Tent Camping near Neshkoro, WI

Tent camping near Neshkoro, Wisconsin offers access to the glacial geography of central Wisconsin, with campsites situated among rolling hills, kettle lakes, and pine forests. The area sits at approximately 820 feet above sea level and experiences significant seasonal temperature variations, with summer highs averaging 80°F and early fall temperatures dropping to 40-60°F. Sites typically feature sandy soil characteristic of the region's glacial deposits.

What to do

Hiking the East Bluff: Devil's Lake State Park Group Campground provides access to challenging trails with significant elevation changes. "Spent about 5 hours hiking the East Bluff, it was challenging for some of our younger hikers... Everyone was impressed by Devils Doorway. Would love to go back and hike the Western Bluff," shares Charles M., who visited with a Scout group in November.

Water activities: Camp Shin-Go-Beek offers a private beach with swimming opportunities. "Incredibly peaceful with a ton of beautiful birds singing throughout the day, relatively private, and a short walk to the private beach at the lake... Being able to swim and float in the lake is an added bonus," notes a camper who stayed at the Lower Bluff site.

Climbing: The rock formations at Devil's Lake provide natural climbing opportunities for various skill levels. "We took the East Bluff trail to do some rock climbing with the kids," mentions Jon D., who found the area "budget and family friendly" during a weekday visit that helped avoid crowds.

What campers like

Natural isolation: Camp Wilderness offers secluded tent sites surrounded by nature. "The camp is primarily used for a program similar to Boy Scouts called Royal Rangers. There's primarily tent sites with trails, a lake, an obstacle course and more right nearby," explains David K., who values the location for teaching outdoor skills.

Wildlife encounters: The wooded settings provide opportunities for wildlife observation. "The birds near the group camp are cool, but can also sound like a large pack of dinosaurs squawking at each other...very loud," Jon D. notes about his Devil's Lake camping experience, highlighting the unexpected animal encounters.

Water access: Several campsites provide direct or nearby water access. At Devil's Lake, "The south shore beach was best," according to Jon D., though Dawn D. cautions that "the beaches have hard pebbles and rocks," a detail worth noting for swimmers.

What you should know

Bathroom facilities vary: Devils Lake State Park Group Campground offers different levels of facilities. "The group sites are well spaced out from each other and offer pit toilets and full bathroom facilities with sinks, toilets and showers within walking distance from all sites. You can even drive to the bathrooms as there is a small parking area next to them," reports Sarah F.

Site conditions: Expect varied ground surfaces depending on the campground. At Devils Lake, "The sites are heavily wooded which protects from rain but also means they are dirt with a ton of leaves," Sarah F. explains, describing the trade-off between weather protection and ground comfort.

Weekend crowding: Popular sites fill quickly during peak times. "Weekends are pack with campers," Dawn D. warns about Devils Lake, while Jon D. suggests "We went during the week and it kept the crowds to a minimum," showing how timing affects the experience.

Tips for camping with families

Activity-focused sites: Wild Goose City Park provides amenities specifically for children. "It's a good place to stop and have a break. There's a playground and public bathroom, drinking fountain. Plenty of space to spread out for a picnic when you're biking through," notes Kim L., highlighting its suitability for families.

Skill development: Some campgrounds specifically cater to youth development. Camp Wilderness is "a good place to initiate your kids with the outdoors and teach them fun skills," according to David K., who looks "forward to the day when my kids are old enough to fully engage."

Group site advantages: For multiple families, group sites offer value. At Devils Lake, Jon D. explains they "Reserved the group camp for three families, cost was $40 a night for a secluded, spacious, clean group site," providing both economic and privacy benefits.

Tips from RVers

Off-season opportunities: Tent camping near Neshkoro in shoulder seasons offers unique advantages. At Devils Lake, Charles M. reports camping "in mid November 2021. It was in the 30s at night but got up to the high 40s during the day, great camping weather!" This demonstrates the viability of off-season tent camping with proper preparation.

Dutch oven cooking: Several campgrounds permit fires, enabling advanced cooking. "Camp life was awesome, we ate very well since we brought two Dutch ovens. We ate Cowboy Casserole, Mountain Man breakfast, peach cobbler, 7 can soup, hobo dinner and apple sausage casserole," Charles M. shares about their Devil's Lake experience.

Cell service considerations: For those needing connectivity, Plover River Retreat offers more remote experiences, while Kay K. notes that Devil's Lake provides "decent cell reception" along with "adequate size site with a tent pad, shade and privacy. Trees for a hammock."