Camping near Irma, WI

The Irma region sits within Lincoln County's extensive forest system in northern Wisconsin, where access to camping often requires navigating winding forest roads. Several campgrounds operate seasonally from late spring through early fall due to harsh winter conditions, with nighttime temperatures often dropping below 50°F even in summer months. Dispersed camping options are available in the Lincoln County Forest with limited facilities but direct access to fishing and ATV trails.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Council Grounds State Park Campground on the Wisconsin River offers productive fishing spots. "Beautiful forest, boating, dam views along the Wisconsin River," mentions Chad P. about the Council Grounds State Park Campground.

ATV trail access: Great Northern Campground connects directly to regional ATV routes. "Campground has nice large sites. On ATV route," notes Lori S. in her review of Great Northern Campground, which also features "a welcoming bar and limited grill" within walking distance.

Ice Age Trail hiking: Camp New Wood County Park provides direct access to scenic segments of the historic trail. "It's right on the Ice Age Trail with lots of hiking to be enjoyed right from your camp site," according to Kendra N., who camped at Camp New Wood County Park.

What campers like

Quiet waterfront sites: Horn Lake offers primitive lakeside camping without crowds. "Great view of the lake and very private. About 2 miles of dirt road to get there," says Jay S. about Horn Lake Camping, adding that there are "two camp sites 10 yards apart."

Secluded forest setting: Underdown Campground provides true wilderness camping. "No running water, no bathrooms, no crowded plots. It's as primitive as can be. Very ample space except near the water," explains Wade W., who appreciates that Underdown Campground offers multiple small lakes for fishing.

Swimming options: Many campgrounds feature swimming access for summer cooling. "We enjoyed being able to rent kayaks and paddleboards and relax on the beach," mentions Tate T. about Council Grounds, while another camper notes that Great Northern has "a small - medium swim pond with floats for climbing and jumping."

What you should know

Limited facilities at dispersed sites: Primitive camping means planning for self-sufficiency. "No running water, no bathrooms... It's as primitive as can be," warns one camper about Underdown Campground. Similarly, at Horn Lake, campers note there are only "fire rings, no bathroom, water, electric."

Variable shower availability: Shower facilities differ between campgrounds. At Great Northern, "there is a per minute fee for their two showers, but no worries it is Luke warm water at best," according to James M. Council Grounds offers free showers, with one camper noting they were "clean."

Reservation requirements: Many sites operate on first-come, first-served basis. "We decided to hit the road on Labor Day Weekend and took a chance on not knowing where we'd stay the night. This first come first served campground with only 7 sites still had some available," reports a Camp New Wood visitor.

Tips for camping with families

Beach activities: Several campgrounds offer child-friendly water access. At Terrace View Campsites, visitors report swimming in the lake and appreciate that it's "very family and pet friendly," according to Debra R.

Playground alternatives: Some campgrounds provide recreational structures for children. Great Northern features "awesome activities for kids" according to Amanda D., while another camper mentions their "small pond with floats for climbing and jumping" with "one end of pond shallow for the very young."

Protection from insects: Northern Wisconsin's forests harbor biting flies in summer. One Council Grounds visitor warned, "Watch out for the biting deer flies as the sun goes down! Three kids got attacked in one of the trails and had huge welts and lots of tears."

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Several campgrounds have uneven terrain. At Great Northern, one RVer reported, "The site we had was extremely unlevel and had a low spot that filled up with water/mud in the rain."

Electric hookup locations: Some campgrounds offer limited electric options. At Sara Park, campers report that all 10 sites have electricity and water available for $30 daily, making it suitable for RVs needing hookups.

Dump station access: Plan for waste disposal needs. One visitor to Great Northern noted, "You only can use the dump station once at check out or you can pay a fee, but none of the sites have sewer," while Birkensee Campground offers no dump station at all.