Camping cabins near Frederic, Wisconsin provide convenient access to the St. Croix River Valley, where wooded landscapes transition from oak savannas to pine forests. Located approximately 70 miles northeast of Minneapolis-St. Paul, this area features numerous state parks within a 40-mile radius of Frederic. Winter temperatures can drop below zero, while summer highs typically reach the upper 70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit, creating distinct seasonal camping experiences.
What to do
Hiking river trails: Wild River State Park offers extensive trail systems ranging from easy to moderate difficulty. "We spent an entire day hiking and it was decent hiking along the river, some of the trails where a little confusing and trying to figure out where we at, but we made it just hiked a little further than we wanted to!" notes a visitor to Wild River State Park Campground.
Stargazing: Some campgrounds have designated areas for night sky viewing. "The star gazing area was great! Intermittently had 1-2 bars of T-Mobile with LTE Internet. Wi-Fi is available at the park entrance," reports a camper who stayed at Wild River State Park.
Water recreation: Many parks offer equipment rentals for water activities. At Big Rock Creek, "It was nice to have kayaks and paddle boards to try for free, but everything else is a charge." Summer water levels affect paddling conditions, with early summer typically providing higher water levels for kayaking.
Historical exploration: Several parks feature preserved historical sites. One visitor to Banning State Park Campground shares, "Hike along the Quarry Loop Trail for some interesting facts about the old quarry and stone workers. The ruins are worth an explore for sure! We went a little off trail and went down from the hells gate trail to the portage trail along the river."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Campgrounds vary in spacing and vegetation barriers. "The campground was very nice. The sites are private, couldn't see any neighbors as there are a lot of trees. The park rangers were very helpful and informative," mentions a camper at Wild River State Park.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Various animals are commonly spotted throughout the region. "We saw sooooo many deer some even walking right through campsites! You can hear coyotes, raccoons and very loud owls," reports another Wild River State Park visitor.
Winter camping options: Some campgrounds remain open year-round with specific winter amenities. A visitor to William O'Brien State Park shares their winter experience: "The moon was very bright that night so visibility was excellent. We walked some trail through a frozen marsh landscape and happened upon a railroad that passed above our trail with a beautiful tunnel-overpass."
Accessibility to trails: Many campgrounds offer direct trail access without requiring driving. At St. Croix State Park's Old Logging Trail campground, a visitor notes, "Clean, fairly private sites. Easy to get in and out. Walk in sites available. Canoe outfitters in park during most of the summer. A great way to spend a weekend."
What you should know
Bug preparedness: Insects can be problematic, especially in early summer. "It was very buggy, so be prepared for that. I can't wait to go back so I can explore more of the park!" shares a camper at Old Logging Trail campground.
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly by location. At St. Croix State Park, "Cell service is incredibly spotty on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Depending on where you're at, you'll get a low signal, but often it was only enough for texting."
Reservation timing: Popular seasons book quickly at many campgrounds. "Weekends have been packed and reservations scarce for months at state parks in Minnesota. Arriving on a Sunday afternoon was a dream—very few people in the campground loop," reports a William O'Brien State Park visitor.
Bathroom facilities: Quality varies between campgrounds and specific loops. "The men's bathroom/showers were designed and built well and is very clean. Bath building has a large 'family/handicap' bathroom shower room," notes a visitor to Paint Rock Springs Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Fire tower views: Several parks feature observation towers safe for children with supervision. "There is also a 100' fire tower you can climb up and get an epic view," notes a visitor to St. Croix State Park.
Playground accessibility: Some campgrounds include play areas for children. A visitor to St Croix River Resort shares, "We stayed here with my extended family in a couple of cabins. It is nice and wooded. The pool is indoors which is nice and has drawbacks. It is a good sized pool. There is a nice playground for the kids and there are some nice trails."
Shower and bathroom proximity: Consider campsite location relative to facilities. As one camper at Wild River State Park notes, "Very private and remote, Lots of wildlife, friendly staff, okay hiking... Only one shower house and we had to drive there, the primitive toilet smelled so bad it burned!"
Educational opportunities: Look for interpretive programs and historical features. "This seems to be the hot spot for horses and if we go back I definitely want to do the horseback riding right outside the park!" reports a Wild River State Park visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site angles and backing difficulty: Some campgrounds have challenging site approaches. At Grand Casino RV Resort, a visitor notes, "Back-in site was 90 degrees to the road - if the bathhouse parking lot wasn't across from it, wouldn't have been able to swing in on a 24' travel trailer."
Electrical capacity awareness: Know your power requirements before booking. "We came up with our camper with the expectation we'd have electric and water hook ups. For the most part we did. The electricity was not for a 30 amp hook up. It's 50 amp or us an adapter," shares a Big Rock Creek camper.
Loop navigation: RV-friendly campgrounds often feature easy navigation systems. According to a visitor at Country Quiet RV Park, "Easy loop system makes this campground very easy to navigate through. It's definitely not the most private campground, so it your looking for rustic quiet I would look into some of the smaller county campgrounds."
