Best Tent Camping near Merrill, WI

Tent campers visiting the Merrill, Wisconsin area can choose from several rustic sites nestled within the surrounding national forests. Camp New Wood County Park offers seven tent sites along the Ice Age Trail, while Ada Lake Recreation Area provides lakeside tent camping with more amenities within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Both locations serve as gateways to Wisconsin's northern woodlands, with sites that accommodate traditional tent setups.

Most tent campgrounds feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Camp New Wood County Park provides large fire rings and picnic tables, but campers must bring their own water or trek through the woods to access the water source. Pit toilets are available but not well-maintained, so bringing a flashlight for nighttime visits is advisable. Ada Lake's tent sites are set on dirt and gravel surfaces with adequate spacing between campsites. The lake access is convenient with no steep climbs required. During peak summer weekends, first-come, first-served sites may fill quickly, especially at the smaller campgrounds like Camp New Wood with only seven sites.

The tent camping experience in the Merrill region features quiet, wooded settings with natural attractions. Lake Eleven Campsite in the Chequamegon National Forest offers backcountry tent sites with soft pine needle floors ideal for tent setup and hammock camping. Ada Lake permits only electric trolling motors, creating a peaceful atmosphere for tent campers. One visitor 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." Sites at North Twin Lake Recreation Area offer excellent fishing in a no-wake lake environment perfect for canoes. Many locations provide good tree coverage for shade and privacy, with numerous opportunities to observe wildlife including deer that occasionally wander through campsites.

Best Tent Sites Near Merrill, Wisconsin (13)

    1. Camp New Wood County Park

    2 Reviews
    Irma, WI
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 539-1034

    "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 park includes the scenic Wisconsin River Segment of the Ice Age Trail. There is only pit toilets here, no showers. There is only 7 sites."

    2. Picnic Point Campground

    2 Reviews
    Westboro, WI
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 748-4875

    $75 / night

    "Tent only, reservable group site at Mondeaux recreation area. Boat landing, Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Part of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest."

    "Very nice lake, nice and private."

    3. North Twin Lake Recreation Area

    1 Review
    Westboro, WI
    37 miles
    Website

    "I grew up on this lake from the early 90s to about 2012. The campground was always very peaceful and all the campsites on the lake had plenty of space for multiple tents or campers."

    4. Moen Lake Campground & RV Park

    1 Review
    Rhinelander, WI
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (262) 893-2540

    "If you want a quiet, secluded campground where you can just sit back and enjoy being out in the woods(we had deer walk through the back of our campsite at night), then you will enjoy this campground."

    5. Ada Lake Recreation Area

    4 Reviews
    Wabeno, WI
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 276-6333

    "One was a multi-layer setup while others were more hidden as they moved further away from the lake. The picnic tables look very new and the vault toilets are well kept."

    "We arrived mid-week and had no problem getting a lakeside campsite. The sites are low compared to the water level, so it was an easy walk from our campsite to the water (no stairs to climb)."

    6. High Lake County Park

    Be the first to review!
    Deerbrook, WI
    30 miles
    +1 (715) 623-6214

    7. Northside Lake Eleven Campsite

    1 Review
    Lublin, WI
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 227-0046

    "Campground Review:

    Lake Eleven campsite is a back country site located within the Chequamegon National Forest in Taylor County, Wisconsin."

    8. Ada Lake NF Campground

    2 Reviews
    Wabeno, WI
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 276-3594

    "A nice little beach, quiet well spaced sites, and nearby snowmobile/hiking trails. The lake it small with a few lake cabins across the lake."

    "Trolling motors only on this lake. Good fishing and quite. Dirty and grave sites with no concrete pads. Great place to spend a week or two!"

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 13 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Tent Camping Reviews near Merrill, WI

170 Reviews of 13 Merrill Campgrounds


  • Michael M.
    Oct. 3, 2017

    Dells of the Eau Claire Park Campground

    Nice views fishing not so great

    This campground is right on the Ice Age Trail and a nice place to stop off during an extended hike.

    There are not that many sites available here and most do supply electricity. More people tent camp here rather than RV camping. There are pit toilets but no shower house although there are water spigots for drinking water. The sites are closer together than some campgrounds but it's not like a city block of camps like some KOA's I have camped at. The night time temperatures dipped in the low 30's in the middle of May when I was there. The campground attendants were on site twice a day to sell firewood and collect camping fees. The DNR rangers do patrol the campgrounds on a regular basis. There is places all along the river to fish and I was told the fishing is good, however I did not have very much luck when I was there. The campground firepits with cooking grates were OK and the wooden picnic tables are worn, but there is level ground for pitching tents.

    The scenery and hiking along the river and on the Ice Age Trail is great. If you had better luck fishing than I did this would have been a great camping weekend. Bring warm cloths and a great sleeping bag.

  • P
    Oct. 26, 2019

    Jordan Park

    Beautiful site on the water.

    Quiet little campground, I was in one of the three canoe/ walk in sights and they were right on the water. All three sights were separated from the rest of camp and are tent sites. All have a picnic table, grill, and fire ring and are big enough for 2-3 tents depending on the size of the tents. Set back from a county hwy and state hwy, however not too much traffic and the traffic that does exist was not very disruptive. 2 night minimum, 14 night maximum reservation.

  • C
    Jun. 10, 2018

    Indian Mounds — Northern Highland State Forest

    Simplistic, secluded, and great for kids

    Nestled on Lake Tomahawk, this small campground is comprised of drive-in and walk-in sites. Walk-in sites being tent camp only, which is the option we took. There is a small beach on site, and a number of lake front sites to choose from. Oh, can't forget.. The sun sets over the lake! Paved roads made it easy for my children to navigate the grounds on their scooters. There are electric and non electric sites, a water pump, but no showers. Your park pass will give you access to Clear Lake campground (couple miles down the road), which does has showers, another beach, and also firewood sales. We meant to take the boat on multiple lakes, but the fishing on Lake Tomahawk was spectacular! Hiking the trails near our site, you really get a sense of being in the northwoods. We could hear the birds, frogs, found salamanders, seen an otter, musk rat, loons, and more.

    The nearest town is Lake Tomahawk, where you can fuel up, get bait, or grab a bite to eat(maybe an ice cream cone for the kids).

    As I said in the description, the grounds are simple. However, we booked three nights but felt the need at the end of our trip to book another. We'll be coming back. Safe travels.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • Amber G.
    Jul. 17, 2022

    Marathon Park Campround

    Convenient - But not truly Outdoorsy

    The campground is part of a larger park. There are multiple playgrounds, tennis courts, splash pads and even an amphitheater and ice rinks within the park.

    There is a lot of traffic during the day from park visitors. The evening is mostly quiet, but with traffic noise from the outside of the park streets and occasional loud vehicles that can be disruptive. Morning was largely quiet as well.

    The campsites themselves are small — if you have a camper there’s not much room outside. Even the tent spaces are small.

    There are no open fires allowed - which didn’t bother us given it was just an overnight stop. You can use grills etc though.

    Being a city park it is quite well lit - which has its pros and cons. The back left corner where the nonelectric tent sites are seems to be one of the less bright areas. We slept fine with the rain cover off.

    There is a 2 day minimum for online reservations. That’s not required for walk up self registration so you can do one day as a walk up. Self registration has a 3 day maximum.

    There is a bathroom/shower for the campers. As a walk up registrant you will have to contact the phone number on the board to get the code. Not sure if online registrations get it in the email. There are other bathrooms (no showers) that are not locked that are a further walk into the park though.

    Overall it was a nice place to stay over spending $100+ for a hotel room on a quick overnight on our way further north.

  • Steph H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 1, 2017

    Sailor Creek Campsite

    Ranger Review: Ledlenser MH2 Headlamp and MT10 Flashlight at Sailor Creek Campsite, Ice age Trail, Chequamegon National Forest, WI

    Campground Review:

    Sailor Creek campsite is a backcountry site located within the Chequamegon National Forest in Taylor County, Wisconsin. It is the 15.2 mile Jerry Lake Segment; part of the 1200 mile long Ice Age Trail. A 2.5 hr drive from the Twin Cities it is an excellent diverse section of trail with many geologic wonders formed by continental glaciation, with the most recent effects formed at the end of the Wisconsin Glaciation, a period ending about 10,000 years ago. In the Jerry Lake Segment you cross over the mile-long Hemlock Esker. An Esker is basically an inverted river. Look it up, it’s fascinating. It also provides incredible views as you’re about 80 feet up.

    Continuing our backpacking trip from the Lake Eleven campsite, we hiked about 8 miles from our previous site to Sailor Creek. It is located in a grove of hemlocks about 150 feet away from your water source, Sailor Creek. It’s marked by a large blue gray boulder that looks exactly like Jeff Dunhams, Walter, and some very open ground. The trees are lovely but 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. 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. It’s literally right along the campsite so even though we never saw anyone, if you happen to camp during a busy time you will not have any privacy from those walking the trails.  The fire pit is very nice and there are plenty of dead downed trees to start a fire. The pit is surrounded by logs to sit on and oddly enough some of the “bridge” of Sailor Creek. We’re not sure if someone broke the boardwalk or they’ve repaired it and those were left over pieces. They made for nice tables though.

    Product Review:

    As a Ranger Reviewer for The Dyrt, I am honored occasionally to test and evaluate products. During this trip I tested out two LEDLENSER products, the MH2 Headlamp and the MT10 Flashlight. https://www.ledlenserusa.com

    First up the MH2. This sturdy, well built, headlamp is great for tasks around camp. It is not incredibly bright at 100 lumens but it’s a no frills get the job done light. You can twist the front to go from soft 15 lumen light to the more direct spot of the 100 lumens. It’s lightweight at a little over 6 oz and has an excellent price point, for its qualities, of $25. It provided plenty of light for walking around camp, gathering firewood and setting up the tent. It requires 3 AAA batteries which were pleasantly included in the box along with instructions and a 7 year warranty.

    The MT10 flashlight is in a word, intense. If the packaging doesn’t convince you (a chainsaw would have been useful) then the 1000 lumens of light might. It is incredibly well built and while just under 6 oz feels a lot denser. It’s a convenient, compact size at a little over 5 inches long and comes with a handy sheath that clips to your pants, shirt, backpack, etc. Like the headlamp you can go from a soft 10 lumens of light to the powerful direct 1000 lumens. As a women I considered the fact that this 1000 lumens light would blind a would be attacker in a heartbeat. The light comes with a rechargeable battery via usb cord and is advertised as providing 6 to 144 hours of light depending on your lumen intensity. I enjoyed using this light for a middle of the night bathroom run as I could see everything within a 500+ foot radius. No shining eyes were sneaking up on me. I would completely trust this light for late night trail jaunts. The pictures below looking up into the 100 foot tall pine trees give you just a peak at the power of this flashlight. This light comes in at a steeper price point of $80 but given its capacity I think it’s more than worth it if you need sunlight in the darkness.

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 10, 2018

    Ada Lake Recreation Area

    A picturesque forest oasis: campground and Snapbuds review

    The Chequamegon-Nicolet forest roams throughout middle Wisconsin. A variety of national forest campgrounds are found. Choosing Ada Lake would be a great move. Only 3 other campers stayed the night. A local family drove in to spend the day at the Ada Lake beach. My neighbors brought kayaks and their puppy joined them on the water. Birds chirping and minimal mosquitoes were also part of making this a beautiful stay.

    Campground review:

    To get here, you must negotiate a few miles of gravel and dirt road but others brought their larger rv’s. The site we choose is right on the water. A few trees added to the scenic view of Ada. Sites vary quite a bit. One was a multi-layer setup while others were more hidden as they moved further away from the lake. The picnic tables look very new and the vault toilets are well kept. We had room to set up the teardrop camper and the screen room with plenty of space left to roam around in. Once the night settled in it became very dark. I’m glad we sought out the toilet before having to find it by flashlight.

    Insider tip: There is a atv trail right at the entrance. This trail connects to others and gave us some nearby hiking options. I didn’t find these on the maps that I had so it was a good bonus! There is a boat ramp a bit further on if yours is too big to carry (ie a kayak or canoe).

    We planned to only stay for the night but our neighbor convinced us to give it a longer look. We’re glad we spent the extra day here. Driving over to the Cathedral of the Pines and hearing the nesting herons was a highlight. This will be on my list of places to come back to.

    Product review:

    As a Dyrt Ranger, sometimes I get products to review. This time I was sent some Snapbuds to try out. Their tempting claim is to solve the tangled mess of headphone wires that happen in your pocket or bag.

    The packaging was straightforward. I loved how the plastic also held the different pieces in place - a promising start to keeping things organized! Next I noticed the color choices - white, gray or black. These should fit with a variety of headphones. The rubber bands holding the upper and lower pieces together were labeled and I found myself checking them to be sure I was using the right parts.

    “Snapbuds will permanently attach to your headphones!” This warning was in several places. It also means that they don’t move around on your cord. The directions unfold to the length of standard headphones. They have 2 styles laid out and offer more on their website. I choose the wrap around style that fits wrapped around my phone or hand. The directions label where to put each magnet but I didn’t follow those locations.

    My phone and case must be larger than the one their design calls for. This was easily accounted for by measuring how many inches it was around my phone - 7 if you are interested. This helped me locate the first lower magnet. Once that was attached (it’s a really easy snap on design) I just wrapped the cord around the phone to get the next location. As with to the upper magnets when I got to the single strands going to each ear and it was installed. Snapbuds are a snap to attach :)

    Trying them out:

    I carried them wrapped around my phone in my pocket as we hiked. Even using the phone for a map or to take photos was not a problem. The cords stayed snapped together. When listening to music, I found the magnets can snap together to take up extra cord. This was handy since my dog’s leash is a challenge. Normally I have to put the cord inside my shirt to avoid the leash or my hands.

    I wrapped the cords around my hand and the magnets snapped together nicely. The anchor has a spot to tie in your earbuds to the headphone jack. This whole thing I put in my pocket. I wanted to see if they would stay untangled this way. After hiking and driving I pulled them out. This time a couple of upper magnets came undone. When I tried to unravel the headphones there were a few snags. Even with some tangle, this was still better than the pile I started with. Looking closer at my installation led me to discover that the upper magnets try to snap together opposite of the lower ones. I must have put the magnets facing the opposite direction. Something you should pay attention to when you put yours on.

    I paid more attention to how I put the bundle in my pocket and this time the Snapbuds stayed connected throughout our hike. Carefully placing them in your pocket will pay off in the end.

    Pros:

    Lightweight, magnets adhere together quickly, straightforward installation, great packaging, Snapbuds stay in place on the cords, anchor holds headphones to jack once attached

    Cons:

    Magnets caused a tangle on one hike but not on a second, use your own phone as a guide in addition to the one provided, anchor is difficult to attach both headphones to (this might be user error but it takes me awhile)

    Overall:

    The Snapbuds do a great job at keeping things better situated. I give them a thumbs up and say you should check them out. They may even give me more options as I continue to use them on our adventures. 5/5 on Snapbuds doing what they are designed to do. 4/5 for usefulness in my gear set up. This may rise with more use.

    Check them out at www.snapbuds.us

  • J
    Jun. 16, 2025

    Great Northern Campground

    Mostly Nice, but Weird Fee Structure

    Roads leading to camp sites are narrow and can be muddy in the rain. The site we had was extremely unlevel and had a low spot that filled up with water/mud in the rain. You only can use the dump station once at check out or you can pay a fee, but none of the sites have sewer. Also, there is a per minute fee for their two showers, but no worries it is Luke warm water at best. The pond was nice, but on the small side.


Guide to Merrill

Tent campsites near Merrill, Wisconsin provide access to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest's dense pine stands and glacial features. Located in Lincoln County at around 1,300 feet elevation, the area sits at the edge of Wisconsin's Northern Highland region where continental glaciation shaped the landscape approximately 10,000 years ago. Temperatures can drop below freezing even in late spring and early fall, requiring campers to pack layers.

What to do

Hiking on glacial features: The Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs through several camping areas, including sections with unique glacial formations. At Northside Lake Eleven Campsite, campers can explore "many geologic wonders formed by continental glaciation, with the most recent effects formed at the end of the Wisconsin Glaciation, a period ending about 10,000 years ago."

Fishing in no-wake lakes: North Twin Lake Recreation Area offers excellent fishing opportunities in a controlled environment. According to Aaron D., "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."

Swimming at nearby spots: While not all campgrounds have swimming areas, nearby locations offer options. Aaron D. notes, "Mondeux dam isnt far away which serves food and is a nice swimming hole," making it a convenient day trip from North Twin Lake Recreation Area.

Paddling peaceful waters: Ada Lake NF Campground restricts motorized boats, creating ideal conditions for paddling. Andy K. confirms, "Trolling motors only on this lake. Good fishing and quite."

What campers like

Pine needle camping surfaces: The forest floor at several Merrill-area tent sites provides natural comfort. At Northside Lake Eleven Campsite, one reviewer noted the site is "situated under a grove of pines so we had adequate protection from the sleet storm that was coming as well as a soft pad of needles for all 5 of our tents."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Deer sightings are common at campgrounds throughout the region. Luis from Moen Lake Campground & RV Park shares, "If you want a quiet, secluded campground where you can just sit back and enjoy being out in the woods(we had deer walk through the back of our campsite at night), then you will enjoy this campground."

Lakeside accessibility: Several campgrounds offer direct water access without difficult terrain. Jen E. appreciated Ada Lake's topography: "The sites are low compared to the water level, so it was an easy walk from our campsite to the water (no stairs to climb)."

Privacy between sites: Most campgrounds in the Merrill area provide adequate space between campers. According to Jen E., "The sites are relatively spread out" at Ada Lake Recreation Area, while Cynthia B. describes the same location as having "quiet well spaced sites."

What you should know

Water source challenges: At several campgrounds, water access requires planning. Kendra N. notes about 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."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Merrill, WI is Camp New Wood County Park with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

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