Camping sites near Cornell, Wisconsin range from primitive waterfront spots to full-service RV parks across Chippewa County. The region sits at approximately 1,020 feet elevation with a humid continental climate featuring warm summers and cold winters. Local camping areas typically receive 32-34 inches of annual precipitation, with peak rainfall occurring during summer camping months.
What to do
Tubing and water recreation: O'Neil Creek Campground features a natural creek that doubles as a lazy river for summer recreation. "The natural creek that doubles as a lazy river is great," notes one visitor, while another mentions "You can tube down the creek, very shallow so even littles can do it too."
Kayaking in calm waters: Brunet Island State Park offers extensive paddling opportunities in protected inlets. "Lots of slow moving inlets to paddle into and get lost in nature and fishing if you like," writes one camper. Another mentions "many of the sites have canoe or kayak access to the water, which can easily be followed out to the river."
Wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds provide opportunities to observe local fauna. One visitor to Brunet Island State Park noted "Falling acorns, frogs and chipmunks chirping, turtles basking in sunlight and more. The owls at night were a treat (sometimes even scary) to listen to."
What campers like
Waterfront camping: Pine Point County Park offers numerous lakeside sites. "This place has great campsites, nearly all of them are on the water and several even have boat docks," notes one reviewer. The park has 48 sites, many providing direct water access.
Private, wooded sites: Many campers appreciate the secluded nature of local campgrounds. At Lake Wissota State Park, visitors note "Very woodsy!" and "Beautiful shaded campground with semi private sites." Another camper described their experience: "We took site 87 for two separate tents... That site is very private with a nice hook in the clearing in the woods that made us feel isolated from the camp road."
Multi-generational gathering spaces: Many local campgrounds accommodate family groups. One camper noted about Brunet Island: "The sites are set back and right on the waterfront, could launch a canoe/kayak... Site was pretty open to the road, and not too close/far from the restroom."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds in the Cornell area operate with limited services during off-peak times. One visitor to Pine Point County Park shared, "Have only been here in the fall (late Sept and Oct) and there were only a few other people in the park. Bring your own wood this time of year, no one was around to buy it from."
Insects vary by location: Bug activity depends on campground location and season. A Lake Wissota camper reported "Mosquitoes, gnats, and bugs galore," while a Brunet Island visitor had a different experience: "The bathrooms are amazingly clean and for some reason the whole place was mosquito free!"
Bathroom facilities: Campgrounds offer varying levels of bathroom amenities. At Brunet Island State Park, one visitor noted, "Restrooms were very well maintained (cleaned daily) probably the best vault toilets I've come across." Another mentioned "The north loop just have vault toilets."
Tips for camping with families
Multiple recreation options: Chapman Park Campground offers diverse amenities for children. "There's a lighted park for kids to play at night and plenty of fishing," notes one visitor. Another mentions "Clean green spaces to play fetch with the dog or let the kids run are all over this park."
Swimming areas: Many local campgrounds have designated swimming areas, though quality varies. At Brunet Island State Park, one camper noted "The only down side was that the 'beach' is not real swimmer friendly. No sand at all, lots of rocks. The boat launch was actually better to swim at."
Child-friendly spaces: O'Neil Creek Campground consistently receives high marks for family amenities. "This place is awesome for the whole family!!" writes one visitor, while another notes it has "all kinds of activities for children and large pull thru sites."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Eagle Ridge Campground offers varied RV sites with different characteristics. "This campground has a large grassy area - that gives a 100% clear obstruction for Starlink. HOWEVER, the other half of the campground is within a super treed area, so we got to pick!" notes one RVer.
Utility hookups: Most RV campgrounds in the area offer electric service, but amenities vary. At Chapman Park Campground, "they have 20-30-50amp hook ups with a dump and water," according to a recent visitor.
Site spacing: RV sites at many local campgrounds can be close together. At Pine Harbor Campground, one camper noted, "Site was a nice size, we have a smaller pull behind. They were really close to each other."
