Looking for the best campgrounds near Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, WI? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Discover great camping spots near Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, reviewed by campers like you.
"We rolled in at dark and we’re enchanted by trees, falling leaves and mystic lake. There aren’t many spots, but they all quintessential WI. Free water is available via a hand pump."
"No hook-ups. Pit toilets and right on the lake. First come first serve. And 2 day maximum consecutive days stay if I believe. Close to waterfalls and other lake s and parks. Great time."
"There is a fire ring and picnic table at each site."
"Loved the hike in, decided to walk the whole loop and unfortunately the bridge at the end was under water and we had to turn around and walk back instead."
"One was a multi-layer setup while others were more hidden as they moved further away from the lake. The picnic tables look very new and the vault toilets are well kept."
"We arrived mid-week and had no problem getting a lakeside campsite. The sites are low compared to the water level, so it was an easy walk from our campsite to the water (no stairs to climb)."
"Tents only. Short walk to campsite only one on lake. 5 dollar parking national Forest."
"A nice little beach, quiet well spaced sites, and nearby snowmobile/hiking trails. The lake it small with a few lake cabins across the lake."
"Trolling motors only on this lake. Good fishing and quite. Dirty and grave sites with no concrete pads. Great place to spend a week or two!"
"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."
TravelerGreat find. Sunday night beginning of June. Only camper in the tent section. Quiet spot with good hosts. Close to the lake. Grass and gravel. Restroom share with the park/boat launch area. I would definitely stay here again. If there was a drawback would be sites have some slope toward lake. Being only one there I found flat spot to tent but if busy choice might be limited. No control over weather but woke up and had to pack up in the rain. Definitely check it out! Thanks to the Hosts!
TravelerStayed 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.
GuideBagley Rapids Campground is located in the Lakewood- Laona District of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, which is about as far South as the Forest goes. This makes Bagley Rapids Campground the perfect spot for a quick weekend trip from surrounding larger cities. It's roughly 2.5 hours away from Madison and Milwaukee and just over an hour away from the Green Bay area.
If outdoor recreation is your thing, this is the perfect base camp. The campground entrance is right off the ATV / Snowmobile / Horse Trails which connect to thousands of miles of trail systems all throughout the Northwoods of Wisconsin. I've stayed here 5 times in the last two years and frequent the local logging roads on my Dual Sport motorcycle. I'd say over 1/4 of the spots are actually located on Bagley Rapids, a very clear, crisp refreshing spring fed river that runs around the campground. It's great to wade into and enjoy after a hot day hiking and exploring trails.
A couple miles from the campground is nearby Mountain, WI where you can get basic groceries, gas and a great bar burger. Within 30 minutes you can be in the smaller town of Wabeno, which is home to some of the best ATV trails around and also has a very cool old style downtown.
The sites are a mix of tent and RV with some really great spots with some elevation that back down into the river. It's always been peaceful during my stays and never gets loud and rowdy.
As there isn't a beach, small children should stay out of the river due to it's strong current, so this might not be the best choice if you're going purely for the water.
GuideA 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.
LegendNice campground with all the basics of a National Forest Campground. The sites offer each site a fair amount of privacy. They are all suitable for trailers and tent camping as they provide a level tent pad in each site.
I'm only giving 4 stars because the campground is about a mile from the lake. However, the distance from the water does help with the mosquitoes.
Fire rings have grills, and there are wooden picnic tables.
Lac Vieux Desert is a big and beautiful lake with excellent fishing! Although we didn't do great, others did. This is the headwaters of the Wisconsin River.
GuideThe hike to these sites is very short. We paid when we parked. It’s a great place to camp if you want to experience being in the woods for the first time. We stayed on the south loop which has 6 sites. The sites still feel very secluded and private. There is a fire ring and picnic table at each site. There is no bear box and there definitely are bears (during one camping trip some hunters treed and shot a bear in the early morning and we saw them carrying it while hiking out) so you’ll want to hang your food. There was access to the lake from our campsite.
ScoutNestled on Lake Tomahawk, this small campground is comprised of drive-in and walk-in sites. Walk-in sites being tent camp only, which is the option we took. There is a small beach on site, and a number of lake front sites to choose from. Oh, can't forget.. The sun sets over the lake! Paved roads made it easy for my children to navigate the grounds on their scooters. There are electric and non electric sites, a water pump, but no showers. Your park pass will give you access to Clear Lake campground (couple miles down the road), which does has showers, another beach, and also firewood sales. We meant to take the boat on multiple lakes, but the fishing on Lake Tomahawk was spectacular! Hiking the trails near our site, you really get a sense of being in the northwoods. We could hear the birds, frogs, found salamanders, seen an otter, musk rat, loons, and more.
The nearest town is Lake Tomahawk, where you can fuel up, get bait, or grab a bite to eat(maybe an ice cream cone for the kids).
As I said in the description, the grounds are simple. However, we booked three nights but felt the need at the end of our trip to book another. We'll be coming back. Safe travels.
GuideSmall campsite along paved road,fire ring and picnic table ,wilderness toilet. Stayed two nights in September it was quiet fishing was so so. I had 8 foot pop up could fit a 20 footer easy or tent camp. Seen two fire ring along the right shore of lake accessable by water.
TravelerWe have been camping here twice this year & absolutely love it! Rustic with no electric hook-ups. There is a pump for drinking water. The sites are large & private with a few waterfront sites. Vault toilets are available. The lake has a swimming area & beautiful Sandy beach & is perfect for fishing, swimming and kayaking. Laona is just a short drive for gas, and food.
Tent camping near Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin offers a serene escape into nature, with a variety of well-reviewed sites that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is Stevens Lake Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
TheDyrt.com has all 33 tent camping locations near Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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