16 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Several primitive tent camping areas near De Soto, Wisconsin can be found within a short drive, including Yellow River State Forest in neighboring Iowa and R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest in Minnesota. The region offers diverse tent camping experiences, from established sites to backcountry options. Many campgrounds feature walk-in tent sites along hiking trails, providing opportunities for both overnight stays and multi-day backpacking trips through the forested bluffs and valleys characteristic of the Driftless Region.
Most primitive tent sites in the area provide basic amenities such as fire rings and benches, though facilities vary significantly between locations. Yellow River State Forest offers multiple backcountry tent camping areas with designated fire pits but limited services. Water is typically available only at headquarters or main campground areas, requiring tent campers to carry their supplies when using remote sites. Cellular reception is often unreliable in ravines and valleys but may be accessible from ridgetops and fire towers. Tent pads are generally unimproved dirt or forest floor surfaces, with varying degrees of levelness depending on terrain.
The tent camping experience in this region offers exceptional solitude and natural surroundings, particularly at backcountry sites. R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest provides dispersed camping opportunities near sandstone bluffs with views of Wisconsin and the Mississippi River. Extensive hiking trail networks connect many tent campgrounds, allowing for day hikes or multi-day treks between sites. According to one visitor, "Yellow River has great backpacking sites. Park near ranger station and hike in or grab a map and find a smaller parking location near the trail you want to explore. Great scenery." Wildlife viewing is abundant, with campers reporting diverse bird species, deer, and seasonal butterfly migrations in the densely forested camping areas.
"My friend and I were eager to test out some new backpacking gear for the first time in advance of a larger trip this summer."
"Yellow River has great backpacking sites. Park near ranger station and hike in or grab a map and find a smaller parking location near the trail you want to explore. Great scenery."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"We backpacked to the quarry and found a large open area, perfect for multiple tents. The sandstone bluffs were in the background."
"If you want to meet the barnyard critters, please only look at them from the outside of the fence unless guided and escorted by the owners. "
from $40 - $120 / night
Check Availability"Hiked into this Camp that includes 5 primitive sites: fire rings and benches. Lush dense forest with intermediate hiking including typical summer insects."
"Awesome campground, if you require electric bring a generator. Water is available but needs to be carried in. we loved the lack of cell phone reception!"
"The Nature Center campsite is located at the trail head for the Root River State Bike Trail."
"This campsite is at the trailhead for the Root River Bike Trail. This bike trail is so awesome and by far the best in the tri-state area!"
from $100 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
"Beautiful place, tent camping is available. Great breakfast and romantic setting for our anniversary. They sell wine and food in the store. Host is amazing and friendly."
"This is a walk-in campground intended for very light camping, particularly for those biking the Elroy-Sparta or Lacrosse Trails, as it is right on the Elroy-Sparta trail and only a 10 minute bike ride"
"After biking 47 miles was a welcome respite on our first day of biking the Elroy-Sparta State Bike Trail. We spent a second night on our out and back along the trail."
from $20 - $50 / night
Check Availability
LegendHiked into this Camp that includes 5 primitive sites: fire rings and benches. Lush dense forest with intermediate hiking including typical summer insects. Leave No Trace ethics include: minimizes fire impacts by gathering only dead, down, wood. Sounded by nature atop of hill hike near Fire tower ( only fire tower in Iowa), cell reception is found up here.
LegendThis review is for Yellow River State Forest's Big Paint Campground which consists of sites 35 through 61. Big Paint is a couple miles from Little Paint, a larger campground with 70+ sites. There are two equestrian campgrounds (Creekside and Little Frontier with sites numbered 1 through 34) as well as hike in campgrounds for backpackers. A photo of an area map is included.
Why did we choose Big Paint instead of Little Paint?
It's smaller and that's just our personal preference. There were only 4 sites occupied early Friday afternoon and a few more were reserved. We liked site 35, the first site on the left as you enter. This site is like being in a garden with trees and flowers surrounding the site. It had rained and more rain was coming, so the gravel parking pad on #35 was appealing. Most of the sites are completely on the grass.
Activities
Stocked trout streams are an attraction for fishermen; see photo of stocking calendar. We enjoyed hiking despite the mosquitoes and humidity in August and were able to make a 5+ mile loop leaving from the campground. You can also hike from Little Paint, and there are equestrian trails. This would also be a good area for X-country skiing and snowmobiling. A photo of the trail map is included. Caution: hunting is allowed in the non-campground area of the state forest.
Amenities
Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Other than that, you can dispose of your trash and use a vault toilet. There's water at the information center (and a camp host site) outside the campground about 100 yards to the left.
Cost
You're not getting much (and that's not a bad thing) so the $9 fee seems fair. Pay up front at the entrance station, or make a reservation online at last 2 days ahead of time (and pay a reservation fee). There are 7 non-reservable sites at Big Paint. I doubt that Big Paint fills up; just check the reservation site to see if they get crowded.
https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/yellow-river-state-forest/r/campsiteSearch.do?search=site&page=siteresult&contractCode=IA&parkId=610130
GuideThe cart in sites are fantastic at Wildcat Mountain! Each site is spacious with most heavily treed for shade. Each site has a nice large flat pad for a tent or two, fire ring, bench and picnic table. Proximity to potable water, vault or modern toilets and designated parking are all within 400 yards of all sites.
The park is located in the Kickapoo valley area where the driftless area is amazing to hike. You can kayak or tube down the river that is flanked by high limestone bluffs. The hiking trails are well maintained. There is also extensive horse trails, a beautiful outdoor ampitheater for viewing sunsets and access to the river right in the park.
The campers were respectful and quiet. Our campsite was fairly clean when we arrived. Contactless registration due to covid 19. That made getting set up quick and easy! The cart provided was fairly big for less trips. I would happily camp here again!
GuideWonderful time in Perrot State Park. Camped in the group campground, site A. Plenty of room for many tents, and nice level ground to pitch tents on. Huge fire ring for large group fires, and both a large grill on the fire ring, and freestanding charcoal grill. Lots of options for hiking and walking in the park with more than 13 miles of trails. We did a 5 mile hike up and over two of the more popular bluffs. We also did a two-three hour canoe/kayak trip and had a blast.
There is not a swimming beach at the park, so if you're into that, you'll have to leave the park, but there is more than enough to do at Perrot State Park.
GuideI’ll begin by saying this is by far the cleanest campground I have stayed at. The facilities were well kept including the vault toilet houses. We stayed in a walk to site and the views were incredible. Our tent pad was quite rocky so I would recommend sleeping pads or you will be very uncomfortable. Our site was also extremely dusty which wasn’t a problem at all just be prepared to be a little dirty. The campground was quiet except for the occasional train that rolled through those are quite loud due to how close they are to the campground. I would definitely come back to Nelson Dewey and stay again. There was not a ton to do in the area so a short weekend stay was perfect. A highlight is that the park provided cart to use to haul all your stuff to the walk to sites. There is 1 designated parking spot per walk to site as well. The walk to sites are small and only accommodated our one (6 person) tent which was not a problem for us as we knew this ahead of time.
GuideSome of the spots are a little uneven. Bring some leveling devices. This a very peaceful campground. Fire rings are on cement. Can find fire starters everywhere. No bugs in the 1st of June when we were there. Will plan on going back for sure. Reserve your spots cuz they go fast. If you love a great view and the smell of the outdoors this is your place!
LegendThe Nature Center campsite is located at the trail head for the Root River State Bike Trail. Trail Head Park is a nice tent only campground with walk-in sites. A majority of the sites have picnic tables and fire pits. The Nature Center has clean bathrooms and free showers. They recommend donations for the use of the showers.
$20 per night camping fee. You can pay inside the Nature Center or at the slot between the restroom mirrors. The sites are first come, first serve. Local firewood is available near the restrooms as well; take what you need and leave the center a donation.
Trail Head Park has a 1 acre natural playground near the campsite. When I visited during the week, I only saw a small group of people using the playground. The playground has a zip line, tree house, small rock wall, and more. Inside the Nature Center, they have interactive and interesting displays. The highlight of this campground is the Root River State Bike Trail and the Owl Center in the town of Houston.
I'd give the campsite 4/5 review. The location, the bluffs, the bike trail, and center get 5/5 review.
ScoutStayed here in a tent while on a bicycle camping trip and it was adequate. It is located in a city park within a couple minutes walk of the downtown area. The bike trail crosses the south end of downtown so close to that too. This would not be a good place to camp if you'd like to be out in nature
Biggest gripe is the slope of the tent sites. The majority of the tent sites are on an incline around a pond. There are also a lot of ducks that aren't very afraid of humans. None got into my gear though. There are fire rings at the tent sites. No picnic tables at the individual sites but there are some nearby in the park and there's also a covered picnic shelter. Hammocks would be difficult to impossible as the tent area is a strip of grass between pond and bluff, which has mostly brush or too whimpy of trees to hang from at the base. There are a couple huge oaks but none in pairs.
Quarter showers and clean restrooms are available. $20/night/tent which seemed a bit steep to me considering how slanted the sites were and quarter showers. It is cheaper than the other places within immediate biking distance which were $25/night.
GuideWe stayed in walk-in site C, which the furthest site from the parking lot. Arrive before dark!! The wheelbarrows provided are a lifesaver, the trail to the site is manageable until the last 50 feet, which is steep and rocky.
It is a smaller site and mostly slanted so we had to use our backpacking tent (90"x70") on the small patch that's sort of level, as our car camping tent (10'x14') was entirely too huge.
The views are stunning. There was a pair of bald eagles in a nest down by the river - bring binoculars!
HUGE caveat - this site sits on a ridge above a county highway and freight train tracks. There are also train tracks on the other side of the river. When trains are blowing their horns miles away, the sound carries. When they go past the site, it's incredibly loud! I was amazed at the racket - we live in Chicago on a busy street, a block from the L and the Metra tracks.
Bring ear plugs, trains rolled through until just after midnight and started up around 5am (that I noticed anyway).
While Site C is incredibly difficult to reserve (best dates I could find were a Mon-Wed in October which I booked in APRIL), it's worth the views and the privacy.
Site D is the first of the four walk-ins, huge, level, has a wide view, and a bend in it's trail so isn't exposed. A great choice if C is booked.
Site A is next, least amount of privacy, medium sized, looked level. Sites B was occupied our entire time there so wasn't able to check it out, but it's a bit more private.
Pit toilet by the walk-in sites was as nice as pit toilet gets, it even has a urinal. Water is conveniently located near the parking.
Shower house with flush toilets was really nice, 2-3 shower stalls and 4 toilets. No pay, just have to push the button over and over since the water only stays on for 10 seconds.
The electric and non-electric sites are well spaced and on the larger side. A nice campground overall.
For supplies and firewood, I recommend the Okey Market. It's convenient and has everything you need, huge beer cave too. If you want some local flavor, stop into the Silver Spigot Saloon, cheap beer, tasty fries, and they have a dog-friendly patio.
Primitive camping opportunities surround De Soto, Wisconsin in the heart of the Driftless Region, where unglaciated bluffs rise 400-600 feet above river valleys. The area's camping season runs from May to November, with summer highs averaging 80-85°F and frequent morning fog in valley campsites. Seasonal hunting seasons affect campground availability and require wearing blaze orange during fall visits.
Disc golf outings: Justin Trails Resort offers popular disc golf courses where campers can play while enjoying the Driftless landscape. "Beautiful place, tent camping is available... Disc golf is busy here, in winter they have sledding hills. The llamas are fun to feed," notes Michael V.
Backpacking preparation: Yellow River State Forest's varied terrain provides excellent training for longer expeditions. According to Brooke M. at Camp Glen Wendel Primitive Backcountry, "great park with a few longer trails for backpacking. have used these trails/this park to prepare for longer trips. wonderful spots to camp and the creeks are very clean and pretty!"
Trail cycling: The Sparta Campground connects directly to the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, perfect for cyclists exploring the region. "This is a walk-in campground intended for very light camping, particularly for those biking the Elroy-Sparta or Lacrosse Trails, as it is right on the Elroy-Sparta trail and only a 10 minute bike ride into the town of Sparta," explains Jamee H.
Stargazing: The region's limited light pollution creates optimal night sky viewing from more remote campsites. "Great spot to view the stars. Awesome for kids," writes Macel C. about Camp Glen Wendel.
Quarry exploration: The sandstone formations in R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest offer unique geological features to explore. At the Reno Horse Campground, one camper reports, "We backpacked to the quarry and found a large open area, perfect for multiple tents. The sandstone bluffs were in the background. There are multiple handmade rock fire pits, some rock chairs, tables and lots of space."
Fishing access: Several campsites provide access to quality fishing waters. Lindsey R. mentions Camp Glen Wendel is "Very secluded with good fishing opportunities and great fishing in the area!"
Nature programming: The Houston Nature Center offers educational activities and wildlife exhibits. "The highlight of this campground is the Root River State Bike Trail and the Owl Center in the town of Houston," notes one camper, while another adds, "The International Owl Center was a welcome discovery."
Budget-friendly rates: Many primitive campgrounds in the region have affordable rates. Kevin T. observed about Yellow River, "This site fills up really fast becaue of the cheap price of only 9 dollars. This is the cheapest but one of the best campsites ive been to."
Cell reception variability: Network access depends greatly on topography and location within campgrounds. Shyla G. at Camp Glen Wendel notes, "Been coming to yellow river for years but have always wanted to go backpacking... we ended up getting scared around midnight from the noises. Took our hammocks down and ran all the way back 😂 still a fun time beautiful hike and nice area to set up camp, also had service!"
Water planning: Most primitive sites require bringing your own water or traveling to main facilities. James M. reports, "Camp Glen Wendel is about 1 mile in from self camp registration at HQ. Sites have fire rings and benches, some more spacious than others. This Camp has wonderful stands of coniferous trees. The 2nd site in has a small pond at Camp side. Potable water is at HQ near registration kiosk."
Highway noise impact: Sparta Campground and others near major roads experience continuous traffic sounds. "The most disappointing factor for me was the highway noise... it was indeed bad, all weekend long. I had to wear noise-cancelling headphones to drown out the noise in order to sleep," warns Jamee H.
Winter accessibility: Some areas remain open for cold-weather activities. Michael V. notes that at Justin Trails Resort, "in winter they have sledding hills."
Natural playgrounds: Several campsites feature kid-friendly exploration areas. At Houston Nature Center, one camper describes, "Trail Head Park has a 1 acre natural playground near the campsite... The playground has a zip line, tree house, small rock wall, and more."
Animal encounters: Shady Rest Acres offers close interaction with farm animals. "They have donkeys, Scottish Highland cows (a family of them), sheep, goats, chickens (and they'll even pick the bugs off your car), bees, horses, ducks, cats and dogs," describes Amy G.
Site selection for kids: When tent camping De Soto, Wisconsin area with children, choose sites with easy access and minimal hiking. Gregory K. at Sparta Campground notes, "The sites are simple, well separated with a very short walk, easy to take multiple trips."
Multi-day planning: Allow buffer days for weather challenges when planning family trips. Lynn G. shares about Camp Glen Wendel, "We did the backcountry camping (less than 0.5 miles walking), but did get to see the regular campgrounds. There are other parks and waterways to visit nearby and a town nearby."
Site limitations: Most primitive camping near De Soto has limited RV accommodations. Brody at Gateway Park Campground notes, "3 drive through sites and 4 back in spots with a few nice trees. Water electric and sewer connections at each site with a separate dump station."
Alternative shower options: When staying at sites without facilities, look for public showers in nearby towns. Jamee H. advises, "I should mention that although there are no showers here, I saw that the Sparta Aquatic Center (10 minute bike ride) allows shower access for $3."
Leveling considerations: Most tent camping De Soto Wisconsin area sites require careful positioning. "The driveways are gravel and pretty level," mentions Brody about Gateway Park, while April S. observed at Houston Nature Center that sites are "Very flat. Sites are spread out."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near De Soto, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near De Soto, WI is Camp Glen Wendel Primitive Backcountry — Yellow River State Forest with a 4.8-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near De Soto, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near De Soto, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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