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The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest surrounding Long Lake, Wisconsin offers several primitive tent camping options, including Stevens Lake Campground and Windsor Dam Campground. Three Johns Lake Dispersed camping area provides a more remote tent camping experience with direct access to the lake. The area features a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed tent sites throughout the national forest, with most locations offering basic amenities suitable for tent campers seeking a northwoods experience.
Most tent sites in the Long Lake area feature natural surfaces with minimal site preparation, typically consisting of forest duff, dirt, or occasional gravel pads. Campgrounds like Stevens Lake provide fire rings and picnic tables, while dispersed areas like Three Johns Lake require campers to bring all necessary supplies. Vault toilets are available at established campgrounds, but dispersed camping areas generally lack facilities. The camping season typically runs from May through November, with some sites closing earlier depending on weather conditions. Water access varies significantly between locations, with many requiring campers to bring their own drinking water or filter from nearby lakes.
The tent camping experience near Long Lake offers significant privacy between sites, particularly at walk-in locations like Perch Lake Campground. The surrounding forest provides ample shade at most sites, creating comfortable tent camping conditions even during summer months. Many locations offer direct lake access for swimming and fishing, with several campers noting the abundance of wildlife viewing opportunities. The area's relative remoteness contributes to peaceful camping experiences with minimal noise disruption. According to one visitor at Three Johns Lake Dispersed, "Tents only. Short walk to campsite, only one on lake. 5 dollar parking national Forest." Another camper described Perch Lake as having "very secluded and private" sites despite the short hike in, making it "a great place to camp if you want to experience being in the woods for the first time."
"We rolled in at dark and we’re enchanted by trees, falling leaves and mystic lake. There aren’t many spots, but they all quintessential WI. Free water is available via a hand pump."
"There is a fire ring and picnic table at each site."
"Loved the hike in, decided to walk the whole loop and unfortunately the bridge at the end was under water and we had to turn around and walk back instead."
"Tents only. Short walk to campsite only one on lake. 5 dollar parking national Forest."
"No hook-ups. Pit toilets and right on the lake. First come first serve. And 2 day maximum consecutive days stay if I believe. Close to waterfalls and other lake s and parks. Great time."
"The weather was a bit cold on Lake Superior and our picnic was ruined. However we had a great laugh making sandwiches in the car in a middle of a rain storm."
"There is a sandy beach on a small lake full of fish. The Sam Cambell trail is right next door, it’s a nice walk to another tiny lake."
"Close to the lake. Grass and gravel. Restroom share with the park/boat launch area. I would definitely stay here again. If there was a drawback would be sites have some slope toward lake."
GuideNice campground, well maintained, next to a lake with a boat ramp. Ever site has a picnic table, fire ring, asphalt pad and drying stand. Vault toilets, very limited trash collection trash cans (2). No water or waste. Only a few pull through most are back in.
TravelerWe arrived on a Thursday and were able to snag one of the much-coveted lakeside sites for a private view of the sunset. Sites were level and clean and it never got busy for the weekend, which is just the way I like it. Although there are tons of other state campgrounds nearby with more amenities, I would gladly trade all of that for the no-electric, vault toilet, water pump solitude of North Trout Lake. The campground has a nature trail and is also located on a paved bike path that runs between nearby towns and connects to the other camping areas.
Amenities: nice/clean vault toilets, water from pump tastes fantastic, swimming beach, firewood for sale onsite, no electric, no showers.
TravelerGreat find. Sunday night beginning of June. Only camper in the tent section. Quiet spot with good hosts. Close to the lake. Grass and gravel. Restroom share with the park/boat launch area. I would definitely stay here again. If there was a drawback would be sites have some slope toward lake. Being only one there I found flat spot to tent but if busy choice might be limited. No control over weather but woke up and had to pack up in the rain. Definitely check it out! Thanks to the Hosts!
TravelerStayed one night on a Sunday. Mostly empty but you can see it is heavily booked for the Fourth of July weekend. They just added electric hook up to some sites in the South End. Right now the price is the same for electric or non-electric sites.
Sites are large and decent spacing between sites. Heavy tree cover with mostly shade.
The site was mostly gravel with nice fire ring and picnic table.
GuideA lovely area with a good balance of open space and tree cover. Nearby Clark Lake is very pretty, good for swimming, and serves as the primary water source. The area is covered in soft pine duff but finding a truly flat spot free of any small mounds of moss or decayed nurse logs can be a challenge.
TravelerYou get a relatively flat site, fire ring, a picnic table, hand pump for water and vault toilets along with a beautiful clear water lake. There's a boat launch and firewood for sale. Reservations need to be made and paid online even if your fcfs. Cell phone and data are okay. There is tire noise from Highway M.
Very few folks around in September!
Honeymooned here in 1975. The location on the lake is beautiful. We camped here many times over the years. In tents, VW campers, trailers until about 20 years ago. Got a Sprinter RV this year and we're camped here now.
LegendNice campground with all the basics of a National Forest Campground. The sites offer each site a fair amount of privacy. They are all suitable for trailers and tent camping as they provide a level tent pad in each site.
I'm only giving 4 stars because the campground is about a mile from the lake. However, the distance from the water does help with the mosquitoes.
Fire rings have grills, and there are wooden picnic tables.
Lac Vieux Desert is a big and beautiful lake with excellent fishing! Although we didn't do great, others did. This is the headwaters of the Wisconsin River.
LegendNice campground situated in Northern Wisconsin in the North Highland American Legion State Forest. Over 900 lakes and 225,000 acres. As you will read from my other reviews of campgrounds in this area, this is the place to be if you love camping, fishing or bicycling. This is the bicycle trail capital in the State of Wisconsin for sure! There are paved bicycle trails connecting every campground and every town. There are nature trails everywhere that vary in length. North Trout Lake is a nice lake to swim in an can get pretty wavy with good winds, swim at your own risk, the beach is Sandy but turns to rock the further you go in. This campground offers some awesome walk-in campsites situated in front of the water near the beach. There are also numerous standard sites that sit on the water but it can be tough to get one during peak season. This campground also offers good size camp sites with plenty of room to set up. . There are no showers or flush toilets at this location but the restrooms were clean and there are plenty of water pumps for fresh water. If you can live with the minimum this campground is nice. This campground is about and 18 min drive. Northeast from the tourist town of Minaqua and 7 minutes drive from Bolder Junction, another tourist town that is located just East. Bicycle trails lead you to either direction. Both towns have convinces of dining, services, and lodging if needed.
GuideThe hike to these sites is very short. We paid when we parked. It’s a great place to camp if you want to experience being in the woods for the first time. We stayed on the south loop which has 6 sites. The sites still feel very secluded and private. There is a fire ring and picnic table at each site. There is no bear box and there definitely are bears (during one camping trip some hunters treed and shot a bear in the early morning and we saw them carrying it while hiking out) so you’ll want to hang your food. There was access to the lake from our campsite.
Tent camping near Long Lake, Wisconsin offers remote wilderness experiences within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The region features numerous small lakes connected by forest roads and hiking trails. Campsites range from established campgrounds with minimal facilities to dispersed backcountry sites requiring additional preparation. Summer temperatures average 75-80°F with cooler nights around 55°F, while mosquitoes and biting flies can be prevalent from June through August.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple lakes offer different fishing experiences throughout the area. At Stevens Lake Campground, anglers can enjoy the mirror-like surface in morning fog. According to one visitor, "After breakfast the fog burned off and the mirror surface lake showed her magic. By far this is the best place we've camped on our trip!"
Hiking trails: The Sam Campbell trail connects several small lakes and provides opportunities for wildlife viewing. A camper at the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Backcountry Site noted, "The Sam Cambell trail is right next door, it's a nice walk to another tiny lake."
Swimming beaches: Several campgrounds offer swimming access directly from campsites. At the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Backcountry Site, one camper reported, "There is a sandy beach on a small lake full of fish."
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife including white-tailed deer, black bears, and numerous bird species. As one visitor to Boulder Junction noted, "We were lucky enough to see a white deer."
Lake access: Many campsites offer direct water access for swimming, fishing and paddling. At East Bass Lake Park, one camper appreciated that sites are "right on the lake" and noted they're "close to waterfalls and other lakes and parks."
Privacy between sites: Walk-in sites typically offer more seclusion than drive-up locations. A visitor to Chequamegon National Forest Perch Lake Campground reported, "The sites still feel very secluded and private. There is a fire ring and picnic table at each site."
Natural setting: The northwoods environment creates an immersive forest experience. A camper at Stevens Lake Campground described arriving at dark and being "enchanted by trees, falling leaves and mystic lake."
Stargazing: Minimal light pollution allows for exceptional night sky viewing. When camping at Boulder Junction, visitors reported enjoying "god's beauty" and "taking a breath" in the natural surroundings.
Bear activity: Black bears inhabit the forest and proper food storage is essential. A camper at Perch Lake noted, "There is no bear box and there definitely are bears (during one camping trip some hunters treed and shot a bear in the early morning and we saw them carrying it while hiking out) so you'll want to hang your food."
Cell service limitations: Most campsites have poor or no cellular coverage. At Stevens Lake Campground, a visitor reported "Poor cell service for AT&T."
Weather variability: Be prepared for rapid weather changes, even in summer. At Boulder Junction, campers described "the weather was a bit cold on Lake Superior and our picnic was ruined. However we had a great laugh making sandwiches in the car in a middle of a rain storm."
Insect preparedness: Biting insects can be abundant, especially in early summer. Campers at Boulder Junction reported "Mosquitos were horrible but we managed! Thankfully we had our bug rackets to fry those suckers."
Short hike-in options: Several campgrounds offer walk-in sites with minimal hiking required. A visitor to Perch Lake Campground noted, "The hike to these sites is very short. We paid when we parked. It's a great place to camp if you want to experience being in the woods for the first time."
Safety in numbers: Some remote sites may not be suitable for solo campers or small groups. At Paint River Forks NF Campground, a camper cautioned the site "would be great Mid summer with a big group of people! just keep on lights!"
Trail navigation: Some forest trails can be confusing. Boulder Junction campers reported "We Had fun exploring in the woods and getting lost! Good thing we had Lucas to guide us towards the river."
Site selection: Choose sites with level ground for comfortable tent placement. At Bates Township Park, a camper noted, "If there was a drawback would be sites have some slope toward lake. Being only one there I found flat spot to tent but if busy choice might be limited."
Limited RV options: Most sites near Long Lake accommodate tents only. At Three Johns Lake Dispersed, a visitor specifically noted, "Tents only. Short walk to campsite only one on lake. 5 dollar parking national Forest."
Parking considerations: Some campgrounds have separate parking areas that may accommodate trailers while tent sites remain walk-in. At the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Backcountry Site, a camper observed, "The parking area is huge so one could fit a trailer or pop up there."
Road conditions: Many forest roads are unpaved and may be difficult for larger vehicles. At Paint River Forks NF Campground, a visitor mentioned it was "Just a mile or so down the dirt road" with "5 or so campsites" and a "clean out house right on river."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Long Lake, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Long Lake, WI is Stevens Lake Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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TheDyrt.com has all 33 tent camping locations near Long Lake, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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