Best Tent Camping near Kennan, WI

Tent campsites in the Chequamegon National Forest near Kennan, Wisconsin provide primitive experiences for backcountry adventurers and weekend campers alike. Notable options include the Picnic Point Campground on Mondeaux Flowage and North Twin Lake Recreation Area, both offering tent-only sites within a 20-mile radius of Kennan. Several backcountry sites along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, such as Sailor Creek and Lake Eleven campsites, provide additional options for hikers seeking more remote tent camping.

Most tent camping areas in this region feature minimal amenities, with many sites offering fire rings and pit toilets but lacking running water or shower facilities. Camp New Wood County Park provides tent sites with drinking water and trash disposal, while the more primitive backcountry sites require campers to pack in all supplies and filter water from nearby lakes or streams. Sites typically feature natural terrain with minimal site preparation, consisting of forest duff or compacted dirt surfaces. A review noted, "The sites are a decent size and it's right on the Ice Age Trail with lots of hiking to be enjoyed right from your camp site."

The heavily forested setting of tent campgrounds in this region creates a secluded atmosphere even when sites are relatively close to access roads. Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area provides boat-in tent sites that offer exceptional privacy on islands throughout the flowage. A visitor commented, "When you're out there you feel like you're on your own little piece of paradise." Walk-in tent sites at Wabasso Lake Recreation Area balance accessibility with seclusion, requiring a short hike from the parking area to reach campsites overlooking the lake. Many tent camping areas throughout the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest serve as excellent basecamps for exploring the extensive trail system, viewing wildlife including eagles and deer, and experiencing the quiet beauty of northern Wisconsin's forests and waterways.

Best Tent Sites Near Kennan, Wisconsin (13)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Kennan, WI

193 Reviews of 13 Kennan Campgrounds


  • Debra M.
    Jul. 18, 2021

    Connors Lake Campground — Flambeau River State Forest

    Great Canoe and Backwoods Place– Maybe Not the Place for Families

    The State Forest is very beautiful. There is a lake as well as the Flambeau River to explore. There are two campgrounds, Lake of the Pines which has 30 non-electric sites and Connor Lake which has 3 electric sites and 26 non-electric. All sites have a picnic table and a fire ring. There are no play grounds. There are only vault toilets at the campground. There is one shower at the ranger station which is about 4 miles away. There is no cell service at Connors Lake Campground. I could not even make an emergency call which was a concern for me. There are many signs that say to go to the ranger station, about 4 miles to make an emergency call. There is no weather safe shelter at the campground. There are 14 canoe camp areas and the park is beautiful. If you like to canoe this is a great park. We did a hike and cut our stay short since we like a bit more services and safety.

  • Theodora M.
    Jul. 19, 2022

    Wabasso Lake Recreation Area

    Lovely Spot on Lake Wabasso

    The campgrounds here have a fire ring and table, and plenty of room to set up in. The lake is gorgeous and swimmable. The only amenities are a vault toilet and water.

  • Caroline C.
    Jun. 7, 2021

    Sandy Beach Lake Campground — Northern Highland State Forest

    Beautiful lake views and big sites

    Campground is a hidden gem - these sites are huge and if you can get one of the sites right on the lake, do it! We reserved a site last minute and stayed on site 1933 which had a slight lake view but site 1925 looked amazing. Families staying here had kids swimming right off the campsite in the very nice lake.

    There are bathrooms here but no showers. Sites have fire rings and picnic tables. There are dumpsters in the campground. They also had firewood for sale for $5 (cash or check).

    We were inspired to stop here by the other Dyrt reviewer!

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 5, 2019

    Sailor Lake NF Campground

    Spacious sites in the Wisconsin woods

    Nestled within Wisconsin forest you find Sailor Lake. This national forest campground has water access as well as sites away from the lake. We stayed at site 12 - a pull through site away from the water.

    Many, although not all, of the waterside sites are for tents. You park and carry your gear down a few steps for a close to the water feel. There is an open area for everyone to enjoy the lake - it’s filled with purple flowers today. With plenty of woods around, all sites offer privacy but they have different vibes. Plenty of choice here so look around or reserve one. Plenty of sites available for walk-ins too. A couple of vault toilets, garage receptacle and water source round out a nice camp.

    ATV trails as well as non-motorized trails are plentiful. We hiked on them and it was nice. Minimal cell signal encourages disconnecting for your stay.

  • M
    Sep. 23, 2021

    Lake of the Pines Campground — Flambeau River State Forest

    Nice area. Awkward check in.

    We arrived at Lake of the Pines knowing sites were reservable. We didn't know they had to be reserved. There were no less than eleven signs at the entrance. You could purchase a vehicle pass required for entry but could not pay for camping. The instructions said to call a telephone number. With no cell service we were about to drive until we could call. Luckily a very pleasant maintenance women told us there was a dedicated phone for reservations at the forest headquarters a few miles away. We apparently missed that sign.

    We took a chance and paid for an out-of-state annual vehicle pass for $38 as opposed to buying an $8 pass every day. We checked out the park and there were only two sites occupied. We chose one next to some campers on motorcycles because it had a partial view of the lake and drove to the headquarters. We called and asked for a specific site number. The person said she had no Lake of the Pines in her system. We figured out it was Flambeau/Lake of the Pines and confirmed that the adjacent site was occupied. We reserved the site and paid by card over the dedicated reservation phone. They said we would receive a confirmation email but...no cell service. Returning to the campground we found that the site we reserved was the one occupied. Apparently the motorcycle guys blew off the whole camping reservation and fee. We set up on another site and hoped no one reserved that one. All the site number signs said first come-first served? We corrected the site number at the phone at the forest headquarters the next day. First we tried the office which had hours posted but was closed, so we used the dedicated phone line.

    After all this, we had a nice time paddling the milder sections of the Flambeau River. Shuttle prices for private canoes at local tavern/outfitters were reasonable. No one we saw other than DNR wore masks. Wisconsin DNR needs to get their act together. There is no reason to have a payment drop box for vehicle permits but not camping. Consolidate your check-in signs.

  • M
    Jun. 21, 2022

    Brunet Island State Park Campground

    Beautiful quiet campground on island with forest and river surrounding it.

    This is one of our favorite Wisconsin state parks. It is quiet and shady, next to the Chippewa River. You can kayak on the river and in-between the islands where the water is very calm and full of lily pads and wildlife. There is a paved bike trail, Old Abe, that connects to the park and is 20 miles long to Chippewa Falls. It's an easy bike ride, a few miles, into Cornell for ice cream at one of 2 shops that have it! One camground loop has electric and bathroom with showers and flush toilets. The other loop has no electric and pit toilets and has many sites next to the water. Campsites are roomy and shaded.

  • Krissy G.The Dyrt ADMIN User
    Jan. 21, 2022

    Connors Lake Campground — Flambeau River State Forest

    Beautiful & Quiet State Forrest

    This was our first camping trip into the beautiful Flambeau River State Forest. It was stunning. Plenty to do and see at this campground. It’s the true north woods experience. Large, wooded sites. Secluded from neighbors. Only 7 electric sites right now. There were no showers on site, so we had to drive to the ranger station in order to shower, just a quick 5 min drive. The hiking in the area is amazing, and I would highly recommend taking in the beauty at the falls.

  • A
    Sep. 7, 2020

    Eastwood NF Campground

    Beautiful, Remote

    We stayed 3 nights at site number 9 in the midst of the pandemic. Overall fairly quiet and private. One side of site 9 is a parking area. Our site had a wooded trail down to the flowage and onto the Mondeaux Esker Trail segment of the Ice Age Trail (“East” segment - most people use the dam as their definition). I had a hard time confirming before hand but yes the trail runs right through this campground. The Mondeaux Esker segment was challenging (muddy) but fun.

    Our site was large though not real flat. We fit a car, suv and 17 ft boat.

    One drawback was the water at the campground is shut off due to bad water tests (not due to covid). Plan ahead - there is a glacial spring within driving distance and other federal campgrounds that you might be able to get water from. Pit toilets were very clean and didn’t stink. No showers. stayed late August 2020

  • Kendra N.
    Sep. 7, 2021

    Camp New Wood County Park

    Nice FCFS

    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. The sites are a decent size and it's right on the Ice Age Trail with lots of hiking to be enjoyed right from your camp site. It was a bit tricky to find as its north of the park and not well identified. The water is a bit of a hike down the trail and through the woods so you might want to bring your own. The fire rings are quite large and hold a lot of fire wood. There are no grates for cooking over the fire ring but there are stand alone grills at each site that would require charcoal. The pit toilets are not in the best shape and have no lighting so bring a flashlight. There are no showers but that didn't bother us for the 2 nights we were there. Others we spoke to that stayed there before said its hardly ever full and you can easily get a spot. For $15 a night, it was a decent stay and we would go again if ever in the area.


Guide to Kennan

Tent camping near Kennan, Wisconsin offers access to over 800,000 acres of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest across northern Wisconsin. The region receives approximately 45 inches of annual precipitation, creating lush forests dominated by maple, birch and pine trees. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-85°F during days and 50-60°F at night, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms during July and August.

What to do

Wildlife watching along waterways: At Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area, campers can observe diverse wildlife from secluded island campsites. "Wildlife is abundant with Bald Eagles, Loons, deer, coyotes, and sounds of wolves," notes one camper. The flowage's 300+ islands create ideal habitat for spotting animals at dawn and dusk.

Fishing in no-wake lakes: North Twin Lake Recreation Area offers excellent fishing opportunities on smaller bodies of water. According to a reviewer, "There is excellent fishing mostly consisting of Bass and Bluegills and Perch. It's a no wake lake so plan on just using a trolling motor or even a canoe to fish."

Hike segments of the Ice Age Trail: The nationally recognized trail passes directly through multiple camping areas, offering day-hiking opportunities from your campsite. One visitor to Camp New Wood County Park mentions, "The sites are a decent size and it's right on the Ice Age Trail with lots of hiking to be enjoyed right from your camp site."

What campers like

Private island camping: Campers consistently praise the isolation available at Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area. A reviewer described their experience: "These islands are all first come first serve so you take your chances but there are plenty and I have been there in the middle of July with no problem finding one."

Walk-in tent sites: Wabasso Lake Recreation Area offers walk-in tent sites that balance accessibility with privacy. "The campgrounds here have a fire ring and table, and plenty of room to set up in. The lake is gorgeous and swimmable," reports one camper who appreciated the simple amenities.

Rustic group camping: Picnic Point Campground provides designated group camping areas. According to a visitor, it offers a "Tent only, reservable group site at Mondeaux recreation area. Boat landing, Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Part of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest."

What you should know

Minimal amenities: Most tent camping areas provide only basic facilities. At Sailor Creek Campsite, "This site has no pit toilet and not a lot of 'privacy' so finding a place to do your business is not for the modest. You are also directly in contact with the trail."

Water access planning: Campers must plan ahead for water. At Camp New Wood County Park, "The water is a bit of a hike down the trail and through the woods so you might want to bring your own."

Variable site quality: Site conditions vary significantly, even within the same camping area. At Sailor Creek, "The site is a bit rough for tents. Lots of roots and low dips make for uncomfortable, possibly damp sleeping. Hammock camping, however, is readily available."

Tips for camping with families

Look for swim-friendly sites: Some campgrounds offer better swimming access than others. At Wabasso Lake, a reviewer noted, "The lake is gorgeous and swimmable. The only amenities are a vault toilet and water."

Consider FCFS timing: For weekend camping during summer, arrive early to secure sites. "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," reported a visitor to Camp New Wood County Park.

Pack toilet supplies: Most facilities are primitive. "The pit toilets are not in the best shape and have no lighting so bring a flashlight," advises a Camp New Wood County Park camper.

Tips from RVers

Boat-in only options: Many tent camping sites near Kennan aren't accessible by vehicle. At Newman Lake Shelter, a local notes, "If you're looking for a place to rest and play for the day this is a good choice... this little spot is a hidden gem for day camping, fishing, picnicking, and swimming."

Check site access details: Some campgrounds labeled for RVs may actually only accommodate tents. A visitor to Wabasso Lake Recreation Area explains, "There are only walk-in tent sites here. We missed that before we headed here so we needed to look elsewhere... The boat launch is also the camping parking lot."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Kennan, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Kennan, WI is Picnic Point Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Kennan, WI?

TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Kennan, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.