The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App
Map showing campgrounds near Mercer, WisconsinExplore the Map

Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Mercer, WI

545 Reviews

Lake of the Falls County Park features multiple pet-friendly camping areas across three separate loops near Mercer. Sites in Area 2 accommodate tent camping with pets, while Areas 1 and 3 offer electric hookups suitable for RVs and pet owners. The Popular Side 3 area provides shower facilities and a dump station useful for longer stays with pets. Picnic tables and fire rings are standard at all pet-friendly sites. Sandy Beach Lake Campground in the Northern Highland State Forest also welcomes pets with spacious, private sites nestled among tall pines, some offering direct lake access where dogs can enjoy water activities. Most sites maintain good separation with natural vegetation providing privacy between camping neighbors. Sites near the water allow convenient launching of canoes or kayaks with pets aboard. The campground maintains clean vault toilets but no shower facilities.

Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area offers a unique pet camping experience with boat-in island campsites where dogs can explore shorelines and swim in the 12,942-acre lake. Dogs particularly enjoy the secluded nature of these rustic sites, though owners should bring drinking water and waste disposal supplies. Sites include fire rings and pit toilets, with some featuring picnic tables. The surrounding hiking trails provide excellent pet exercise opportunities. During summer months, be prepared for horseflies and mosquitoes that may bother pets, particularly in less breezy areas. Insect activity generally decreases near water or in open, windier sites. When camping with pets at Big Lake Campground, the nearby paved bicycle routes offer excellent walking opportunities, allowing dogs and owners to explore the dispersed local community without driving. The manicured grounds at Schomberg County Park include an ATV wash station that doubles nicely for rinsing muddy dogs after trail adventures.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Mercer, Wisconsin (99)

    1. Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area

    6 Reviews
    Mercer, WI
    9 miles
    Website

    "The Turtle-Flambeau Flowage is a 12,942 acre lake, located in Iron County, Wisconsin. It has a maximum depth of 50 feet. Great fishing as well."

    "Beautiful Up North Wisconsin! Over 300 islands, camp sites for groups, families and even a quiet area. Availability for gas, bait or a drink and meal."

    2. Sandy Beach Lake Campground — Northern Highland State Forest

    4 Reviews
    Mercer, WI
    6 miles
    Website

    "Me and the kids took a road trip from North Carolina to Wisconsin over the summer during Covid to get away."

    "Sites that are near the lake have more direct access. For the rest of us it’s a short hike through the woods or a quick drive to the beach."

    3. Lake of the Falls County Park

    4 Reviews
    Mercer, WI
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 561-2697

    "We explored the trail behind site 14 and walked along the waterfall. The bridge takes you to another camp section. We walked down the road to see a restaurant with lodging."

    "Boat landing very close by in another of the camping loops. Very close to waterfalls. Quiet. Lost a star because it’s very difficult to find, no signage along the road. Great body of water."

    4. Popular Side 3 - Lake of the Falls

    1 Review
    Mercer, WI
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 561-2697

    "You can literally camp right next to the falls! The sites are very big and have beautiful views of the river that leads to the Turtle Flambeau Flowage!"

    5. Emily Lake NF Campground

    5 Reviews
    Lac du Flambeau, WI
    14 miles
    Website

    $15 / night

    "Lake Emily is in Florence county. Very popular from opening to clean see of the season. Great lake and views. Boat ramp fishing grills. Many well forested campsites. Well maintained and clean."

    "Vault toilets are centrally located. In the middle of the week there were still empty sites to choose from. However from looking on Google it seems to be a popular spot so weekends may fill up."

    6. Big Lake Campground — Northern Highland State Forest

    3 Reviews
    Presque Isle, WI
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 385-2727

    "Big Lake Campground is a great spot if you’re looking for a simple and peaceful camping experience. The facilities are very basic—vault toilets and no showers—but they are clean and well-maintained."

    "This is a nice campground located in a nice place that isn’t too rustic. Lots of sites in this large campground too. The road in is paved and yet nicely wooded."

    7. Schomberg Park

    2 Reviews
    Ironwood, MI
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 561-2697

    "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. North a lot of the trails were closed."

    "There are trails starting right by camp. They even have an atv washing station - first I’ve seen. With no Verizon cell service, this is a nice night’s stopover for us."

    8. Musky Lake Campground — Northern Highland State Forest

    16 Reviews
    Sayner, WI
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 542-3923

    "The loons on the lake are the epitome of the north woods! I camp to enjoy wildlife, so this is a plus. Nice hiking trails nearby. Numerous bike paths as well."

    "Lakeside sites have their own path to the lake. Campers would leave their water “toys” ashore for use the next day. Loons singing; very peaceful."

    9. Twin Lakes NF Campground

    3 Reviews
    Lac du Flambeau, WI
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 762-2461

    $15 - $30 / night

    "love this woodsy spot in the Wisconsin north woods. Great little fishing lake too with stocked trout."

    "Some sites by the lake have good views but all are nice. Sites on the forest side had longer grass. A pump house is a source for fresh drinking water."

    10. Copper Falls State Park Campground

    35 Reviews
    Mellen, WI
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 274-5123

    $20 - $30 / night

    "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."

    "Wow, Copper Falls has quickly jumped to my number one state park experience in Wisconsin. I’ve lived in Wisconsin my whole life and did not expect such beauty in this northern part of the state."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 99 campgrounds

2026 Explorer Giveaway

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Mercer Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Mercer, WI

65 Photos of 99 Mercer Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Mercer, WI

545 Reviews of 99 Mercer Campgrounds

  • Jay W.
    Jul. 18, 2018

    Copper Falls State Park Campground

    Waterfalls, Sernity and Camping in the North Country

    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. 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!

  • LE E.
    May. 14, 2022

    Lake Gogebic State Park Campground

    Awesome state park

    Loved this camping trip. Great park. Super helpful and friendly staff/hosts. Clean bathrooms, pet friendly. Awesome location on Lake Gogebic shore. Close to Porcupine Mountains and Bond Falls and hiking trails. Would love to visit again.

  • Molly B.
    Jun. 28, 2024

    Pine Valley Lodge

    Great view, Cabins run down and Beach was a mess

    We have been coming here for a long time. It is under new management and we thought things would get better. While we were here other guests trashed the beach and had dogs running and using the bathroom throughout the campsite. The rules for dogs were to keep them on leashes and clean up after them. These rules were not being followed which caused the beach, in the past is lovely, but with the dogs using it as a bathroom the beach smelt like poop. Nobody in our week of staying cleaned up after them so we needed to go somewhere else to swim. If your place is pet friendly please make sure to keep up with your own rules. The cabins are run down but showers are hot and the utilities are still able to be used

  • D
    Feb. 11, 2019

    Union Bay Campground — Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

    Campsite #30

    Pet-friendly. Site was able to be reserved online for overnight tent camping - however, it was labeled a "day-use" or "group" area - not sure if this was a fluke or what. Beautiful site right on the shores of Lake Superior with amazing views. The campsite was really busy, the sites looked packed together offering little privacy. This site is tucked away in a corner so you only have one neighboring site. Flooding would be a concern if expecting rain.

  • Debra R.
    Jun. 29, 2020

    Terrace View Campsites

    Family & Pet Friendly

    Welcoming, clean and charming old fashioned camping & RV’ing. Nice paved road coming in. Friendly owner on site. Convenient dump station. Water and Electric. Swam in lake. Very family and pet friendly. Would go back!! Recycling avail.

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2021

    North Trout Lake Campground — Northern Highland State Forest

    Great lakeside sites (the others are nice too)

    This large campground stretches out along the lakeshore. Some sites have beautiful lake views(we suggest trying those first). There are also some double sites that would nestle you in closely with your neighbors- perfect for a larger group. A few walk in spots are available too. 

    The nature trail doesn’t allow pets which was sad. However the paved bike route is nearby and goes for miles. Town is a short bike ride away. This weekend was an organized ride so it was quite a busy path. A couple days later the town had a large garage sale-type fair. The cookies and jam were great! 

    This was a great discovery. We are adding this to our places to return to. 

    The lake is beautiful and has a nice picnic area with a place to launch your boat.

  • Jeanna Marie C.
    Mar. 11, 2021

    Sandy Beach Lake Campground — Northern Highland State Forest

    Best campsite.... hidden gem

    Me and the kids took a road trip from North Carolina to Wisconsin over the summer during Covid to get away. We stopped at several states and several campgrounds and this one to this day is still our favorite. Even though less amenities since there’s no showers... the site and scenery made that less important! The camp host was very nice and full of helpful information. The campsite was huge and private, also our site was on the lake with access to it. Perfect for pitching up your hammock and just enjoy the scenery and sounds of the lake. Mornings were beautiful with the pines mirrored on the lake and the crying Loons. I’d definitely make this trip again! It’s a great way to let nature just naturally reset your mind! It was sad when we had to leave. We also found a nice family market in Mercer which had everything we needed about 10-15 minutes away. Get the Cinnamon bread! We went up there every morning to get more😂🤣

  • Kari K.
    Nov. 8, 2019

    Union Bay Campground — Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

    Beautiful family campground

    Beautiful family campground on the North ashore of Lake Superior. It has RV, tent and back country sites as well as cabins and yurts for rent. Many amazing hiking trails and beautiful waterfalls to explore near by. Campground has large clean bathrooms and showers and a nice camp store. It is also pet friendly and has WiFi,  but no playground.  We stayed at site 82 which had a partial view of the lake and backed the tree line. It was a nice site. I gave this campground 4 out of 5 stars because some of the sites were a little too close together but overall a great campground and we will be back!

Guide to Mercer

Mercer, Wisconsin sits at 1,542 feet elevation within the Northern Highland region, where over 900 glacial lakes dot the landscape. Winter temperatures often drop below 0°F, while summer days typically reach the mid-70s with cool evenings, creating ideal camping conditions from May through September. Most campsites in this region offer drinking water access but limited electrical hookups.

What to do

Trail exploration: The Twin Lakes NF Campground connects to multiple hiking routes including the Round Lake trail where wildlife viewing is common. "I spent the day hiking the Round Lake trail and had it all to myself," notes a camper who also mentioned seeing "deer and fawn, rabbits and so many mallards."

Water recreation: Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area offers outstanding kayaking and canoeing opportunities across its 12,942-acre flowage. "There are several public boat launches for launching a canoe, kayak or fishing boat," reports one visitor who enjoyed "paddling over to an opposite strip of the flowage" where they found a secluded sandy beach.

Bicycle routes: Paved biking paths near Big Lake Campground create safe riding options for all ages. As one camper notes, "We loved the bicycle route that runs throughout the area. People were walking, running and biking - even one wheels were in play."

Waterfall viewing: Several small waterfalls dot the region, particularly near Lake of the Falls. A camper describes exploring "the trail behind site 14" where they "walked along the waterfall" and crossed a bridge connecting different camping sections.

What campers like

Island camping: Sandy Beach Lake Campground provides unusually large and private sites. "These sites are huge and if you can get one of the sites right on the lake, do it!" advises a visitor who observed "families staying here had kids swimming right off the campsite."

Lake views: Waterfront sites offer unmatched morning scenery. One camper at Sandy Beach Lake described "beautiful mornings with the pines mirrored on the lake and the crying Loons," noting the experience "naturally reset your mind."

Night sky viewing: Clear nights reward stargazers with minimal light pollution. A camper at Twin Lakes mentioned "loads of stars here!" while another praised Big Lake for having "big open sites" that are "great for star viewing."

Wildlife encounters: Morning and evening animal sightings are frequent. "We saw deer and fawn, rabbits and so many mallards in a couple hikes," reports a Twin Lakes visitor, while Turtle Flambeau campers often spot "Bald Eagles, Loons, deer, coyotes, and sounds of wolves."

What you should know

Insect activity: Horseflies and mosquitoes can be intense from June through August, particularly in windless areas. A Sandy Beach visitor warned, "Upon arrival the horseflies greeted us with curiosity," while another noted that "sites in the back are super private but they do have more flies because it is less breezy."

Navigational challenges: Some campgrounds lack clear signage. One camper noted Lake of the Falls County Park is "very difficult to find, no signage along the road," while another "drove down the road and had to turn around."

Water clarity: Drinking water sometimes contains natural tannins. At Emily Lake, a camper noted the hand pump well provides water that "although safe and tastes great, clarity is not its strong suit."

Cell service: Coverage varies dramatically across the region. A visitor reported "no Verizon cell service" at Schomberg Park, while another found "Mercer is only about 11 miles away" and "a treat to have 2 dots of Verizon service in camp."

Tips for camping with families

Beach swimming: Copper Falls State Park maintains a dedicated swimming area. "The swim beach is nice, just a short walk from the parking lot at the ranger station," notes a visitor who appreciated the "plenty of bathroom facilities" nearby.

Spacious sites: Several campgrounds accommodate larger family groups. According to a visitor, "Site 8 [at Twin Lakes] is a larger site that would be used for a double group," providing ample space for multiple tents.

Safety considerations: Waterfront supervision remains important. A camper mentioned that at Sandy Beach, "our site was on the lake with access to it," making it "perfect for pitching up your hammock" but requiring awareness of water proximity.

Local attractions: The town of Mercer (population 1,407) offers family-friendly options. A camper noted the town includes "a nice family market" about "10-15 minutes away" with memorable "cinnamon bread" that had them returning "every morning to get more."

Tips from RVers

Electric hookup locations: Popular Side 3 - Lake of the Falls accommodates power needs. According to visitors, "Side 3 had the showers and dump station" while another noted "be sure to take quarters for the showers."

Site selection: RV campers should check site specifications carefully. A Lake of the Falls visitor staying in Area 2 mentioned, "It says these are tent sites but we had our truck camper no problem," demonstrating some flexibility in site capabilities.

Water access: Most campgrounds provide fill stations rather than hookups. At Schomberg Park, a camper noted "sites have electric no water hookups at the site" but the "fill of station is across from site 1."

Limited RV services: On-site dump stations are uncommon. One visitor observed that Sandy Beach has "bathrooms here but no showers" and "dumpsters in the campground" but no sanitary dump facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Mercer, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Mercer, WI is Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area with a 4.7-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Mercer, WI?

TheDyrt.com has all 99 dog-friendly camping locations near Mercer, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring