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Best Tent Camping near Boulder Junction, WI

495 Reviews

Dispersed camping opportunities near Boulder Junction, Wisconsin include primitive sites across the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and specific tent-only areas like Three Johns Lake Dispersed. The region features multiple tent camping options within an hour's drive, including Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping in Michigan and the Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area, both offering secluded tent sites with minimal amenities.

Most tent sites provide basic amenities like fire rings and pit toilets, but services vary significantly between locations. Campers should bring drinking water, as many sites lack potable water sources. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest backcountry sites typically offer free tent camping with fire rings but no toilets or drinking water. Walk-in sites at Wabasso Lake Recreation Area include picnic tables, fire rings, and access to vault toilets. Sites around Three Johns Lake are primitive with no facilities beyond simple fire rings. Firewood availability is limited, so campers should either purchase locally or gather downed wood where permitted.

Areas farther from town offer deeper seclusion and fewer encounters with other campers. The Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area provides boat-in tent camping on islands throughout the 12,942-acre flowage, creating natural privacy buffers. A visitor commented, "The Turtle Flambeau Flowage is dubbed the 'Boundary Waters of Wisconsin' and for good reason! The quality of the waters, vast array of channels, islands and camping spots is simply amazing." Walk-in tent sites at Wabasso Lake feature lake views and swimming access, though parking is limited at the trailhead. The Sylvania Wilderness offers canoe-accessible tent sites on multiple lakes, though campers report sites can be relatively close to each other. Bug protection is essential throughout the region, particularly at waterside campsites where mosquitoes and biting flies can be abundant.

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Best Tent Sites Near Boulder Junction, Wisconsin (20)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Boulder Junction, WI

19 Photos of 20 Boulder Junction Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Boulder Junction, WI

495 Reviews of 20 Boulder Junction Campgrounds

  • Stephanie F.
    Jul. 3, 2017

    North Trout Lake Campground — Northern Highland State Forest

    Fewer amenities, but great trade-off

    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, which is just the way I like it. Although there are tons of other state campgrounds nearby with more amenities, I would gladly trade all of that for the no-electric, vault toilet, water pump solitude of North Trout Lake. The campground has a nature trail and is also located on a paved bike path that runs between nearby towns and connects to the other camping areas.

    Amenities: nice/clean vault toilets, water from pump tastes fantastic, swimming beach, firewood for sale onsite, no electric, no showers.

  • Stacia R.
    Apr. 27, 2019

    Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park

    Stunning landscapes

    We camped at Presque Isle in the Porkies for a long weekend in October. The color change was amazing! This campground is rustic with only vault toilets and no hookups. There is a section that allows generators during certain hours of the day, a non-generator area and a few walk-in sites. There are a few sites which are along the cliff side looking down to Lake Superior, we were lucky enough to reserve one of those, site 2. It was a very large site, equipped with the standard picnic table and fire ring. Many of the sites back up to the woods, which were smaller and a little soggy while we were there. This campground is one of two in the park, Union Bay is the other more modern campground located right on the lake. The sites there are much smaller and crowded. I prefer the more remote Presque Isle campground by far. Less amenities but far less people. The hiking throughout this park is unparalleled in its beauty. The campground is close to the Presque Isle river trail which is waterfall after waterfall. The park has a ski lift we rode to check out the views from the top of the mountain, as well as an 18 hole disc course. It’s the hiking and rugged beauty of the area that is the main attraction, especially catching the fall colors surrounding Lake Superior.

  • Nona A.
    Aug. 10, 2017

    Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park

    Great Campground for exploring, and for those who love waterfalls.

    If you're a person who loves waterfalls, then I recommend you don’t miss this campground.  Presque Isle Campground is located at the southern edge of the Porcupine Mountains State Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  This campground has bluff overlooking Lake Superior, there is a walkway and stairs that take you down the bluff to the shore.  Walking distance from the campground is the Presque River you can hike along and see all the beautiful waterfalls this river has to offer.  This is a Rustic campground that has vault toilets, and hand pump drinking water. The campground, restrooms and surrounding area’s were kept very clean. There are 50 campsites that are equipped for tents, trailers, and RV’s.  Each site has a fire pit, and picnic table.  There is no electrical hook up, and part of the campground is generator free.  Six of the sites are walk in sites, there are parking spots for these sites, you park and walk in a little ways to your site.  I recommend a site that is located on the outer sides of the campground loop.  They are larger sites and more privacy from your neighbors.  Inner loop sites are closer together and open.  Be prepared for mosquitoes and blackflies.  Blackflies bite, and bug spray does not affect them.  I found keeping a hand towel or fly swatter moving around me helped keep them away.  They are more active when it is humid, and down by the water.  These flies seem to be common up here along the shore.

    There are many things to do around the campground close to your site and others are a little bit of a drive from your site in the Porcupine Mountains State Park.  If you like to stay close to your camp, you can hang out on the beach, hike along the Presque Isle River and discover the Manabezho Falls, Manido Falls, and the Nawadaha Falls.  Also the Lake Superior Trail and North Country Trail are right by the campground.  These trails will connect you with other trails in the Porcupine Mountains.  The Porcupine Mountains have lot’s to offer anyone stopping to visit.  We took and day and seen The Lake of the Clouds, and Summit Peak.  They both are gorgeous areas to explore.  

  • A
    Aug. 19, 2020

    Black River Harbor Campground

    Great campground in a beautiful location

    We stayed at Black River Harbor Campground last week, in a year that the water supply was never turned on due to Covid. Nevertheless, we had an amazing time. We stayed in one of the many first-come-first-served campsites (which seemed to be available late into the afternoon, but filled most nights) and enjoyed a large site, separated by a pretty dense forest in between our neighbors. We had easy access to nicely maintained vault toilets, and had there been water available this year there were plenty of spigots—no hand pumps here. The fire rings were solid and had cooking greats on each one, and the picnic tables in many cases were new. If you are heading here during the wetter season, know that the ground will likely be soft, but every site we looked at had some effort taken to make sure it stayed dry.

    The real gem of this place is the location. The Black River Falls are an astounding bit of Michigan scenery just minutes away by car. We decided to take a 7 mile out-and-back hike that brought us past five of the falls—each one far exceeding the expectations of this downstater. Next door to the Black River Falls are the Presque Isle Falls (though next door still means about an hour drive due to following the valley roads). The Presque Isle Falls are part of the Porcupine Wilderness State Park, and are gorgeous and even more accessible than the Black River Falls.

    Beyond hiking we had a great time hunting for agates on the beach and enjoying the marvelous spectacle of Lake Superior, including its unpredictable weather!

  • Andrew D.
    Jun. 26, 2023

    Franklin Lake

    Great campsite

    Stayed one night on  a Sunday.  Mostly empty but you can see it is heavily booked for the Fourth of July weekend. They just added electric hook up to some sites in the South End.  Right now the price is the same for electric or non-electric sites.

    Sites are large and decent spacing between sites.  Heavy tree cover with mostly shade.

    The site was mostly gravel with nice fire ring and picnic table.

  • Hilary S.
    Oct. 11, 2020

    Porcupine Mountains Backcountry Camping — Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

    Beautiful at peak fall color!

    I did a 3 day/2 night hike during peak color, starting at the Lake Superior Trailhead. I was warned the Lake Superior trail was muddy when I checked in, and the ranger was not joking - I was grateful to have trekking poles to help balance on logs, branches, roots and rocks to try to keep my boots as dry as possible in the parts of the trail that were submerged. 

    Campsite LS-14 had a lovely location on the lake, but was very muddy/previously submerged with water. It immediately abuts site LS-13. There was a wooden platform to put my tent on, but I had to bolster the corners so that it was big enough for my tent poles to have something to rest on. If I had gotten in before dark, I might have seen the small area near the trail side of the site that had higher, dryer ground. There is supposed to be a bear pole for these sites, but the group at the other site said there wasn't one. In hindsight, I think there probably was, away from the campsites, but since I had a canister, I didn't go looking for it after dark. The Lake Superior trail continued to be muddy until you got close to the Big Carp River mouth.

    Campsite BC-8 was a big upgrade - very large site, a little patch of open sky over the fire pit, easy access to the river for water. The big trees provided good shelter from a minor storm and high winds overnight. This site is right alongside the trail, but separated from the cabin and next site by a good distance. The hike out from here up the Big Carp River trail to Lake of the Clouds is a somewhat longer trek with a bit of elevation gain, but nothing too intense in my opinion.

  • Danielle A.
    Sep. 27, 2016

    Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping

    Lovely, covered backcountry sites

    A lovely area with a good balance of open space and tree cover. Nearby Clark Lake is very pretty, good for swimming, and serves as the primary water source. The area is covered in soft pine duff but finding a truly flat spot free of any small mounds of moss or decayed nurse logs can be a challenge.

  • L
    Sep. 24, 2024

    North Trout Lake Campground — Northern Highland State Forest

    Nice State Campground

    You get a relatively flat site, fire ring, a picnic table, hand pump for water and vault toilets along with a beautiful clear water lake. There's a boat launch and firewood for sale. Reservations need to be made and paid online even if your fcfs. Cell phone and data are okay. There is tire noise from Highway M.

    Very few folks around in September!

    Honeymooned here in 1975. The location on the lake is beautiful. We camped here many times over the years. In tents, VW campers, trailers until about 20 years ago. Got a Sprinter RV this year and we're camped here now.

  • Allen B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Smith Lake County Park

    Out of town but close

    Flush toilets & showers. Also one vault toilet. Clean with hand sanitizer. Lower sites are closer to playground, beech & picnic area. But upper sites are spaced better with lake views. All sites have picnic table, fire ring & power.

Guide to Boulder Junction

Dispersed tent campsites near Boulder Junction, Wisconsin are scattered throughout the northern Wisconsin wilderness, with options ranging from primitive backcountry sites to walk-in camping areas. Most sites sit between 1,600 and 1,700 feet above sea level in mixed hardwood forests dominated by maple, birch, and pine trees. Summer temperatures typically range from 55°F to 80°F with July and August being the warmest months for primitive camping.

What to do

Paddling exploration: Three Johns Lake Dispersed site offers a secluded, tent-only option with direct water access. "Tents only. Short walk to campsite only one on lake. 5 dollar parking national Forest," notes one camper about this primitive site that requires no reservation.

Hiking nearby trails: The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Backcountry Site connects to local hiking networks. One visitor mentions, "The Sam Campbell trail is right next door, it's a nice walk to another tiny lake." This free camping option provides good access to forest exploration.

Wildlife viewing: Boulder Junction camping areas frequently host deer, including rare white deer sightings. A camper at Boulder Junction reported, "We were lucky enough to see a white deer. Mosquitos were horrible but we managed! Thankfully we had our bug rackets to fry those suckers."

What campers like

Privacy between sites: While the Sylvania Wilderness offers beautiful backcountry camping, site spacing can vary. One camper warns, "We ended up being 20 yards away from the next site... which was clearly visible through the clear old growth forest. Most sites in Sylvania are 2 sites very near to each other."

Natural swimming areas: Wabasso Lake Recreation Area features walk-in sites with swimming access. As one visitor described, "The campgrounds here have a fire ring and table, and plenty of room to set up in. The lake is gorgeous and swimmable. The only amenities are a vault toilet and water."

Calm paddling waters: Burned Dam Campground sits along the Ontonagon River with audible rapids nearby. A camper notes, "Camp is right on a river and the rapids will draw you in. Follow the trail 20 yards and you can find a variety of boulders or logs to perch upon."

What you should know

Bugs can be intense: Multiple campers mention significant bug issues throughout the region. At Burned Dam Campground, one visitor warned, "BUGS. This campground was FULL of mosquitos and biting flies. Even with bug spray, the assault was nonstop. Bring a screen-printing popup shelter with you or you will suffer."

Limited cell service: Most primitive camping areas around Boulder Junction have no reliable cell service, requiring self-sufficiency. As one camper at Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area mentioned, "I wouldn't count on your phone for service."

Uneven tent sites: Finding perfectly flat spots can be challenging. At Sylvania Wilderness, "The area is covered in soft pine duff but finding a truly flat spot free of any small mounds of moss or decayed nurse logs can be a challenge."

Tips for camping with families

Water safety preparation: Life jackets are essential for children at boat-in sites. At Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area, families appreciate the island camping: "There are 60 camp sites spread throughout the flowage... This site (like many) was on its own private island."

Consider site accessibility: Some sites require substantial hiking or paddling. A visitor to Sylvania Wilderness noted, "We did it the easy way, loaded our canoe, crossed the lake to our campsite and set up camp. No portaging with our gear."

Bring indoor entertainment: Weather changes can disrupt outdoor plans. A Boulder Junction camper shared, "The weather was a bit cold on Lake Superior and our picnic was ruined. However we had a great laugh making sandwiches in the car in a middle of a rain storm."

Tips from RVers

Limited RV options for primitive camping: Most dispersed sites near Boulder Junction accommodate tents only. Robbins Pond Campground offers primitive sites with "no amenities, only a rock fire ring is provided. There are only 3 cleared areas known as campsites at the end of the road."

Consider parking logistics: For walk-in tent sites, RV parking may be limited. At Wabasso Lake Recreation Area, "The boat launch is also the camping parking lot. We love the look of this small lake but wonder if we could have camped a night in the parking area."

Scout access roads first: Some forest roads leading to campsites have challenging conditions. When visiting Burned Dam Campground, a camper advised, "The road in is a bit rough but it isn't too long."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Boulder Junction, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Boulder Junction, WI is Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping with a 4-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Boulder Junction, WI?

TheDyrt.com has all 20 tent camping locations near Boulder Junction, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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