31 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Tent campsites in the northwoods near Eagle River, Wisconsin offer a range of primitive and established options within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Three Johns Lake Dispersed Camping provides tent-only sites with walk-in access to secluded lakeside camping, while Stevens Lake Campground offers a more developed tent camping experience with basic amenities. Several backcountry tent sites can be found within a 30-minute drive of Eagle River, particularly along the forest service roads that branch through the national forest.
Most tent camping areas in the region feature basic amenities with fire rings at established sites, though many lack drinking water. At Three Johns Lake, tent campers must park in a National Forest lot for $5 and walk a short distance to reach the single lakeside campsite. Pit toilets are available at some established campgrounds like Stevens Lake, but dispersed camping areas generally require campers to follow proper wilderness sanitation practices. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest backcountry sites typically allow fires when conditions permit, though firewood gathering may be restricted due to invasive beetle concerns. Many tent-focused areas maintain a rustic character with natural surface tent pads and minimal development.
Walk-in tent locations in the region provide a unique combination of accessibility and seclusion. The tent site at Three Johns Lake offers complete privacy as the only campsite on the lake, making it popular during summer weekends. Sevenmile Lake features hike-in tent access, though one visitor noted, "The Forest Service gives no indication that this campground is in operation." Nearby Sylvania Wilderness in Michigan's Upper Peninsula offers backcountry tent camping with boat-in and hike-in options. Boulder Junction, located north of Eagle River, provides tent camping with more amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and toilets. Forest sites typically feature soft pine duff surfaces, though finding perfectly flat spots can sometimes be challenging among the natural terrain.
"There is a sandy beach on a small lake full of fish. The Sam Cambell trail is right next door, it’s a nice walk to another tiny lake."
"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."
"The road to the campground is gated off but the hiking trail and boat landing are accessible and regularly maintained by the USFS."
"Tents only. Short walk to campsite only one on lake. 5 dollar parking national Forest."
"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."
"We did it the easy way, loaded our canoe, crossed the lake to our campsite and set up camp. No portaging with our gear."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"If you want a quiet, secluded campground where you can just sit back and enjoy being out in the woods(we had deer walk through the back of our campsite at night), then you will enjoy this campground."
from $45 - $199 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $5 / night
from $25 / night
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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.
TravelerWe 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.
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.
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.
TravelerYou 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.
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.
LegendNice campground situated in Northern Wisconsin in the North Highland American Legion State Forest. Over 900 lakes and 225,000 acres. As you will read from my other reviews of campgrounds in this area, this is the place to be if you love camping, fishing or bicycling. This is the bicycle trail capital in the State of Wisconsin for sure! There are paved bicycle trails connecting every campground and every town. There are nature trails everywhere that vary in length. North Trout Lake is a nice lake to swim in an can get pretty wavy with good winds, swim at your own risk, the beach is Sandy but turns to rock the further you go in. This campground offers some awesome walk-in campsites situated in front of the water near the beach. There are also numerous standard sites that sit on the water but it can be tough to get one during peak season. This campground also offers good size camp sites with plenty of room to set up. . There are no showers or flush toilets at this location but the restrooms were clean and there are plenty of water pumps for fresh water. If you can live with the minimum this campground is nice. This campground is about and 18 min drive. Northeast from the tourist town of Minaqua and 7 minutes drive from Bolder Junction, another tourist town that is located just East. Bicycle trails lead you to either direction. Both towns have convinces of dining, services, and lodging if needed.
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.
Tent camping around Eagle River, Wisconsin centers on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, which encompasses over 1.5 million acres of northern Wisconsin wilderness. The region sits at approximately 1,600 feet above sea level and experiences warm summers with temperatures typically ranging from 70-85°F during peak camping season. Summer nights can drop into the 50s, making campfires both practical and popular at established sites when conditions permit.
Fishing at lakeside campsites: Boulder Junction provides direct access to prime fishing waters, with one camper noting, "We had such a wonderful week. We enjoyed being with family and good food." Many campers bring portable equipment for cooking their catch right at their campsite.
Hiking forest trails: The Sylvania Wilderness Backcountry Camping area offers excellent day hiking options through old-growth forest. A visitor mentioned, "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."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds offer chances to spot local wildlife including deer, which frequently visit campsites. At Moen Lake Campground & RV Park, one camper reported, "We had deer walk through the back of our campsite at night," making this location particularly good for nature photographers.
Privacy between campsites: The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Backcountry Site receives high marks for its secluded setting. A reviewer described it as "a huge campsite on a dead end road" with "a sandy beach on a small lake full of fish," providing both isolation and recreation.
Water features and swimming: Many tent campers specifically seek out lakeside locations for swimming. At Stevens Lake Campground, visitors appreciate the scenic water views, with one camper describing how "the mirror surface lake showed her magic" after morning fog lifted.
Natural camping surfaces: The forest floor provides comfortable tent placement in many areas. In Sylvania Wilderness, a camper observed that "the area is covered in soft pine duff" though mentioned "finding a truly flat spot free of any small mounds of moss or decayed nurse logs can be a challenge."
Bug conditions: Biting insects can be problematic, particularly in early summer. At Burned Dam Campground, a visitor warned, "BUGS. This campground was FULL of mosquitos and biting flies. Even with bug spray, the assault was nonstop." Pack mesh shelters and strong repellent.
Cell service limitations: Many forest campgrounds have minimal or no cellular coverage. At Stevens Lake, one camper reported "Poor cell service for AT&T," which is typical throughout the region. Download maps and information before arrival.
Operating status uncertainty: Some campgrounds have inconsistent operations. Regarding Sevenmile Lake, a camper warned, "The Forest Service gives no indication that this campground is in operation. One could hike or boat in to find out, but the road is barricaded."
Beach access locations: Family-friendly tent camping options with beaches make entertaining children easier. One camper at Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Backcountry Site noted, "There is a sandy beach on a small lake full of fish. The Sam Cambell trail is right next door."
Weather preparedness: Northern Wisconsin weather can change quickly. A family camping at Boulder Junction shared, "We had a great laugh making sandwiches in the car in a middle of a rain storm. Thank god the awning on the camper was still intact."
Water activities: For families with older children, Three Johns Lake Dispersed offers unique water-based recreation. A visitor described it as a "walk in campsite" that's the "only one on lake" with a "$5 dollar parking national Forest" fee, providing exclusive lake access.
Limited hookup options: Most tent-focused campgrounds around Eagle River offer minimal RV amenities. At Moen Lake Campground, a visitor using a tent trailer reported, "The basic amenities are here, picnic table, fire pit, bath house with showers within walking distance, electrical (30amp) and water hookups, but don't expect them to be 5 star quality."
Firewood regulations: Due to invasive species concerns, outside firewood is restricted. A camper noted, "Apparently there have been beetle issues in Wisconsin and most campgrounds require you to buy your firewood locally or on-site."
Dump station locations: Few tent camping areas provide sanitary dump services. For RVers using smaller units in tent camping areas, plan accordingly, as only select locations like Moen Lake Campground mentioned having "no onsite sewer, but did have a dump station."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Eagle River, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Eagle River, WI is Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Backcountry Site with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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TheDyrt.com has all 31 tent camping locations near Eagle River, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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