Camping cabins near Gordon, Wisconsin offer access to the St. Louis River watershed and dense northern Wisconsin forests at approximately 1,200 feet elevation. The area experiences warm summers with average July temperatures around 80°F and cold winters dropping well below freezing. Most cabin rental facilities maintain seasonal operations from May through October with limited winter availability.
What to do
Fishing at Gordon Dam: Access Gordon Flowage for pike, walleye and bass fishing. "Does not have water sewer hookups but had a station to dump and fill has electricity at most sites close to water has boat access and camp ground is outside of an awesome lil town," notes reviewer Kay U. at Gordon Dam.
Pontoon rentals: Cruise local lakes with rental boats available at several properties. "You can rent a pontoon or take out a canoe or rowboat for free. Great fishing too!" according to Chelsea T. who visited Wilderness Way.
Alpine slide activities: Travel 45 minutes to Spirit Mountain for summer adventure activities. "They also have a spot where they have mini golf, mountain luge, and mountain biking," states jennifer M. who camped at Spirit Mountain.
River tubing excursions: Arrange tubing trips on nearby rivers. "The river tubing was the best. They shuttle you out and pick you up," reports Melissa H. who stayed at Hayward KOA.
What campers like
Secluded lake settings: Quiet lakefront properties away from main roads provide peaceful environments. "It's very secluded and quiet. The owners are the best! There are tent sites, RV, camper cabin (no electric/sewage), and full cabins," writes Chelsea T. about her stay at Wilderness Way.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Observe loons, painted turtles, beavers and other northern Wisconsin wildlife. "Lake is calm and peaceful. Saw a lot of wildlife and heard the sounds of loons in the AM and evening," reports katherine O. from her stay at Top O' the Morn Resort.
Private wooded sites: Find campsites with good tree coverage for shade and privacy. "Large camp site with trees abs wide open area," notes katherine O. about Top O' the Morn Resort.
Campground amenities: Many properties offer extras beyond basic camping. "Large 9ft heated pool, mini golf, large playground, horse shoes, volleyball, nice size water slide, covered stage for music, ice cream shop, huge jump pillow, and much more," explains Nate C. about Hayward KOA.
What you should know
Cabin categories vary widely: Unheated rustic cabins typically have minimal furnishings while deluxe cabins include bathrooms and kitchens. "Sites range from tents to cabins to Rv site of all types (pull throughs, back in, no hook ups to full hook ups)," explains Nate C. about Hayward KOA.
Kitchen facilities limitations: Many basic cabins lack indoor cooking facilities. "We had a very difficult time finding a place to camp for the night traveling from MN back to GA. We found this place and I'm so glad we stayed here. We got a site with water and electric to plug in our teardrop trailer," shares Elizabeth G. from Top O' the Morn Resort.
Reservation requirements: Book well ahead for summer weekends and fall color season. "Owners are very accommodating and personable. They are very busy working and updating cabins. If you are looking for the true up north Wisconsin getaway this is the spot!" advises Al J. who stayed at Top O' the Morn.
Weather considerations: Spring can bring significant rainfall and muddy conditions. "The hike in was muddy and buggy as there was quite a bit of rain in the weeks prior to our camping trip," reports Tori K. about backpacking sites at Jay Cooke State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Activity-focused campgrounds: Choose properties with dedicated recreational facilities for children. "Great place to let the kids go run off and play while the parents relax under the awning while grilling," recommends Nate C. about Hayward KOA.
Swimming areas: Look for properties with designated swimming beaches and water play areas. "It's on a beautiful lake with a swimming area. You can rent a pontoon or take out a canoe or rowboat for free," notes Chelsea T. about Wilderness Way.
Theme weekends: Some larger campgrounds offer special activities on weekends. "They also have themed weekends for the kids, and plenty of activites!" shares Lynn N. who visited Hayward KOA.
Bathroom considerations: Check if facilities include family-friendly bathroom options. "The restroom/shower facility is very new and has my favorite layout where there is one main area with toilets and sinks and separate rooms accessible from the outside for private shower rooms," explains Krista T. about Jay Cooke State Park Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: Check site specifications carefully before booking. "There are alot of trees that make it very challenging for larger rigs. There are a handful of sites that would be easy to access, I recommend calling first. We have a 43ft 5th wheel," cautions Sheila H. about Hayward KOA.
Utility connections: Confirm which hookups are available at your specific site. "The pad was concrete and level, included a nice patio, a picnic table, some nice planters and well maintained grass on the driver's side of our rig. We had full hookups. The water spigot was shared with the site behind us but there was already a 'y' connection installed," explains Sam C. who stayed at Nelson Lake Lodge.
Cell coverage limitations: Be prepared for spotty cellular service in rural areas. "AT&T and Verizon signals were a little weak but could make phone calls (AT&T) and email with my Verizon hotspot for email," notes Sam C. from his stay at Nelson Lake Lodge.
