Best Dispersed Camping near Gordon, WI

The Gordon, Wisconsin area features primarily dispersed camping options scattered throughout the surrounding forests and public lands. Brule River State Forest offers backpacking sites for hikers seeking solitude, while locations like Afterhours Meadow provide quiet spots at the end of forest roads with enough space for multiple vehicles. FlowMama Trail Head Dispersed camping attracts mountain bikers with its proximity to trail systems. Most sites in the region are primitive with no facilities, creating an authentic northwoods experience. The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway also provides camping opportunities along its waterways, with sites like Middle St. Croix and Norway Point offering riverside access.

Road conditions vary significantly across the Gordon area's camping destinations, with many sites accessible via well-maintained gravel roads while others require navigation down forest service spurs. According to camper Chris P., FlowMama Trail Head features a "small parking lot located off well-maintained gravel roads. Nice and quiet flat no facilities." Cell service is limited or nonexistent at most sites, as noted by Mike B. who mentioned "no facilities or cell service" at FlowMama. Summer brings wildflowers to meadow sites like Afterhours, which one visitor described as "surrounded by wildflowers in mid July." Most dispersed sites are free but lack amenities such as toilets, drinking water, or trash service, requiring campers to pack out all waste and bring necessary supplies.

Campers report varying experiences with roadside camping options near Gordon. Chinty Lake Roadside Camp received mixed reviews, with one visitor noting it's "literally just a roadside pull off not really a campsite" and mentioning safety concerns due to road traffic. Conversely, Grace Lake Road Dispersed camping earned praise for being "super nice and peaceful" with "lots of different dispersed spots." ATV traffic is common in some areas, with one camper noting "a lot of ATV traffic but super friendly people" at Grace Lake. Bug activity can be significant during warmer months, particularly in areas near water. Visitors seeking more privacy should consider sites at forest road endpoints rather than roadside pull-offs, which tend to experience more traffic and noise.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Gordon, Wisconsin (9)

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Gordon, WI

9 Reviews of 9 Gordon Campgrounds


  • Chris P.
    Aug. 8, 2024

    FlowMama Trail Head Dispersed

    CAMBA flow mama trailhead

    Small parking lot located off well-maintained gravel roads. Nice and quiet flat no facilities.

  • M
    Oct. 28, 2024

    FlowMama Trail Head Dispersed

    Great access to bike trails

    Nice clean and quiet site. No facilities or cell service. Easy access to mountain bike trails. Keep it clean if you use it 🙏

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    FlowMama Trail Head Dispersed

    Free parking, no water, no gray dump, no trash.

    This is the trailhead for a very beautiful mountain biking trail and the roads that lead up to this area are incredibly gorgeous especially in the fall. The red building in the pictures is an emergency cabin. You can go in it and look around if you want. It's not at the trailhead, it's about 10 minutes from it on your way in.

  • Julia D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2021

    Grace Lake Road Dispersed

    Location is inaccurate

    This spot was super nice and peaceful! Lots of different dispersed spots. Go down Tamarack Forest Road, which is a little further than the location on here.

  • Christopher W.
    Jun. 20, 2023

    Graces Lake Boat Access

    Not a camp site

    Public water access. No camp sites at this location

  • aThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 29, 2023

    Chinty Lake Roadside Camp

    Literally roadside camp

    This is literally just a roadside pull off not really a campsite (and the road was kinda busy), two girls traveling did not feel comfortable spending the night here and went somewhere else

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Grace Lake Road Dispersed

    Very quit night

    Stayed a night here on our way up to the boundary waters gate is very narrow had to fold the mirrors on my Tacoma to squeeze through but if you park at the entrance it’s a short walk You’re about 20 foot from the water and fishing is good

  • Lizzy K.
    Oct. 29, 2021

    Grace Lake Road Dispersed

    Good place to stay the night

    A lot of ATV traffic but super friendly people, really buggy but a few nice spots to pull into for the night


Guide to Gordon

Dispersed camping opportunities near Gordon, Wisconsin provide access to the dense forests and waterways of northwestern Wisconsin. The area features numerous free camping sites situated at elevations between 1,000-1,200 feet, creating moderate temperature variations between day and night even in summer months. Most dispersed sites remain accessible from May through October, with forest roads typically navigable for standard vehicles during this period.

What to do

Mountain biking access: FlowMama Trail Head Dispersed offers direct connections to local mountain biking networks. One visitor noted it provides "easy access to mountain bike trails" while recommending to "keep it clean if you use it." The small parking area serves as both a trailhead and camping location.

Fishing opportunities: Grace Lake Road Dispersed camping allows anglers to position themselves near productive fishing waters. A camper mentioned, "You're about 20 foot from the water and fishing is good." Most fishing spots require no special permits beyond standard Wisconsin fishing licenses.

Wildflower viewing: Afterhours Meadow transforms during summer months with native Wisconsin wildflowers. One visitor described it as a "beautiful, quiet spot at the end of a forest spur road" and specifically noted it was "surrounded by wildflowers in mid July." Peak blooming typically occurs between mid-June and early August.

What campers like

Spacious clearings: Afterhours Meadow features open areas suitable for multiple vehicles or camping setups. A camper described, "Easy gravel road to the pin, there is one or two small sites on the left side of the road but we turned right and went down the 2 track (which was fine in 2wd vans w low clearance) and you end up in a big clearing."

Peaceful atmosphere: Grace Lake Road Dispersed sites provide quiet alternatives to developed campgrounds. A visitor described it as "super nice and peaceful" with "lots of different dispersed spots." Weekdays typically offer greater solitude than weekends when local traffic increases.

Night sky viewing: The remote location of these free camping areas near Gordon creates excellent stargazing conditions due to minimal light pollution. Afterhours Meadow received praise for its "stunning meadow sunset" followed by clear night skies when clouds permit.

What you should know

Cell service limitations: FlowMama Trail Head Dispersed has connectivity challenges that campers should prepare for. A visitor specifically mentioned "no facilities or cell service" at this location. Downloading offline maps before arrival is recommended.

Road conditions vary: Access to some sites requires navigating forest roads of varying quality. For Afterhours Meadow, a camper noted you can travel "down the 2 track (which was fine in 2wd vans w low clearance)" but conditions worsen after heavy rainfall.

Site comfort varies: Ground conditions at dispersed sites can affect tent camping comfort. At Afterhours Meadow, one camper noted it's a "nice little field. Would be great if the ground wasn't all sticks and thorns. Good place to sleep. Not for extended camping."

Tips for camping with families

Gate access considerations: Grace Lake Road Dispersed has entrance limitations to be aware of with larger vehicles. One visitor warned, "gate is very narrow had to fold the mirrors on my Tacoma to squeeze through but if you park at the entrance it's a short walk."

Seasonal bug preparation: Insect activity intensifies during warmer months, particularly at water-adjacent sites. A camper at Grace Lake Road Dispersed mentioned it was "really buggy but a few nice spots to pull into for the night." Pack appropriate repellents and netting for summer visits.

Safety assessments: Not all roadside pull-offs provide equal security for families. At Chinty Lake Roadside Camp, a female traveler shared, "two girls traveling did not feel comfortable spending the night here and went somewhere else" due to traffic volume and site exposure.

Tips from RVers

Level parking locations: Chinty Lake Roadside Camp offers roadside pull-off spots that may work for self-contained vehicles. However, one camper cautioned it's "literally just a roadside pull off not really a campsite (and the road was kinda busy)." RVs should arrive early to secure level parking areas.

ATV traffic awareness: Some dispersed camping areas experience recreational vehicle traffic that affects noise levels. A camper at Grace Lake mentioned "a lot of ATV traffic but super friendly people." Positioning RVs away from main trails reduces disturbance.

Water access planning: No potable water sources exist at free camping sites near Gordon, Wisconsin. RVers must arrive with full tanks or know nearby water sources. The boat access at Graces Lake can sometimes be used for non-potable water collection, though one visitor clarified it's a "public water access" with "no camp sites at this location."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Gordon, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Gordon, WI is Afterhours Meadow with a 4.5-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Gordon, WI?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 dispersed camping locations near Gordon, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.