Dispersed camping options near North Freedom, Wisconsin are limited, with most campers choosing established campgrounds in the surrounding area. North Freedom sits within the Driftless Area, characterized by its unglaciated terrain featuring steep bluffs, sandstone outcroppings, and forested hills. This unique topography creates challenging camping conditions requiring careful site selection, with elevations ranging from 800-1200 feet above sea level.
What to do
Hiking challenge trails: Several trails at Devils Lake State Park offer strenuous hiking options with significant elevation changes. "There are numerous trails to hike in to the bluffs. There are stores at both lake shores and they both sell food," notes one visitor who appreciated the variety of amenities available after hiking.
Paddling Mirror Lake: The calm waters at Mirror Lake State Park create ideal conditions for novice kayakers and canoeists. A camper mentioned, "The lake is great for kayaking. Lots of sandstone cliffs," making it particularly scenic for water activities without the crowds of larger lakes.
Winter activities: During colder months, many campgrounds near North Freedom reduce services but remain partially accessible. The Ice Age Trail sections through the region provide excellent winter hiking and snowshoeing opportunities when properly equipped. "The Ice Age trail passes right through this camp loop. We followed it out and back after setting up camp," shared a visitor who appreciated the trail's proximity.
What campers like
Fishing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds offer fishing access, with Sandstone Ridge Campground providing both shore and boat fishing options. "Plenty of hiking trails and geocaches! Campsites aren't very close together but it depends which campground you stay. I love being in the wooded areas," noted a visitor who found multiple activities to enjoy during their stay.
Early morning hiking: Experienced campers recommend starting hikes before 9am, particularly on summer weekends when trails become crowded. "We headed out early on Monday and did an 8 mile loop right from our campsite. We saw beautiful overlooks and only encountered 1 person on the trail," reported a visitor who found solitude by adjusting their schedule.
Non-motorized lakes: Many campers specifically choose Mirror Lake State Park for its restriction on motorized boats. "The lake is nice and cold lots of kayaking and canoeing. You can launch at the boat ramp," explained one camper who appreciated the peaceful water experience without motorboat noise.
What you should know
Reservation challenges: During peak summer months (June-August), campsites at Devils Lake fill 6-11 months in advance, especially for weekend dates. "You need to book the 11 months in advance, especially for holiday weekends. This park does get very busy with outside visitors on the weekends as well," warned one frequent visitor.
Highway noise concerns: Several campgrounds in the region, particularly at Wisconsin Dells KOA, experience traffic noise from nearby highways. "Small clean park. Super tight sites. Nice little pool and splash pad. Camp store and polite staff. They actually vacuum out the fire pits after each camper. Nearly no privacy, but you're probably net here for the nature," noted one visitor who found both positives and negatives.
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons are particularly active at campgrounds in this region. "The raccoons were brutal. They broke into our crates twice. Smart enough to figure out the clip mechanism," warned one camper who experienced wildlife challenges firsthand.
Tips for camping with families
Themed weekends: Skillet Creek Campground offers structured activities for children throughout summer. A visitor mentioned, "This campground is nestled in 70 acres surrounded by the Baraboo, Wisconsin hills" and has "themed weekends, glow parades, Saturday activities for kids, and movie nights."
Tent site selection: Choose sites away from main roads within campground loops for greater safety with young children. At Devils Lake, sites in the 400 range of Ice Age Campground typically offer more buffer space. "The sites had plenty of trees for shade, but were close together. Our site was right across the road from the restrooms on one side, and the water pump on the other side, which meant lots of foot traffic in our area," noted a camper who found the location convenient but busy.
Weather preparedness: Rapid weather changes are common in this region, requiring families to pack additional layers even in summer. "It did storm hard while we were there and the shore store had everyone in the store for the storm. The storm came in really fast too," shared one visitor who experienced the area's changeable weather patterns.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds near North Freedom have uneven terrain requiring multiple leveling blocks. "Our site was very unlevel side to side. It took two 2x6 and a 1x6 under the camp side to be level. That made the first step into the coach, and last step out of the coach extremely high off the ground," reported one RVer who encountered setup difficulties.
Water hookup variations: RVers should note that some campgrounds require filling fresh water tanks upon arrival rather than offering continuous hookups at each site. "We had electric, picnic table, (you have to fill your camper with water after you enter there's many hoses) we had a fire pit and a private trail behind the campsite that leads to a view of the lake," shared a camper describing the setup process.
Campground navigation: Many campgrounds in the region have narrow, one-way roads that can be challenging for larger rigs. "The roads are wide enough, but very narrow. We are a 33.6 ft rig so navigating around parked cars was a challenge as people had their vehicles right to the road," noted one RVer who found a helpful workaround.
