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Tent camping options surrounding the Dunbar, Wisconsin area include both established campgrounds and remote walk-in sites, with New Prospect in Kettle Moraine State Forest serving as a centrally located option. The surrounding Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest provides additional tent camping areas, including Perch Lake Campground which offers walk-in tent sites accessible by short hiking trails. East Bass Lake Park in nearby Homestead also provides tent-specific camping with lakeside access.
Sites at these tent campgrounds typically feature fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Most tent camping areas provide vault toilets, but running water is limited or unavailable at many sites, requiring campers to bring their own supply. At Perch Lake's walk-in tent sites, campers should plan to hang food due to bear activity in the area. Primitive tent areas in the national forest generally operate on a first-come, first-served basis, though some like Old Veterans Lake County Park allow reservations. Road conditions to remote tent sites can be challenging, with some requiring navigation of narrow forest roads.
The walk-in tent sites at Perch Lake Campground offer particularly secluded camping experiences. The hiking distance to these sites is relatively short but provides additional privacy compared to drive-in locations. Tent campers at these walk-in sites enjoy direct lake access for fishing and swimming during summer months. Many tent camping areas in the region feature well-shaded sites with good separation between campers, creating a sense of solitude even when other campsites are occupied. As one visitor noted, "The sites still feel very secluded and private. There is a fire ring and picnic table at each site." Winter conditions typically close most tent campgrounds in the region from late fall through early spring, with optimal tent camping season running May through October.
"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."
"We did have someone ratted on us for using our generator to supply our CPAPs because there was no electricity or water. We will be back."
"This is a little campground a short drive down some narrow, twisty backroads from Governor Thompson State Park. We stayed at site 11 which had an awesome little trail to the lake."
from $17 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $19 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Check Availability"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!"
"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."
GuideNice campground, well maintained, next to a lake with a boat ramp. Ever site has a picnic table, fire ring, asphalt pad and drying stand. Vault toilets, very limited trash collection trash cans (2). No water or waste. Only a few pull through most are back in.
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.
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.
GuideWe have had an excellent camp-out this year here. Maybe because our site is only a yard away from the water, and with ample living space for multiple tents and a vehicle. A fire ring and a picnic table. A set of vault toilets nearby. We didn't expect to find flushing toilets in a campground anywhere, but, we have a choice here to drive up further and use the facility. The wood forest is nicely maintained. Falling off branches are taken care of off the roads right away. And, that's all we care about in enjoying the outdoors this year.
Scoutpretty area, tons of tree cover, and the brook is beautiful and clean. $5 per night for a picnic table, fire ring with cooking grate, and a pit toilet.
i would have rated this 3 stars anywhere else, but dispersed camping is so hard to find around here, i have to give this it's flowers. it's a great spot.
my biggest issue was how close to the road it was, and how busy that road is. during the day it was near constant traffic of cars, loud side-by-sides, bicycles and walkers. i had someone stop to chat almost immediately upon arriving, which my dogs and i were not too keen on, as we love dispersed camping to avoid socializing lol. site 3 is further off the road but was occupied.
another thing to keep in mind is that you pay the fee at a beach 2 miles away. i couldn't leave my site once i got there (i car camp by myself and didn't feel comfortable leaving it unattended.) i ended up paying a ranger that stopped by on day 2, but it's good to know ahead of time.
i got there at about noon on friday, and if i had waited until after work, i think i would have missed out. seems to be popular. would go again if i thought i could snag the 3rd site, but will likely keep trying to find more remote spots in the future.
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.
TravelerMost isolated camp site I’ve been to. Requires driving down a dirt road the branches off another dirt road. It’s 8 miles down the road with major washouts. Horse flys were incredibly bad. No out house no picnic tables no fire rings. No cell service. I do not recommend unless privacy is your primary concern.
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 Dunbar, Wisconsin spans several distinct forest regions including the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Peshtigo River State Forest, and Menominee River State Recreation Area. The forested terrain features numerous small lakes and rivers across elevations ranging from 1,200 to 1,600 feet. Winter conditions typically close most tent camping areas from November through April, with forest roads often becoming impassable during spring thaw.
Kayaking on quiet lakes: Old Veterans Lake County Park offers exceptional paddling opportunities on a small, motor-free lake. Campers report "It's the perfect lake for kayaking. There is a beach which I hung out at all afternoon with my dog and read a book. We never saw anyone." The lake perimeter can be paddled in under an hour.
Fishing for panfish: East Bass Lake Park provides lakeside access with consistently good fishing. According to one visitor, "While there is only 2 spots for camping in this town park. It is a great place for those who want some solitude. Small sites for tent or pop-up. No hook-ups. Pit toilets and right on the lake."
Wildlife observation: Chequamegon National Forest Perch Lake Campground offers chances to see diverse wildlife including bears. One camper notes, "We stayed on the south loop which has 6 sites. The sites still feel very secluded and private. There is no bear box and there definitely are bears... so you'll want to hang your food."
Privacy between sites: Tent camping at Old Veterans Lake features well-separated sites. One camper explains, "Each site was by itself. The campground is very small and has no running water or campstore. They don't even sell firewood. But, the lake is beautiful and a few of the sites have lake access."
Short walk-in experiences: Marinette County Goodman Park provides the feeling of backcountry camping without difficult hikes. As one visitor describes, "Very nice peaceful feels like youre in the middle of nowhere." Sites maintain privacy while offering basic amenities.
Lakeside tent sites: The tent camping options at Old Veterans Lake County Park include some with direct water access. According to one visitor, "We stayed at site 11 which had an awesome little trail to the lake. Tons of tiny fish everywhere that are very interactive. The site itself was open, yet private, and very flat."
Limited amenities: Most tent camping areas near Dunbar provide minimal facilities. At Old Veterans Lake, "They only have pit toilets but I never smelled them. No bath house. Seriously, nothing but a lake. I didn't even see a boat launch and I hiked all around the lake."
Reservation requirements: For many primitive tent sites, first-come, first-served is standard, but New Prospect requires planning. One visitor found confusion: "This one appears to now be a veteran memorial. There is a pavilion and playground. A hand pump for water is right by the parking area. We saw plenty of space for tents with some raised grills. However we couldn't find any info on if camping is allowed/not allowed or how to register."
Generator policies: Electricity is unavailable at most tent camping areas, with restrictions on generator use. One camper at Old Veterans Lake reported, "We did have someone ratted on us for using our generator to supply our CPAPs because there was no electricity or water."
Kid-friendly swimming: McClintock County Park offers river access that works well for supervised children. "Nice place if your in to ATV riding. Trails really close. Good view of the river. Bring ways to keep mosquitoes at bay though."
Wildlife education opportunities: Perch Lake walk-in sites provide chances for children to observe aquatic life. One camper describes, "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. Lake was gorgeous and the hike in wasn't too bad."
Easy outdoor activities: Multiple generations can enjoy Old Veterans Lake. According to one family, "We come here with the kids every spring. They always catch frogs, fish, and turtles. They also enjoy swimming across, and hiking and biking around the lake. Nearby trail to the Peshtigo River Flowage."
Site limitations for larger units: Most tent camping areas near Dunbar can accommodate small pop-ups but not larger RVs. At East Bass Lake Park, "Small sites for tent or pop-up. No hook-ups. Pit toilets and right on the lake. First come first serve. And 2 day maximum consecutive days stay if I believe."
Access road challenges: Forest roads to primitive tent sites require careful navigation. Many secondary roads are narrow with limited turnaround points. Tent camping areas in Menominee River State Recreation Area require significant planning as they're primarily accessible by boat rather than vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Dunbar, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Dunbar, WI is East Bass Lake Park with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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