indian Shores offers pet-friendly cabins in addition to tent and RV sites, though some reviewers note the permanent sites are packed in like a mobile home park. Most campgrounds enforce standard pet policies requiring dogs to be supervised at all times and leashes no longer than 8 feet.
The paved bike paths connecting multiple campgrounds in the Northern Highland State Forest provide excellent opportunities for dog walking, with trails accessible directly from most pet-friendly sites. The Clear Lake area features exceptionally clean water with a sandy bottom that dogs enjoy, though pets must remain leashed while swimming. Buffalo Lake Campground offers large, wooded sites overlooking the water that provide natural shade and privacy for pets. Wildlife encounters are common throughout the area, so campers should keep dogs securely leashed, particularly at dawn and dusk. Several campgrounds have designated quiet hours that help minimize barking disturbances. For longer stays, Lynn Ann's Campground and other nearby facilities offer full hookups with nearby access to veterinary services in Minocqua, approximately 10 miles from most camping areas.
"The loons on the lake are the epitome of the north woods! I camp to enjoy wildlife, so this is a plus. Nice hiking trails nearby. Numerous bike paths as well."
"Lakeside sites have their own path to the lake. Campers would leave their water “toys” ashore for use the next day. Loons singing; very peaceful."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"There is a paved bike path through the woods all the way to the registraion area. We arrived at our campsite, unloaded the bikes, then proceeded to ride to check in."
"Campsite is very near a lake with plenty of wildlife. The weather is unpredictable so bring extra layers just in case."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"We had the perfect set up.. right on the water and tucked into the woods. Our neighbors were to far to hear us and the bathrooms were near by!"
"Some provide camper access, walk in private access and water access. Cunard Lake allows non motorized watercrafts and has a great swimming area."
from $19 / night
Check Availability"The best sites are lake sites (obviously), but there are some better than others. Look along the east side of the lake for a sandy beach off of your site."
"You can get sites that have your own beach pretty much with a trail right down to the lake. Very nice."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Some sites have beautiful lake views(we suggest trying those first). There are also some double sites that would nestle you in closely with your neighbors- perfect for a larger group."
"Loved the water view from our campsite, unfortunately on the other side was the main entrance and a highway so vehicular traffic sound was prominent. Sites are large, with some tree coverage."
from $19 / night
Check Availability"Very nice campground in state forest in northern Wisconsin. NO electricity. Generators allowed from 10 am to 5 pm. "
"This is a beautiful campground nestled in Wisconsin’s north woods. There are many choices for sites."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Large fenced in dog run and also area for dogs to swim Quiet too"
"Great location to explore Minocqua. The campground is comprised mostly of seasonal folks, but offers 20 some sights to non-seasonal."
from $30 - $43 / night
Check Availability"The majority of the weekend campsites are located near the prime activity locations; the pool, playground and lake areas. There are full sun and full shade sites available."
"It’s big and spacious and on the most beautiful clear lake. Good fishing and boating/skiing. Minoqua is easily accessible."
"Buffalo Lake Campground in the Norther Highlands-American Legion State Forest is spectacular - the sites are large and beautiful - we had campsite 2020 which overlooked the lake, a perfect spot to hang"
"Great state campground, near Minocqua WI. Was clean and was a busy weekend of people but great space, little to know bugs."
from $19 / night
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TravelerLoved this camping trip. Great park. Super helpful and friendly staff/hosts. Clean bathrooms, pet friendly. Awesome location on Lake Gogebic shore. Close to Porcupine Mountains and Bond Falls and hiking trails. Would love to visit again.
GuideWe have been coming here for a long time. It is under new management and we thought things would get better. While we were here other guests trashed the beach and had dogs running and using the bathroom throughout the campsite. The rules for dogs were to keep them on leashes and clean up after them. These rules were not being followed which caused the beach, in the past is lovely, but with the dogs using it as a bathroom the beach smelt like poop. Nobody in our week of staying cleaned up after them so we needed to go somewhere else to swim. If your place is pet friendly please make sure to keep up with your own rules. The cabins are run down but showers are hot and the utilities are still able to be used
GuideWelcoming, clean and charming old fashioned camping & RV’ing. Nice paved road coming in. Friendly owner on site. Convenient dump station. Water and Electric. Swam in lake. Very family and pet friendly. Would go back!! Recycling avail.
LegendThis large campground stretches out along the lakeshore. Some sites have beautiful lake views(we suggest trying those first). There are also some double sites that would nestle you in closely with your neighbors- perfect for a larger group. A few walk in spots are available too.
The nature trail doesn’t allow pets which was sad. However the paved bike route is nearby and goes for miles. Town is a short bike ride away. This weekend was an organized ride so it was quite a busy path. A couple days later the town had a large garage sale-type fair. The cookies and jam were great!
This was a great discovery. We are adding this to our places to return to.
The lake is beautiful and has a nice picnic area with a place to launch your boat.
LegendNestled within Wisconsin forest you find Sailor Lake. This national forest campground has water access as well as sites away from the lake. We stayed at site 12 - a pull through site away from the water.
Many, although not all, of the waterside sites are for tents. You park and carry your gear down a few steps for a close to the water feel. There is an open area for everyone to enjoy the lake - it’s filled with purple flowers today. With plenty of woods around, all sites offer privacy but they have different vibes. Plenty of choice here so look around or reserve one. Plenty of sites available for walk-ins too. A couple of vault toilets, garage receptacle and water source round out a nice camp.
ATV trails as well as non-motorized trails are plentiful. We hiked on them and it was nice. Minimal cell signal encourages disconnecting for your stay.
TravelerLoved the water view from our campsite, unfortunately on the other side was the main entrance and a highway so vehicular traffic sound was prominent. Sites are large, with some tree coverage. Many families with kids and dogs. Well maintained and great walking and biking trails in the park and surrounding area.
LegendNice campground situated in Northern Wisconsin in the North Highland American Legion State Forest. Over 900 lakes and 225,000 acres. As you will read from my other reviews of campgrounds in this area, this is the place to be if you love camping, fishing or bicycling. This is the bicycle trail capital in the State of Wisconsin for sure! There are paved bicycle trails connecting every campground and every town. There are nature trails everywhere that vary in length. North Trout Lake is a nice lake to swim in an can get pretty wavy with good winds, swim at your own risk, the beach is Sandy but turns to rock the further you go in. This campground offers some awesome walk-in campsites situated in front of the water near the beach. There are also numerous standard sites that sit on the water but it can be tough to get one during peak season. This campground also offers good size camp sites with plenty of room to set up. . There are no showers or flush toilets at this location but the restrooms were clean and there are plenty of water pumps for fresh water. If you can live with the minimum this campground is nice. This campground is about and 18 min drive. Northeast from the tourist town of Minaqua and 7 minutes drive from Bolder Junction, another tourist town that is located just East. Bicycle trails lead you to either direction. Both towns have convinces of dining, services, and lodging if needed.
TravelerWillow River State Park in Wisconsin is an amazing camp site and since it's in a state park the rates are quite reasonable as well. There are tons of hiking trails that start right In the campground. My favorite hike is to the waterfall and walking up the steps to get to the top of it. I am actually surprised it's not a lot bussier then when I've been there.
GuideMusky Lake Campground is a nice campground. We camped mid-late June and had a nice little trip. Here's the good and the bad.
The good:
A surplus of dragonflies means that mosquitos were NOT a problem. As someone who gets eaten alive this is important.
Deer are rampant in the area. The loons on the lake are the epitome of the north woods! I camp to enjoy wildlife, so this is a plus.
Nice hiking trails nearby. Numerous bike paths as well.
Large bathroom facility with flush toilets and showers.
The bad:
Sites are close together. I prefer a bit more privacy than they allow.
Lake access from the site is...existent at best. I was able to launch my inflatable kayak very carefully between the sticks and weeds, though I'm not sure anything bigger or heavier would be worth launching from the site.
No beach swimming areas for dogs. There's a dog friendly picnic area, but it is certainly no place to let your dog swim.This was disappointing. Many of the trails are also off limits for dogs which is beyond me, though this is unrelated to the actual campground I'm sure.
All in all Musky Lake is worth checking out. There is a nice human friendly beach at nearby (you can walk there) Crystal Lake. The location is good, not too far from civilization for those who like a grocery store nearby.The sites were level and had plenty of room for our 2 tents. This area has to be on your list if you are a bike rider! I felt out of place because everyone up there had their bikes, and I could see why.
Northern Highland State Forest comprises over 225,000 acres with more than 900 lakes near Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin. Most campgrounds in this area sit at elevations between 1,600 and 1,700 feet above sea level, creating a distinct microclimate that cools significantly at night even during summer months. Winter camping is available at select locations including Clear Lake and North Trout Lake campgrounds, though water systems are winterized from October through April.
Paddle crystal-clear waters: Crystal Lake Campground features a motor-free lake that creates ideal paddling conditions. "This is a great campground in a group of the campgrounds in the area. Lots of water sites so I would highly suggesting getting one so the you can paddle right from the shoreline," notes Scott M.
Connect through paved bike trails: The area features an extensive network of paved bicycle paths connecting multiple campgrounds and nearby towns. At North Trout Lake Campground, "The paved bike route is nearby and goes for miles. Town is a short bike ride away," according to Art S., who adds that Boulder Junction is accessible by bicycle from the campground.
Geocaching opportunities: The region offers numerous geocaching sites for treasure hunters. "Geocaching is hot in this area too!" mentions Jaimie G. from Cunard Lake Campground. Beginners can find starter caches near campground entrances, while more advanced geocachers can tackle multi-stage caches throughout the forest.
Secluded walk-in sites: Cunard Lake Campground offers walk-in sites for those seeking additional privacy. "I love returning to this campground every year, it has some great walk in campsites and a good amount of privacy if that's what you're looking for," shares Kayla R. The campground is designated as a "Quiet" area with specific noise restrictions.
Lakeside camping with private beach access: Many sites at Crystal Lake feature private beach access. "You can get sites that have your own beach pretty much with a trail right down to the lake," says Shannon B. These sites allow campers to enjoy water activities directly from their campsite.
Fall and spring camping: Several reviewers recommend shoulder-season visits when campgrounds are less crowded. "You can come here on the 4th of July without reserving ahead of time and still find plenty of open sites," notes Kayla R. about Cunard Lake Campground. September through mid-October offers fall colors with fewer insects and crowds.
Quiet campground designations: Two campgrounds within Northern Highland State Forest are designated "Quiet" areas with strict noise regulations. "Lake Cunard campground was designated a 'Quiet' campground several years ago - one of only two in the 18 different Northern Highlands American Legion state forest campgrounds. That means no 'noise producing devices', including generators, radios, TV's, video games, guitars, etc.," explains S P.
Generator restrictions: Firefly Lake Campground limits generator use to specific hours. "Generators allowed from 10 am to 5 pm," notes Mary. For campers requiring continuous electricity, Lynn Ann's Campground offers full hookup sites as an alternative.
Cell reception varies widely: Cell service is inconsistent throughout the area. "Cell phone service is minimal with Verizon. We could send and receive texts," reports Mary about Firefly Lake. Mike R. adds about Crystal Lake: "We have Verizon service and it is spotty in areas, though given that you can see a cell tower towards Sayner it should be a lot better than it is. I think it is the heavy tree cover that impacts the reception."
Motor-free lakes for safer swimming: Several lakes prohibit motorized boats, creating safer swimming environments for children. "No motorized boats allowed unless you go to the neighbors lake about a min down," notes Kristy about Crystal Lake Campground, making it ideal for families with young swimmers.
Campground beach quality varies: Buffalo Lake Campground offers large, wooded sites overlooking the water. "Buffalo Lake Campground in the Norther Highlands-American Legion State Forest is spectacular - the sites are large and beautiful - we had campsite 2020 which overlooked the lake, a perfect spot to hang our hammock and relax," shares Krissy G.
Ice cream access: Multiple reviewers mention the Corner Store near Firefly Lake as a family-friendly destination. "Many different hiking and biking trails to explore and you definitely have to go visit the Corner Store just a few miles down the road for some delicious ice cream!" recommends Mark E.
Limited full-hookup options: Lynn Ann's Campground provides one of the few full-hookup options for RVers in the area. "Very clean, family friendly campground. The sites are a decent size with shade," notes Bill D. Prices run higher than state forest campgrounds but include amenities like a swimming beach and camp store.
Smaller rigs recommended: Many state forest campgrounds accommodate smaller RVs only. "A bit pricey, but if you spend most of your time boondocking it's a good fit," mentions Rick G. about Patricia Lake Campground. Sites at North Trout Lake can accommodate larger rigs but have fewer amenities like electricity.
Plan for dump station access: Most state forest campgrounds lack sewer hookups. "Dump and clean water available at next campground, Crystal Lake, which is a mile away," notes Mary regarding Firefly Lake facilities. RVers staying multiple nights should plan dump station visits accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Arbor Vitae, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Arbor Vitae, WI is Musky Lake Campground — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest with a 4.8-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Arbor Vitae, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 120 dog-friendly camping locations near Arbor Vitae, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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