Cabin accommodations near Haugen, Wisconsin range from waterfront to wooded settings within a 30-mile radius. The region experiences cold winters with temperatures averaging 5°F in January and mild summers around 80°F in July, making weather preparation essential for cabin stays. Most rental cabins require advance booking, especially for weekend stays during peak summer months when occupancy reaches 90%.
What to do
River tubing access: 2.5-mile routes: At O'Neil Creek Campground, the natural creek provides a popular lazy river experience. "The creek flowing through it to tube, swim and even kayak. Rentals available," notes one camper. Many visitors appreciate the shallow water which makes it safe for younger children.
Pontoon rental: full-day options: Lake Chippewa Campground offers boat rentals allowing exploration of the Chippewa flowage. "We rented a pontoon for the day and beached it on one of the many islands the lake has," reports a visitor. The lake's multiple islands create natural stopping points for swimming or picnics.
Hiking trail exploration: 15+ miles available: The state parks surrounding Haugen provide extensive trail networks ranging from easy to moderate difficulty. "The park is huge and beautiful. We snowshoed and skied. I really enjoyed the snowshoe hike along the St Croix River and watched the full moon rise," writes a winter visitor. Seasonal trail conditions are posted at ranger stations.
What campers like
Waterfront site options: premium locations: Campers consistently mention the appeal of shoreline cabin accommodations. "We stay at this group site for a week every summer with our extended family and look forward to returning as soon as we pull-out. The group sites with water access and full hook-ups can't be beat," describes a Lake Chippewa Campground regular.
Privacy between sites: woodland screening: Many cabin guests appreciate the natural separation between accommodations. At Wild River State Park Campground, "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."
Recreation facilities: family activities: Hayward KOA provides extensive amenities beyond basic cabin rentals. "Great place to let the kids go run off and play while the parents relax under the awning while grilling. 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," details a family visitor.
What you should know
Reservation timing: high-demand periods: Lake Chippewa Campground experiences extremely high demand. "They start their booking for the year on January 1st. We called all day long (4500 times not kidding) and finally got a spot," reports one camper who secured a cabin. Most cabin rentals in the region open reservations 3-6 months in advance.
Internet connectivity: limited service: Cell service varies significantly across cabin locations near Haugen. "Cell service was 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-- don't think about using the web or social media," notes a visitor to St. Croix State Park.
Seasonal considerations: insect activity: Summer visitors should prepare for mosquitos, especially near water. "It was very buggy, so be prepared for that," warns a St. Croix State Park visitor. Another camper suggests: "Highly recommend fogging your site or having a bug enclosure to help ward of the mosquitos."
Tips for camping with families
Water features: child safety: O'Neil Creek receives consistent praise for its family-friendly water access. "The natural creek that doubles as a lazy river is great," writes a reviewer. Another adds it's "Very shallow so even littles can do it too." Parents appreciate the gradual entry points.
Scheduled activities: weekend programming: Camp Namekagon and other area facilities offer organized events. "Campground and staff did a great job putting on Christmas in July. Very Kid friendly environment," mentions a seasonal visitor. Activity schedules are typically posted at campground offices.
Bathroom facilities: cleanliness factors: When selecting camping cabins near Haugen with children, bathroom proximity matters. "The restrooms were nice and we'll kept," notes a Wild River State Park visitor. Another camper at O'Neil Creek observed, "The restrooms were spotless," which is particularly important for families with young children.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: size considerations: For those bringing trailers or RVs alongside cabin rentals, Hayward KOA provides important advice. "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," advises a camper who navigated the tight spaces.
Cabin alternatives: RV rental options: Log Cabin Resort and Campground provides alternative accommodations for groups. "The people are very friendly. There is a nice inflatable park for the kids. They will bring you up the river to float down and land on their nice sand beach," mentions a visitor who enjoyed both the cabin and RV areas.
