The Hayward area of Wisconsin spans approximately 24 miles of diverse terrain at an elevation between 1,200-1,400 feet, surrounded by the 850,000-acre Chequamegon National Forest. Camping season typically runs from early May through mid-October, with July temperatures averaging 80°F during the day and dropping to 55°F at night. Winter camping options are limited due to heavy snowfall that often exceeds 60 inches annually.
What to do
Tube the Namekagon River: Camp Namekagon offers on-site rentals with shuttle service for river tubing adventures. "They shuttle you out and pick you up. The pool was nice and the waterslide was fun but the river tubing was the best," notes Melissa H. from Hayward KOA.
Mountain biking on CAMBA trails: Directly access miles of maintained trails from FlowMama Trail Head. "Small parking lot located off well-maintained gravel roads. Nice and quiet flat no facilities," reports Chris P. The nearby Roam Base Camp connects to the extensive Seeley Pass trail system with "Super cool with very large sites! CAMBA mtn bike trails are right next to camp so it makes it very easy to hook on and go!" according to Jenn B.
Fishing on Nelson Lake: Nelson Lake is known for panfish, bass, and northern pike. "Fish cleaning facility. Nice restrooms and showers. They'll bring you a load of wood if needed for a very reasonable price. Overnight sites on the lake or actually a bay. Has a boat launch within the campground and slips to park your boat by your site," shares Andrea M. from Sunrise Bay Campgrounds.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer wooded separation. At Reel Livin Resort, campers appreciate the "Very wooded, big lots not at all over crowded and quiet!!" according to Eve. Site 478 at Lake Chippewa Campground is described as "wider plus on the end with some lake view" by MickandKarla W.
Group camping options: Extended family gatherings work well at certain campgrounds. "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. Plenty of space for our 4 RV's of various sizes plus tents/easy ups," reports Lindsay T. about Lake Chippewa.
Free water equipment at Treeland: Unique amenity access sets some locations apart. "You can also use peddle boats, kayaks, canoes, etc for FREE!! Or rent a boat or pontoon, which we did," notes Kim L. about Treeland Farm RV Resort, which also features "Large pull through sites. Wooded, concrete patio, picnic table, fire pit."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly by location. At Lake Chippewa Campground, MickandKarla W. reports, "We did get some random Verizon connectivity as it showed 2 bars but no internet." FlowMama Trail Head has "No facilities or cell service" according to Mike B.
Booking timeline: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. At Phipps Landing, "Camping is free, FCFS" (first-come, first-served) notes Arctic D., while Lake Chippewa starts booking "on January 1st. We called all day long (4500 times not kidding) and finally got a spot," shares Melissa H.
Payment methods: Some campgrounds have cash-only policies. Lindsay T. mentions Lake Chippewa's "Well appointed lodge with a small market and snack bar. Be aware they do not accept credit cards so plan ahead."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Campgrounds offer varying levels of planned activities. "They also have themed weekends for the kids, and plenty of activities! Bathrooms are clean, showers are hot!" reports Lynn N. about Hayward KOA, which features "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."
Swimming options: Supervised water access provides safer recreation. "Lodge is beautiful and full of games, good playground and the swim area is fantastic! We rented a pontoon for the day and beached it on one of the many islands the lake has," shares Melissa H. about Reel Livin Resort and Campground.
Pet-friendly trails: Dog friendly campgrounds near Hayward connect to hiking paths. Roam Base Camp offers "easy access to the Seeley Pass trail candy," according to Kim H., though she warns about "lots of mosquitoes" and "a fair amount of ticks" due to "long grass around all the sides."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for big rigs: Larger RVs require careful planning. At Lake Chippewa, MickandKarla W. advises, "We were due to stay in the group/overflow(470-478 area) for a week, then move to the 456-460 area for 3 weeks... We did not back in as far into the site as we would have liked due to overhead tree branches."
Parking considerations: Some areas have challenging access. Hayward KOA has "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," explains Sheila H.
Sewer hose requirements: Hookups vary between campgrounds. At Lake Chippewa, "we needed about 20' of sewer hose plus the connection is not threaded and sits up about 6 inches making it tough to dump. I used sewer weights to keep my connector in the sewer hole," notes MickandKarla W.
