Camping options near Ogema, Wisconsin include several national forest campgrounds and county parks within a 35-mile radius. Situated in the northwoods region at approximately 1,500 feet elevation, the area experiences warm summers with occasional heavy rainfall and cold winters with significant snowfall. Most campgrounds in this region remain open from May through October, with limited winter accommodations available at private rv parks Ogema, Wisconsin and surrounding communities.
What to do
Hiking trails: The Eastwood NF Campground offers direct access to the Ice Age Trail. "We stayed 3 nights at site number 9 in the midst of the pandemic. Our site had a wooded trail down to the flowage and onto the Mondeaux Esker Trail segment of the Ice Age Trail. The Mondeaux Esker segment was challenging (muddy) but fun," reports one camper.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple lakes and rivers provide excellent fishing within 30 minutes of Ogema. A visitor to Spearhead Point notes, "The fishing is great- lots of bluegill!! Will catch on almost every throw! Great for taking kids fishing. You get a pier at your campsite to tie your boat up at."
Water recreation: Swimming and boating are popular activities at several campgrounds. "The Thorneapple River is a sleepy, winding river. There are campsites right on the river. You can float or wade in it; it's shallow and refreshing," according to a visitor at Thornapple River Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Many campsites offer opportunities to observe local wildlife. Deer sightings are common at Moen Lake Campground, where one camper noted, "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."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds feature wooded separation between campsites. At Chippewa NF Campground, "Sites are spread out with woods between the sites. Flush toilets with token operated showers. Waterfront sites are usually full, but shallow boat ramp for trailers is close by."
Dark skies for stargazing: The limited light pollution makes for excellent night sky viewing. "Dark and quiet at night. Sites are well spread out, you barely notice there are other sites nearby," notes a camper at Eastwood NF Campground.
Clean facilities: Several parks maintain well-kept restrooms and shower facilities. A visitor to Chapman Park Campground shared, "The bathrooms were clean and well kept as were the grounds generally. If you wanted to have a large event like a family reunion here, there is plenty of space without having to worry about overcrowding."
Lake access: Waterfront sites are highly valued but book quickly. "We pulled in on a Sunday night and all but had the place to ourselves. Our site was on a small, beautiful lake and close to the bathrooms. We had a slight breeze and very few bugs," according to a Chapman Park Campground visitor.
What you should know
Water availability concerns: Water access can be limited at some locations. At Eastwood NF Campground, "One drawback was the water at the campground is shut off due to bad water tests. Plan ahead - there is a glacial spring within driving distance and other federal campgrounds that you might be able to get water from."
Seasonal pest issues: Tent worms and mosquitoes can be problematic during certain periods. A Chippewa NF Campground reviewer warned, "This memorial weekend was horrible! Tent worms had infested the campground! Dropping from the trees and landing on you and all your belongings!"
Campsite spacing varies: Site privacy differs significantly between campgrounds. At Council Grounds State Park Campground, "Sites are wooded and well spaced out, and there were a couple of trails that went from the campground to the beach, boat ramps, or in the opposite direction, just nice walking/hiking trails."
Limited services: Some campgrounds offer minimal amenities. A Moen Lake Campground visitor explained, "If you are looking for something with tons of amenities, look elsewhere. The basic amenities are here, picnic table, fire pit, bath house with showers within walking distance, electrical(30amp) and water hookups, but don't expect them to be 5 star quality."
Tips for camping with families
Beach access: Several parks offer swimming areas ideal for children. Council Grounds State Park has "a small beach area. Beautiful hiking trails, but watch out for the biting deer flies as the sun goes down! Three kids got attacked in one of the trails and had huge welts and lots of tears."
Kid-friendly fishing spots: Lakes with abundant panfish provide entertainment for young anglers. Chapman Park Campground offers "nice showers in a great park" and "good fishing," making it suitable for families with children.
Playground availability: Some parks include play equipment for children. Chapman Park features "a lighted park for kids to play at night and plenty of fishing," according to a recent visitor.
Group camping options: For family reunions or larger gatherings, Council Grounds State Park offers dedicated group sites. "For this particular trip, we reserved group sites A and B. They each have concrete pads for 3 campers and TONS of space to spread out and/or set up tents."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Most rv parks near Ogema, Wisconsin offer only partial hookups. At Moen Lake Campground, expect "electrical(30amp) and water hookups" with "no onsite sewer, but did have a dump station."
Site leveling: Campsite terrain varies across the region. At Eastwood NF Campground, "Our site was large though not real flat. We fit a car, suv and 17 ft boat."
Overnight options: For those traveling through the area, Chapman Park provides convenient accommodations. "We pulled in on Saturday over Labor Day weekend and the campground is only half full so this is a great spot for those folks just passing by. Guaranteed to have an opening."
RV size considerations: Some campgrounds can accommodate larger vehicles while others have restrictions. Chippewa NF Campground offers big-rig friendly sites where "we were only staying one night and didn't even need to unhook our pickup. The lake is very close with a trail to a beach and dock."
