Best Dispersed Camping near Oconto Falls, WI

Several dispersed camping options exist in the forests north and east of Oconto Falls, Wisconsin. Mountain Lakes Road Dispersed and Oconto River sites offer primitive camping along forest roads with varying access conditions. Most sites feature fire rings and some have picnic tables, but amenities are minimal. The McCaslin Brook Dispersed site includes three camping spots along a brook with toilet facilities for a $5 nightly fee paid at Wheeler Walker Beach.

Access to these sites can be challenging, particularly after rain. Several reviews note rough road conditions, with one camper stating "4x4 recommended. 2wd truck couldn't make it easily" regarding the Oconto River site. The Mountain Lakes Road area provides better access for ATVs and toy haulers. Many sites are positioned near water, with McCaslin Brook featuring "three sites each with a table, fire pit, a toilet pit and right off the brooke." While most dispersed camping in national forests typically follows a 14-day limit, specific areas may have different restrictions.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Oconto Falls, Wisconsin (8)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Oconto Falls, WI

2 Photos of 8 Oconto Falls Campgrounds


Dispersed Camping Reviews near Oconto Falls, WI

10 Reviews of 8 Oconto Falls Campgrounds


  • hesselinkj@yahoo.com
    Aug. 22, 2024

    McCaslin Brook Dispersed site

    Nice sites along brook

    There are three sites two small one large site which you can fit larger camper or RV in. Entrances need a lot of TLC washed out and large drop from paved road. Middle camp site has best access to brook I put a 8 foot pop up in it you could go bigger 20 foot max. One site I would say is tent only very tight. Wilderness toilet but they look pretty full.

  • Robyn B.
    Jun. 14, 2025

    McCaslin Brook Dispersed site

    Hidden little gem by the brooke

    There are 3 sites each with a table, fire pit, a toilet pit and right off the brooke. The cost is $5 a night to be paid at Wheeler Walker Beach. The first site, east side, is a pull in right off the road with the pit and table a few steps down from the parking pad. The second site is a pull through facing west right off the road. The easements were a little washed out. The third site is a deep, large site away from the road facing west, with a bad easement. There was some occasional traffic on the main road and a quite a few UTVs.

    No one else was here so we chose the third site away from the road. The only con we found to this site was the easement was really washed out and we bottomed our minivan coming in but were able to leave going out on the far right edge. The site is so spacious and could easily be for a large group.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2025

    McCaslin Brook Dispersed site

    Shady, Creek-Side, $5 Fee

    There are three pull-in areas, with picnic tables and fire rings just off the road. Two *may* be large enough to handle more than 1 small rig/tent/popup. They are shaded and right by the creek, which gurgled along happily (and had some bugs in mid-August, but that was to be expected).

    We ultimately decided not to stay here simply because it was so shaded. While that made it nice and cool, it made solar & Starlink impossible. 

    There was no AT&T to speak of, but TMobile had 20 down/1 up.

  • hesselinkj@yahoo.com
    Aug. 14, 2024

    Mountain Lakes Rd Dispersed

    Rustic camping

    Small pull off little ways off 64 on mountain lakes Rd. Pick nik table and fire ring. Big site for ATV campers right off trail can probably get toy hauler in here easy.

  • Zachary S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 11, 2023

    Oconto River off Mountain Lake Road

    Quaint and quiet. (Two campsites, dispersed from each other)

    Loved this spot. Stayed two nights, and the first night was almost absolutely silent other than the waterfall (difficult to access) about a mile away. The campsite is right along a deep, and steadily moving stream. Water is very cold, and flows from an aquifer upstream.

    There is an outdoor toilet, and I've attempted to point it out in the pictures.

    The entrance was doable for my sedan, but was tricky. I believe a camper could make it going slowly. The second campsite entrance may have an easier time in.

    Do not follow road past campsites, either way unless your vehicle is lifted my sedan would have gotten stuck if I tried.

    Both campsites are accessed from the main road and have a brown "campsite" sign.

    AT&T: No Service.

  • C
    Mar. 22, 2024

    McCaslin Brook Dispersed site

    Easy access near town

    The McCauslin Brook runs through Townsend and Lakewood. There are a total of 3 sites in this location and all are on the Brook.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 19, 2024

    Oconto River off Mountain Lake Road

    Very cool spot

    Very cool spot right on the river. In ground fire pit. Decent amount of off-road vehicle traffic. No service :)

  • hesselinkj@yahoo.com
    Aug. 14, 2024

    Oconto River off Mountain Lake Road

    River off mountain lakes Rd

    Small site little rough to get into a lot of trash left. Short path to river this is a two site spot good distance between them.


Guide to Oconto Falls

Dispersed camping options surround Oconto Falls, Wisconsin within the Nicolet National Forest. This area features hilly terrain with elevations ranging from 700-1200 feet and numerous water features including rivers, brooks, and small lakes. Camping sites typically have variable cell coverage, with many locations reporting limited or no service.

What to do

Water activities: Access points along streams provide opportunities for fishing and swimming. At Oconto River - South Branch, two well-spaced campsites near a maintained vault toilet offer convenient water access. One camper notes, "There are 2 campsites at this trailhead, pretty well spaced apart."

ATV trail exploration: The extensive trail system connects multiple camping areas, making it ideal for off-road enthusiasts. The Mountain Lakes Rd Dispersed area provides "Big site for ATV campers right off trail can probably get toy hauler in here easy."

Stargazing: Limited light pollution creates excellent night sky viewing opportunities. One camper at Sturgeon Bay Canal shared, "Overall really nice, the stars were beautiful. Built a small fire and toasted marshmallows!"

What campers like

Creek-side camping: Many sites feature direct water access, with McCaslin Brook Dispersed site offering "three sites each with a table, fire pit, a toilet pit and right off the brooke." Another camper described it as "shaded and right by the creek, which gurgled along happily."

Affordability: Most sites require minimal or no fees. McCaslin Brook costs "$5 a night to be paid at Wheeler Walker Beach," while other locations are completely free.

Privacy between sites: Despite being primitive, many areas offer good separation between campsites. At Oconto River off Mountain Lake Road, one camper described "two sites, dispersed from each other" and noted it was "quaint and quiet."

What you should know

Road conditions vary seasonally: Access roads can become challenging, especially after rainfall. At Oconto River sites, campers report entrance issues: "Small site little rough to get into a lot of trash left. Short path to river this is a two site spot good distance between them."

Vehicle requirements: Standard passenger cars may struggle on forest roads. One McCaslin Brook camper warned, "The only con we found to this site was the easement was really washed out and we bottomed our minivan coming in but were able to leave going out on the far right edge."

Site sizes and configurations: Pioneer Park offers "easy access and large site" but campers note it can be "buggy and noisy" due to highway proximity. McCaslin Brook has three distinct sites with "two small one large site which you can fit larger camper or RV in."

Limited amenities: Most sites offer fire rings but little else. One McCaslin Brook reviewer mentioned "wilderness toilet but they look pretty full." Pack out all trash and bring necessary supplies.

Tips for camping with families

Best family sites: Locations with toilet facilities and tables work better for family groups. One camper described McCaslin Brook's third site as "so spacious and could easily be for a large group."

Bug preparedness: Insects can be prevalent, especially near water. A Pioneer Park camper warned, "the area is covered in mosquitos." Another camper at Sturgeon Bay Canal mentioned, "the longer grass near the gravel lot had a lot of ticks but would still be camp-able."

Safety considerations: While generally safe, appropriate precautions should be taken. At Sturgeon Bay Canal, campers reported feeling secure: "We're both young females so as far as safety for us it was good!"

Tips from RVers

Size limitations: Most dispersed sites accommodate smaller RVs only. At McCaslin Brook, a camper noted, "Middle camp site has best access to brook I put a 8 foot pop up in it you could go bigger 20 foot max."

Turn radius considerations: Forest roads often lack adequate turn-around space for larger rigs. One Sturgeon Bay Canal camper noted it has a "good gravel road, easy turn around" making it more accessible than other dispersed sites.

Leveling challenges: Many forest sites feature uneven terrain. One Oconto River camper described their experience: "Loved this spot. Stayed two nights" but warned "do not follow road past campsites, either way unless your vehicle is lifted."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Oconto Falls, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Oconto Falls, WI is pioneer park with a 2-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Oconto Falls, WI?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 dispersed camping locations near Oconto Falls, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.