114 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Copper Falls State Park Campground accepts pets at all campsites while offering electric hookups and reservable tent, RV, and cabin accommodations. Nearby Wildwood Haven Resort and Campground provides pet-friendly cabins with 30-amp electric service, water hookups, and a sanitary dump station. Both campgrounds maintain pet leash requirements throughout all areas including trails and common spaces. For dispersed camping with pets, Foster Falls allows free camping with dogs but requires a permit and has no designated facilities. Potato River Falls Campground offers more rustic pet-friendly options with vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings but no potable water. The North Country Trail passes through several of these campgrounds, providing extensive hiking opportunities with leashed pets. Many local campers report the quality of the water from nearby rivers is good for filtering when camping at more primitive sites.
The network of pet-friendly trails connecting these campgrounds offers substantial hiking options for campers with dogs. Bad River Wilderness permits pets at its three tent and RV sites, providing a more secluded option for those wanting fewer neighbors and more quiet for anxious pets. Chequamegon National Forest's Day Lake Campground features big-rig friendly sites with drinking water and excellent access to the North Country Trail, though locals note the mosquitos can be tough in summer due to nearby marshy areas. Campers hiking with dogs should be prepared for ticks, especially in early summer. Namekagon Lake Campground allows pets at its boat-in and drive-in sites, offering electric hookups and sewer connections with a season running from early June to mid-October. During bear hunting season, campers with dogs should be aware of hounds baying in the distance, which might disturb some pets.
"If your from Wisconsin this sits at the very north of the State. If your looking for areas to visit while camping here you may have a little bit of a drive."
"There were open areas nearby too so we were able to do some kite flying! "
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability"I have been visiting the falls for years as it is one of the most beautiful (and little known) places in northern Wisconsin."
"Free campsites within walking distance to upper and lower falls."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"This small - off the beaten path - campground is wonderful. It has all the amenities you would need of a large campground without all the commotion."
"We were fortunate to experience this campground in two very different situations."
from $25 - $119 / night
Check Availability"No trails right at the campground, but for a cross coin ski trail just past the cg entrance. We were here to visit Croix NWW - a bit of a drive from the cg."
"All are heavily wooded and none right on lake. Boat Landing is great, boats can be pulled up on shore and left there safely."
from $18 - $50 / night
Check Availability"I have camped here twice and hiked around quite a few times and this is one of the most beautiful campground in Wisconsin."
"Great campground and lake. Had to drive to the nearby town of Clam Lake for wifi and closer to Hayward for cell service."
from $18 - $36 / night
Check Availability"Best part is that there is a lot of room to walk your dog as it backs up to a forest. Also, the gas station is also a bar and its a great place to have a cold one after driving all day!"
"Conveniently located on Hwy2 but you could hear truck traffic at your site... cell tower right next to the campground meant we had full service when needed. We would stay here again no doubt!"
"These are hike in sites and the payoff is worth every step. You will be secluded!! If you're looking for a place where you rub elbows with other campers, this is not the place for you. "
from $17 - $39 / night
Check Availability"A small NFS campground on a small lake. Good for afternoon sun and hiking on the North Country Trail. I camped in early May, before ticks, mosquitos & gnats got going."
"Usually quiet, clean, and very well maintained, to my wife and I Beaver Lake's biggest asset is that it is completely off the grid; no cell service, no electric, nothing (except baying hounds in the distance"
from $15 / night
Check Availability"8 Mile drive off the main road. Mostly paved, some gravel, but all smooth. We had the place to ourselves. A short walk down to the waterfall."
"Also got a bit nervous hearing timber wolves in the distance for a few hours at night then again in the early morning. But we practiced good camp hygiene and they left us alone."
"For folks with RVs who want a camping spot close to the city of Ashland, this is a convenient spot close to the lake. NOTE however that reserving a campsite solely for tent camping is prohibited!"
"It's directly on the lake, and it's connected to a bike trail that you can take to downtown or farther north along the lake."
from $45 - $50 / night
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TravelerA small NFS campground on a small lake. Good for afternoon sun and hiking on the North Country Trail. I camped in early May, before ticks, mosquitos & gnats got going. Locals say mosquitos are tough in summer due to marshy area nearby. Not to far from Mellen or other access points on the NCT.
GuideI started camping a Beaver Lake as a Forest Service volunteer back in the late 1980s and have done so every year, even while working as a ranger for another agency, ever since. Usually quiet, clean, and very well maintained, to my wife and I Beaver Lake's biggest asset is that it is completely off the grid; no cell service, no electric, nothing (except baying hounds in the distance during bear hunting season) to disturb the peace and quiet. Trout fishing in the lake and nearby streams, canoeing/boating/paddleboarding, hiking (there's a spur trail leading to the North Country National Scenic Trail), and relaxing. It's a place we go to to seriously get away from it all and disconnect. Drives our daughter and her family crazy to be without cell service! But hey, we get away from it all NOT to bring it all with us. #5 and 7 are the nicest reservable sites, 1 and 3 the best open sites. Tall pines abound, loons on the lake, Northern Lights in the sky. What's not to love? PS: BYO firewood from Mellen, Clam Lake, or Grand View. No hosts, and the other two campgrounds in the area are closed.
GuideWho knew this park out in the middle of nowhere would have camp sites! I have been visiting the falls for years as it is one of the most beautiful (and little known) places in northern Wisconsin.
I didn't realize until recently that Iron County actually has first come-first served camp sites at a variety of amazing locations at or near the North Country Trail. This park is not on the NCT but a short drive from Mellen.
The camp sites are rustic. No potable water, but the quality of the water from the river is good for filtering. There is a vault toilet in the parking area. There is 5 sites to choose from, all in a heavily wooded area. What this camp site lacks in amenities, it makes up for in sheer natural beauty. The falls may be accessed from a long set of stairs climbing down to see the lower falls. You can also take a shorter set of stairs down to a platform to see the upper falls. If you are willing to climb a little (it's not difficult or dangerous) you can get down to the base of the first drop and look down at the top of the 2nd drop.
There is so much to explore and enjoy here! It can get buggy in the summer heat so be prepared with lots of repellant. Oh, and the road in is all dirt and gravel.
GuidePet-friendly. Site can be reserved. Shore access & trail access to many waterfalls within a short walking distance.
LegendIf your from Wisconsin this sits at the very north of the State. If your looking for areas to visit while camping here you may have a little bit of a drive. The park features some of the best waterfalls in the State and the trails surrounding those falls can get you pretty close for some spectacular photos! The North Country Scenic Hiking runs through the park. This is the longest hiking trail in the county and stretches over 4500 miles. The park does have a beach but if you have a four legged friend with you the pet beach isn't the best as your subject to the boat landing area and isn't very inviting. You can walk through this park and never get bored of the scenes. If you like being surrounded by green this is the place! A nice park to get away from any amenities or thoughts of the city!
TravelerLocated on the Chippewa flow-age in north west Wisconsin, this is a beautiful campground with lots of available activities. Full hook-up and pull through sites are available. Prices are reasonable ($48.00/night). Pets are allowed on a leash.
Will definitely stay there again.
TravelerThis 2,350-acre campground was well-maintained and is located on Madeline Island (the largest Apostle Island) on Lake Superior.
You need to take a ferry to get there and I took Madeline Ferry and it was easy even with an RV.
Big Bay State Park does not allow dogs (pets) on the 1.5-mile long beach which was disappointing, however, there was another campground (Big Bay Town Park) on the Island that had a fabulous pet-friendly beach so I spent time there.
There are several hiking trails and Big View Trail was scenic along Lake Superior.
Big Bay State Park experience video:
https://youtu.be/LHGZdC6y-A0
LegendAs we arrived on a Saturday around 1:45 PM, there was quite the line of RVs checking in as most people come in for a week on Saturdays. As we have been here multiple times, we knew not to line up down the narrow road shoot that’s adjacent to the lodge where you check in but stay on the main road. They had plenty of staff on duty, so check-in was fairly quick, and we headed to site 457, which was an easy back-in with FHUs. We were pleasantly surprised we didn’t get site 456 right on the road. When we make a reservation for this campground(CG), you can only pick an area, not a specific site, for most of the sites. This was the first time we’d stayed in this area of mixed short-term and seasonal sites. The FHU facilities were placed in the middle of the gravel-grass site with a picnic table and fire pit. We were able to put out our back patio and have plenty of space to park our F450. There are a lot of mature trees in this park, so satellite is going to be iffy depending on the site. We were able to get an okay shot to the north for Starlink but no chance for the southern sky. You can opt to pay for the park Wi-Fi. The water pressure is good, and we had two bars on Verizon. The staff at the lodge/office is top-notch. We found out that this year’s“watch out” was kids riding electric bikes full out versus underage golf cart drivers of last year, so“watch out” in either case. The CG has been trying to police the lack of parental oversight, but this first-rate CG attacks a lot of families. Though there’s no formal dog park, there are plenty of areas to walk your dog, including the trail up and around the newer primitive camping area. Lake Chip is one of our favs, and we will continue to return.
GuideOh thank goodness, we camped out at Dalrymple Park and Campground in Bayfield, WI as supposed to our original reservation at a boring campground in Cornucopia, WI. Dalrymple was just minutes away from Bayfield, and boat rides away from the Apostle Islands and Madeline Island. There are 28 sites surrounded by canopies of trees and there are wooded fences along the sides next to Lake Superior. It was a perfect spot to settle in for camping. Some sites were drive-in and others were back-ins perfect for RVs under 30 feet. Camping is $25 a night for 2 vehicles or 1 RV for each site. There is a fire ring, picnic table, electric hook-up, and a stump to cut some firewood at each site. Bathrooms are vault toilets and are walking distance. There were plenty of FREE firewood piles near the entrance. Cell-signal was strong for Verizon. A few of the back-in sites were steep but spacious and the drive-in sites were a bit small. It is a family-friendly campground. Pets are welcome but must be on a leash. The mosquitoes were pretty active so bring your repellant or citronella to ward them off. The view was great, but the noise level at night was a damper. We had a rowdy camper who had no consideration or camping etiquette when it's past 10:00 pm. The campground itself was overall wonderful.
Camping opportunities near Mellen, Wisconsin include rustic and established sites with varying levels of amenities. Located in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest region at approximately 1,300 feet elevation, the area experiences cold winters with heavy snowfall and mild summers with average July temperatures reaching 78°F. Camping season typically runs from May through October, with some sites open year-round for winter enthusiasts.
Waterfall exploration: 3 miles from town. At Copper Falls State Park Campground, visitors can access multiple waterfalls via well-maintained trails. "Copper Falls State Park is a fantastic destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The hiking trails are well-maintained and offer beautiful scenic views, making for an enjoyable trek through nature," explains Malte W. The park serves as a hub for waterfall enthusiasts with multiple cascades accessible from central trailheads.
Kayak and canoe routes: Daily rentals available. The Namekagon Lake Campground provides excellent water access for paddlers. "This was the first time I canoe camped and it became one of my favorite ways to travel and pitch a tent!" writes Kim. The Namekagon River offers multiple put-in locations with class I rapids suitable for intermediate paddlers.
Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk optimal. The forests around Mellen host elk herds and diverse bird species. Art S. notes about Chequamegon National Forest Day Lake Campground, "This is elk territory so keep your eyes open. We saw one crossing a stream." Early mornings provide the best opportunities for wildlife sightings, particularly near water sources.
Privacy between sites: Varied by campground. Wildwood Haven Resort and Campground earns praise for its secluded layout. "This small - off the beaten path - campground is wonderful. It has all the amenities you would need of a large campground without all the commotion," notes Wildwood Haven R. The campground's lakeside location offers both privacy and water access.
Star gazing: Minimal light pollution. The dark skies near Mellen provide excellent astronomical viewing. Adam A. observes about Wildwood Haven, "I also found, since this is further from town, it is very dark here and great for star gazing." Campers regularly report seeing the Milky Way clearly on moonless nights.
Free camping options: Limited but available. Potato River Falls Campground provides no-cost camping near scenic water features. "Free campsites within walking distance to upper and lower falls," states Adam. The five developed sites never require reservations and remain available on a first-come basis year-round.
Insect preparation: Essential May-August. Mosquitoes can be particularly challenging in certain campgrounds. "The mosquitoes in July were in full force!" warns Kim about Namekagon. Zachary J. adds about Chequamegon National Forest Day Lake Campground, "The only challenge was mosquitoes they swarm so I recommend bug spray strong and screen tent."
Water filtration: Required at primitive sites. When camping at locations without potable water, filtering from natural sources becomes necessary. "No potable water, but the quality of the water from the river is good for filtering," explains Kim about Potato River Falls Campground. Most streams in the area require standard filtration methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Mellen, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Mellen, WI is Copper Falls State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 36 reviews.
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