Campsites near Pearson, Wisconsin offer visitors access to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, which covers over 1.5 million acres in northeastern Wisconsin. The region features a northern hardwood forest ecosystem with abundant wildlife like white-tailed deer, black bears, and loons. Most camping facilities in the area operate from May through October, with water systems typically shut down after the first freeze in fall.
What to do
Canoe on electric-motor-only lakes: Ada Lake Recreation Area provides a peaceful paddling experience on a lake that only permits electric motors. As one visitor noted, "The lake is electric motors only so it is usually a quiet setting. Away from town for a nice relaxing time."
Explore nearby hiking trails: Boot Lake Campground offers access to multiple trails. "There is a trail that goes along the lakeshore and if you follow it going clockwise, you'll find a rope swing for jumping in to the lake," according to one camper who visited in July 2020.
Play disc golf: Langlade County Veterans Memorial Park features a disc golf course on site. "Nice campground with a nice beach area and fantastic disc golf course!" mentions one reviewer who gave the park a 5-star rating.
Attend local events: The area hosts seasonal activities like off-road racing in Crandon. "I stayed here Labor Day weekend 2019 and unfortunately did not know there was an off-road race scheduled in nearby Crandon who meant the campground was busy," notes a camper from Richardson Lake.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many campers appreciate the well-maintained amenities at Pelican Lake Campground. One visitor specifically mentioned it was "Great place for kids, right on Pelican Lake for fishing and boating, and nice friendly staff. VERY clean!"
Lake access: Boulder Lake provides direct water access from many campsites. A camper reports, "We had site 18 which is right on the water and across from the shower house... The shore was pretty level and easy to get our kayaks in and out. The shore is shallow and mostly sand. Nice for swimming."
Natural features: Ada Lake NF Campground offers a natural setting with minimal insects. One camper noted, "The camp host was great, keeping things clean and maintained a small camp library. No dogs allowed on the beach or even in the beach area. Some beautiful lakeside sites available. Lots of frogs and basically no bugs!"
Winter camping options: Some campgrounds in the area accommodate cold-weather camping. At Langlade County Veterans Memorial Park, one winter visitor shared, "Loved the whole experience, the cold, the snow, the hammock camping. Quite an event!"
What you should know
Varying site elevation: At several campgrounds, the lakeside sites sit significantly above water level. "The lakeside campsites are elevated somewhat high above the lake, so you need to walk down stairs or a steep-ish trail to get to the water," notes one camper about Richardson Lake.
Insect conditions: Mosquito populations can be severe at certain times. One Richardson Lake visitor reported, "Very beautiful place but billions of mosquitoes. We survived only one night. Couldn't stay outside at all. Nothings helped-sprays, bracelets, enteric oils."
Noise levels: Some campgrounds experience higher noise levels, particularly during special events or peak times. A visitor to Holly Wood Hill Campground mentioned, "The campground is ATV/UTV friendly but the area 'trails' are gravel roads except the ATV park east of Crandon."
Varied amenities: Not all campgrounds offer the same facilities. Great Northern Campground has "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."
Tips for camping with families
Look for swimming areas: Boulder Lake offers family-friendly swimming. "The lake is not very deep, which is great for swimming or water recreation. Not the best fishing but excellent campground. Has showers and up to date bathrooms."
Consider campgrounds with playgrounds: Langlade County Veterans Memorial Park provides multiple recreation options. One visitor noted, "This county park hits all the important stuff... Nice restrooms with flush toilets/showers... Clear water for swimming and no motorized boats. Playground, sand volleyball court."
Check for additional activities: Some campgrounds offer unexpected amenities. At Great Northern Campground, a visitor shared, "Small - medium swim pond with floats for climbing and jumping. One end of pond shallow for the very young."
Tips from RVers
Confirm pad specifications: Concrete pads are available at some locations. A visitor to Holly Wood Hill noted, "Yards on the lower sites are large, lots of room with concrete pads, but power/water hookups at lower sites are designed for motorhomes, not travel trailers."
Check dump station access: Great Northern Campground has specific policies for dump station use. One RVer mentioned, "You only can use the dump station once at check out or you can pay a fee, but none of the sites have sewer."
Verify site levelness: Some campgrounds have naturally level sites. One visitor to Boulder Lake commented on "the level sites, didn't even need the levelers! Very cool campground!"
