Camping near Hurley, Wisconsin offers access to both expansive forests and Lake Superior shoreline within a compact region. The North Country Trail passes through this area, connecting several campgrounds to long-distance hiking opportunities. Summer temperatures typically range from 55-75°F, with cool nights even during peak season.
What to do
Waterfall exploration: Four accessible falls along the Black River can be reached via interconnected trails. "The hiking throughout this park is unparalleled in its beauty. The campground is close to the Presque Isle river trail which is waterfall after waterfall," noted a visitor to Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park.
Rock hunting on Lake Superior: Search for agates and colorful stones along shorelines. At Little Girl's Point County Park, "The beach had excellent rocks" according to a camper, while another mentioned "Lots of agates to be found on the beach."
Dedicated ATV/UTV trails: Trail networks connect directly to several campgrounds. A visitor to Schomberg Park noted, "This is a perfect small sized campground with trail access to UTV/ATV trails. If you are coming here to ride I would recommend going west on the trail."
Disc golf: Some parks feature full 18-hole courses. A camper at Presque Isle mentioned, "The park has a ski lift we rode to check out the views from the top of the mountain, as well as an 18 hole disc course."
What campers like
Lake Superior shoreline access: Several campgrounds offer direct routes to the lake. A camper at Black River Harbor Campground shared, "Campsite 21 has a small path directly to Lake Superior. The real gem here is all the waterfalls nearby."
Secluded camping options: Many campers value privacy between sites. "The sites are large and level with grass or packed sand and have a picnic table and fire ring," reported a visitor to Presque Isle, while another mentioned, "We camped in the 'walk-in' sites which were a short walk from our cars. These were definitely the best sites for tree cover and privacy."
Value pricing: Several county parks offer electric sites at lower rates. At Weber Lake County Park, "Electric sites are $20/day which is a great price - I wish they offered reservations. The campground is on a no-wake lake so great for fishing."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms. A visitor to Curry Park Campground reported, "Nice shower/bathrooms, clean with great water pressure," while another camper praised "Bathrooms were extremely clean and well kept" at Schomberg Park.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have poor connectivity. At Little Girl's Point, a camper found it "hard to locate any cell service (T-Mobile)," while another noted you can find "Limited cell service...sporadically and if needed near boat launch and west on Cr 505/122."
Water access varies: Not all campgrounds provide full hookups. "Sites have electric no water hookups at the site. Fill station is across from site 1," reported a Schomberg Park visitor. At Potato River Falls Campground, "No potable water, but the quality of the water from the river is good for filtering."
Seasonal insects: Black flies can be prevalent in summer months. A camper at Black River Harbor warned, "The down side: black flies. They. Are. EVERYWHERE. We went early-mid July and it was so bad we left with at least 20 bites each. Deet does nothing."
Varying road conditions: Some campgrounds require travel on unpaved roads. A Potato River Falls visitor noted, "The road in is all dirt and gravel," while another mentioned the access road was "just wide enough for our vehicle - it might be too tight for larger RVs."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming opportunities: Several parks offer beach access or pools. At Weber Lake, "A walk down the road brings you to a lake with a picnic area. People drove up to swim when we were here."
Playground availability: Some campgrounds include basic play equipment. Curry Park has a "small playground, bathrooms, and sanitary dump site in the campground," while another visitor noted "There is a playground, bathrooms, and sanitary dump site in the campground."
Proximity to attractions: Choose campgrounds near multiple activities. At Copper Falls State Park Campground, "The hiking trails are well-maintained and offer beautiful scenic views... Additionally, there are some nice walk-in sites available, perfect for those who prefer a bit more seclusion."
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer nature centers or historic sites. A visitor to Copper Falls mentioned, "The main lot has flush and vault bathrooms, a little nature center (closed for covid), lots of picnic areas and a large spread out feeling."
Tips from RVers
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds offer this service. At Curry Park, "Dump station is free for campers, otherwise $15," while a visitor to Alpine Campground noted they were "asked that we not use the sanitary dumping station unless we really had too."
Site size limitations: Campground layouts vary widely. At Potato River Falls, a camper warned it's "Not a good fit for bigger RVs or longer pulls," while another noted at Alpine Campground that "Our pull thru sites where just long enough for our 35' trailer and truck to stay connected."
Electric hookup variations: Amperage differs between parks. "No restrooms or dump stations but the campground is closing after Labor Day 2020 to make improvements," reported a Weber Lake visitor, while Curry Park offers "Full hookups sites are $35/night, power only is $25, tents are $15."
Leveling requirements: Some sites require additional effort. A visitor to Curry Park observed, "A lot of sites are on slanted ground, but the two times I've been here there were plenty of flat spots available. The RV sites are level."
