Dog-Friendly Camping near Boulder Junction, WI

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    Northern Highland American Legion State Forest campgrounds welcome pets throughout their extensive network of sites near Boulder Junction. North Trout Lake, Crystal Lake, Musky Lake, and Firefly Lake campgrounds all permit dogs with standard leash requirements. Sites vary from rustic to those with electric hookups, pit toilets, and hand pumps for water. Most campgrounds maintain clean facilities with picnic tables, fire rings, and access to hiking and biking trails. Firefly Lake offers showers, a rarity among the state forest campgrounds. Camp Holiday Campground provides full-service amenities including water and electric hookups, showers, and a camp store, while maintaining pet-friendly policies. Sites throughout the area accommodate tents, RVs, and some offer glamping options. The campgrounds fill quickly during summer months, especially lakeside sites with private beach access.

    Paved bicycle trails connect virtually every campground in the area, creating excellent opportunities for dog walks without needing to drive elsewhere. The extensive trail network links Boulder Junction, Sayner, and other nearby towns, with many sections allowing leashed pets. Crystal Lake prohibits motorized boats, creating a peaceful paddling experience with dogs. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, though owners should monitor pets closely for encounters with local fauna. Fall camping offers spectacular foliage with fewer crowds and bugs, making it ideal for camping with pets. The campgrounds maintain a family-friendly atmosphere with many accommodating multiple dogs. Most sites provide adequate space and privacy with tree cover, though some areas near highways experience traffic noise that might disturb sensitive pets.

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    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Boulder Junction (119)

      1. Musky Lake Campground — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

      4.8(16)8mi from Boulder JunctionRVs, Tents

      "Just south of Boulder Junction, WI. New and clean bathroom facilities with showers and flush toilets. Lakeside sites have their own path to the lake."

      "Quiet campground across the road from the busier Crystal Lake campground. Convenient to the lovely bike trail that takes you to Boulder Junction and Manitowish Waters."

      2. North Trout Lake Campground — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

      4.7(6)3mi from Boulder JunctionRVs, Tents

      "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

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      3. Crystal Lake Campground — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

      5.0(5)8mi from Boulder JunctionRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "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."

      4. Camp Holiday Campground

      5.0(3)4mi from Boulder JunctionRVs, Tents

      "Also have a mini concession stand in store with hot dogs and stuff but also a game room with pool tables arcade games."

      from $38 / night

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      5. Firefly Lake — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

      4.8(4)8mi from Boulder JunctionRVs, Tents

      "This is a beautiful campground nestled in Wisconsin’s north woods. There are many choices for sites."

      "Very nice campground in state forest in northern Wisconsin. NO electricity. Generators allowed from 10 am to 5 pm. "

      from $20 - $25 / night

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      6. Upper Gresham Lake Campground — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

      4.5(2)5mi from Boulder JunctionRVs, Tents

      "This campground is really close to Boulder Junction."

      "This is good rustic campground with some really nice sites next to the lake. Lots of people here for the bike path as this area has a lot of access to the nearby towns from the bike paths."

      from $19 / night

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      7. Lake Gogebic State Park Campground

      3.9(29)24mi from Boulder JunctionRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "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."

      "We loved staying at Lake Gogebic! There’s a beach a short walk through the campground and the site hosts are super friendly."

      8. Razorback Lake Campground — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

      4.0(3)8mi from Boulder JunctionRVs, Tents

      "We were surprised at the lack of mosquitoes, given that it was June in the woods in Wisconsin! The lakefront at our site was a little mucky, but became more sandy a few yards out."

      "The lake is large enough to have motorboats towing people around. The campground beach was hopping when we pulled in. The campground itself is situated on a couple loops."

      9. Big Lake Campground — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

      3.7(3)8mi from Boulder JunctionRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Big Lake Campground is a great spot if you’re looking for a simple and peaceful camping experience. The facilities are very basic—vault toilets and no showers—but they are clean and well-maintained."

      "This is a nice campground located in a nice place that isn’t too rustic. Lots of sites in this large campground too. The road in is paved and yet nicely wooded."

      10. South Trout Lake Campground — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

      3.0(3)6mi from Boulder JunctionRVs, Tents

      from $19 / night

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Boulder Junction, WI

    558 Reviews of 119 Boulder Junction Campgrounds


    • B
      Jun. 23, 2018

      Musky Lake Campground — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

      Peaceful and secluded!

      Just south of Boulder Junction, WI. New and clean bathroom facilities with showers and flush toilets. 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.

    • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 8, 2021

      Upper Gresham Lake Campground — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

      Rustic and yet close to a fun small town

      This campground is really close to Boulder Junction. It’s a fun town with lots of interesting things to do (We stumbled upon the weekly Lyons Club flea market and found some wonderful homemade jam and cookies) . The campground is rustic. We loved the sites along the lake. Site 1515 has a separate tent nook and it’s own short trail going downhill to the lakeshore. Vault toilets and water are available too. 

      We loved the remote feeling here as well as being minutes away from town. The paved bike path passes nearby. We used it as a walking trail after a storm left trails wet.

    • L
      Aug. 21, 2019

      Boulder Junction

      Boulder Junction 07/2019

      Love Boulder Junction! Always a great time to spend 4th of July ❤️🎉🎊

    • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 20, 2021

      South Trout Lake Campground — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

      Small campground that is popular with day use

      This is much smaller than the north trout lake campground. There were also a bunch of trucks with boat trailers parked on the road in. This means that there is a lot of activity here. 

      The sites are ok. They look nice and are on a small loop. Toilets and water are available. The drawback for us was that it’s just a busier place. The road along the lake is the bike route. Ride towards Boulder Junction and there are beautiful spots to stop and enjoy. Several benches can be found or just keep going all the way to town. This paved path is perfect for walking too- we did several miles a day with our dog. 

      You can drive across the main road and find Little John Lake too. We found people putting their boats in to go fishing.

    • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 29, 2022

      Firefly Lake — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

      More modern compared to others in the area

      This is a beautiful campground nestled in Wisconsin’s north woods. There are many choices for sites. Some are larger (we saw a site with a camper and double sun shelter along with space for vehicles and a trailer) and some smaller (vehicle and tent). New rules say that you must have reservations but we had cell service so you can do things when you show up if there’s room. A sprawling beach was enjoyable - didn’t see swimmers. There are vault toilets throughout along with a nice, centrally located shower house. The paved bike path goes right to the campground. You can visit Fallison Lake to hike. This way accesses other campgrounds too. Keep riding and you will discover a corner store with ice cream. Go the other direction and you can pedal to Boulder Junction. We did get a bit turned around with all the campgrounds and snowmobile trails but it added to the fun of discovering our adventure.

    • RJ G.
      Sep. 14, 2016

      Musky Lake Campground — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

      Beautiful!

      We planned to stay 2 nights, our site was so beautiful we ended up staying 4! Our site had amazing water views morning and night. The water was super clear and we listened to loons every day. Close to Boulder Junction, fishing, biking, hiking, swimming all available. Showers available within a 5 minute drive, our site restrooms were always clean and the camp host was very friendly. Couldn't ask for a better place to stay!

    • S
      Aug. 13, 2020

      South Trout Lake Campground — Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest

      Beautiful Lake, Nice Campground, On Bike Trail

      Although none of the sites are on the water, it’s just a short walk to the water from any site in the campground. The campground is clean, has vault toilets, and pumps for water. The sites don’t offer a lot of privacy, but are generally flat and easy to access. We kayaked for a few hours-beautiful and clear lake. It’s a rocky, not sandy, bottom.  If you bike, this is definitely a good place to stay. It’s right on the bike trail and a short ride to Boulder Junction, where you can get cold beer, good food, and great service at Aqualand. Aqualand has all outdoor service and seemed very safe from a Covid 19 standpoint.


    Guide to Boulder Junction

    Boulder Junction's campgrounds sit within the 225,000-acre Northern Highland American Legion State Forest where over 900 lakes dot the landscape. Temperatures drop into the 30s during spring and fall nights, with summer highs typically reaching 75-85 degrees. Sites throughout Northern Highland campgrounds accommodate various camping styles ranging from primitive tent sites to those with basic electrical access.

    What to do

    Biking on paved trails: The network of paved bicycle paths connects multiple campgrounds to nearby towns. At South Trout Lake Campground, "Ride towards Boulder Junction and there are beautiful spots to stop and enjoy. Several benches can be found or just keep going all the way to town. This paved path is perfect for walking too- we did several miles a day with our dog," notes Art S.

    Fishing in clear waters: Local lakes provide excellent fishing opportunities with varying regulations. According to Chad P. about Crystal Lake Campground, "This place brings back beautiful childhood memories. Fishing around the Big lake and even losing an anchor or 2 along the way. Sites are very wooded and quiet and clean."

    Stargazing from open sites: Clear skies and minimal light pollution make for excellent night viewing. Rebecca B. mentions at Crystal Lake, "Loved this site. Big open site. Great for star viewing. In between two great lakes. With hiking, biking trails. Loons will sing you to sleep."

    What campers like

    Lake access: Many sites offer direct water access or short trails to the shoreline. At North Trout Lake Campground, "We arrived on a Thursday and were able to snag one of the much-coveted lakeside sites for a private view of the sunset. Sites were level and clean and it never got busy for the weekend," reports Stephanie F.

    Wildlife viewing: The natural setting provides opportunities to observe local fauna. Rebecca B. notes about Crystal Lake, "Beautiful crystal clear lake. Loons common. Great sites on the water. On bike and hiking trails. Great for swimming and kayaking."

    Beach areas: Several campgrounds maintain sandy beaches for swimming. At Upper Gresham Lake Campground, "Site 1515 has a separate tent nook and its own short trail going downhill to the lakeshore," according to Art S.

    What you should know

    Reservation requirements: All sites now require advance booking. "New rules say that you must have reservations but we had cell service so you can do things when you show up if there's room," mentions Art S. about Firefly Lake Campground.

    Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly between locations. Mary notes about Firefly Lake, "Cell phone service is minimal with Verizon. We could send and receive texts."

    Seasonal considerations: Fall offers unique advantages but with cooler temperatures. Scott M. says about Upper Gresham Lake, "Best time to camp here is in the fall as the leaves were great!"

    Traffic noise: Some campgrounds experience road noise. Heather M. mentions about North Trout Lake, "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."

    Tips for camping with families

    Motor-free lake options: For safer paddling experiences with children, consider lakes with motor restrictions. A review from Bryan G. states about Crystal Lake, "This is one of my favorite campgrounds. It has a Great Lake for kids and good biking. Sites on the lake are difficult to get but worth the effort."

    Dog friendly campgrounds near Boulder Junction: Most Northern Highland campgrounds welcome pets with standard leash requirements. Scott M. notes about Razorback Lake Campground, "We walked right across the road into the Aurora Lake State Natural Area. The road ends at another boat launch but it gave us a secluded 1.4 mile walk."

    Ice cream destinations: Plan excursions to nearby local treats. Mark E. notes about Firefly Lake, "You definitely have to go visit the Corner Store just a few miles down the road for some delicious ice cream!"

    Tips from RVers

    Generators allowed: Firefly Lake permits generators during specific hours. According to Mary, "Generators allowed from 10 am to 5 pm."

    Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds have onsite dump facilities. Mary adds about Firefly Lake, "Dump and clean water available at next campground, Crystal Lake, which is a mile away."

    Electricity options: For RVers needing hookups, Camp Holiday Campground offers more amenities. Zach P. reports, "They have water and electricity every site available which is nice but not necessary for us. Definitely be coming back here we had fun."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Boulder Junction, WI?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Boulder Junction, 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 Boulder Junction, WI?

    TheDyrt.com has all 119 dog-friendly camping locations near Boulder Junction, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.