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Best Tent Camping near Prairie du Chien, WI

436 Reviews

The Yellow River State Forest offers primitive tent campgrounds and backcountry sites within an hour of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Camp Glen Wendel provides secluded primitive backcountry tent camping with designated campsites located approximately one mile from the forest headquarters. Camp John Schultz offers similar backcountry tent sites in the forest, with both locations featuring hike-in access that appeals to backpackers seeking a more remote experience in northeastern Iowa.

Tent campers should prepare for truly primitive conditions at the backcountry sites. Most areas provide only basic fire rings and benches, with no access to drinking water, toilets, or trash service at the campsites themselves. Potable water is available at headquarters near the registration kiosk, but must be carried to backcountry tent sites. The forest terrain includes hills, valleys, and dense woodland, offering a surprising level of elevation change for Iowa. As one camper noted, "Yellow River has great backpacking sites. Park near ranger station and hike in or grab a map and find a smaller parking location near the trail you want to explore."

The backcountry tent camping experience in this region provides genuine seclusion despite being relatively close to small towns. Dense forest creates natural privacy between primitive tent sites. Camp Glen Wendel features stands of coniferous trees and some sites overlook small ponds. Many tent campers use these areas as training grounds for longer backpacking trips, with interconnected trail systems allowing for multi-day hiking loops. According to reviews on The Dyrt, the forest offers "a great feeling of isolation and wilderness that can be absent from other places." Tent campers particularly appreciate the lush forest environment, wildlife viewing opportunities, and night sky visibility. Echo Valley State Park also offers non-electric tent campsites near a trout stream for those seeking a slightly more developed yet still primitive camping experience.

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Best Tent Sites Near Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin (15)

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14 Photos of 15 Prairie du Chien Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Prairie du Chien, WI

436 Reviews of 15 Prairie du Chien Campgrounds

  • Mallory S.
    May. 24, 2022

    Wyalusing State Park Campground

    Great view

    We stayed on the ridge and enjoyed the tremendous views. This park also has nice hiking trails, good birding, clean bathrooms, recycling drop off, great cell and tv signals and is close to Prairie du Chien. Our site on the ridge was nice. Many of the sites have something that makes set up interesting-slope, angle, tree, retaining was for example, take time to find one that’s good for you.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2022

    Camp John Schultz — Yellow River State Forest

    Nice back country state forest site

    Hiked into this Camp that includes 5 primitive sites: fire rings and benches. Lush dense forest with intermediate hiking including typical summer insects. Leave No Trace ethics include: minimizes fire impacts by gathering only dead, down, wood. Sounded by nature atop of hill hike near Fire tower ( only fire tower in Iowa), cell reception is found up here.

  • Dawn S.
    Jul. 1, 2018

    Wyalusing State Park Campground

    Beautiful

    Clifftop camping available. Well kept. Staff is helpful. Lots to do. Short nice ride to prairie du chien.

  • Jen L.
    Aug. 23, 2018

    Wyalusing State Park Campground

    Fantastic get away

    Located on the far western edge of Wisconsin this state park offers a little of everything - hiking trails connected to the camp grounds, boat access to the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers, overlook of where the Wisconsin River meets the Mississippi River, showers and flush toilets, playground/basketball/tennis courts, etc. Depending on what part of the park you are in (and the season) you can be away from it all or have almost all the comforts of home. There are 2 campgrounds within the park - Homestead (back in the woods and a little more rustic with vault toilets and no showers) and Ridge (on the bluff). Also both an indoor group site and outdoor group site. Campsites are mix of RV (+/- electric) and tent. Ridge Campground sites- located on the bluff they stay dry even when the rivers are at flood level. Some sites have views of the river right from the tent/RV. During peak season you will definitely need a reservation (likely months in advance), but there are a few same day spots held in reserve. Also during peak season there is a concession stand near the campground and boat rental (canoe/kayak) near the boat launch (neither were open when I camped there but were on a separate day trip)

    A short drive from the state park is Effigy Mounds National Monument with additional trails and a reverse of the scenic view (looking south and east instead of west/northwest). Definitely worth a look since its FREE and so close by. Also in the area is Villa Louis (historical homestead) which can be toured for a modest fee (good rainy day activity). If coming from Madison area be sure to check out some of the small wineries along the drive either to or from the park.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 30, 2025

    New Wine Park Dubuque County Park

    Nice small county park campground

    General: This is a small (29-site) county park campground situated along the North Fork Maquoketa River. Nine of the sites are reservable, and the rest are first-come, first-served. Some sites are primitive, and some have water and 30-amp electricity hookups. There is one ADA-accessible site with a paved camper pad. 

    Site Quality: Most sites are level. The camper pads are gravel/grass, but not all are clearly defined. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. 

    Bath/Shower: The bath/shower house was closed when we were there in November but there are vault toilets about a quarter mile from the campground (in the day-use area) that were very clean and well-stocked when we were there. 

    Activities/Amenities: Many activities including disc golf, three hiking trails, volleyball, two playgrounds (one in the day-use area and one by the campsites). There are two reservable picnic shelters. There is also a dump station. 

    We were tent camping in November on a backpacking trip so we didn’t take advantage of any of the activities but would return in our van on a future camping trip. We were the ONLY ones in the campground at this time of year!

  • Mary S.
    Aug. 19, 2018

    Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest

    Small campground has nearby hiking and fishing

    This review is for Yellow River State Forest's Big Paint Campground which consists of sites 35 through 61. Big Paint is a couple miles from Little Paint, a larger campground with 70+ sites. There are two equestrian campgrounds (Creekside and Little Frontier with sites numbered 1 through 34) as well as hike in campgrounds for backpackers. A photo of an area map is included.

    Why did we choose Big Paint instead of Little Paint?

    It's smaller and that's just our personal preference. There were only 4 sites occupied early Friday afternoon and a few more were reserved. We liked site 35, the first site on the left as you enter. This site is like being in a garden with trees and flowers surrounding the site. It had rained and more rain was coming, so the gravel parking pad on #35 was appealing. Most of the sites are completely on the grass.

    Activities

    Stocked trout streams are an attraction for fishermen; see photo of stocking calendar. We enjoyed hiking despite the mosquitoes and humidity in August and were able to make a 5+ mile loop leaving from the campground. You can also hike from Little Paint, and there are equestrian trails. This would also be a good area for X-country skiing and snowmobiling. A photo of the trail map is included. Caution: hunting is allowed in the non-campground area of the state forest.

    Amenities

    Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Other than that, you can dispose of your trash and use a vault toilet. There's water at the information center (and a camp host site) outside the campground about 100 yards to the left.

    Cost

    You're not getting much (and that's not a bad thing) so the $9 fee seems fair. Pay up front at the entrance station, or make a reservation online at last 2 days ahead of time (and pay a reservation fee). There are 7 non-reservable sites at Big Paint. I doubt that Big Paint fills up; just check the reservation site to see if they get crowded.

    https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/yellow-river-state-forest/r/campsiteSearch.do?search=site&page=siteresult&contractCode=IA&parkId=610130

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2019

    Fountain Springs County Park

    Solitude and not much else

    This campground also goes by the name of Holbert. Small campground but free with a handful of picnic tables and campfires. The vault toilets were cleanish, thou older. This campground is next to a pretty little creek that you can play and fish in. The campground is really just a series of campsites strung out along the creek and road. It was pretty quiet while I was there, not many campers at all. There are no hookups for RV’s/campers so it is primarily tent camping or dry camping. There is an interesting story about how this camping area has come to be: the land was donated by Ella Ellis in memory of her husband William Ellis. They apparently loved the land and wanted to make sure it was never developed and could be enjoyed by all. A lovely story.

  • D
    Jun. 11, 2022

    Mud Lake County Park

    Beautiful park on Miss River. Great value

    Mud Lake is a wonderful county park near Dubuque. Beautiful views of the Mississippi River. We stayed one night on our way to Minnesota. The sites are mostly sunny. The park streets are gravel with gravel sites. The park is quiet except for the occasional train from the nearby tracks. Great value for $21. Electric and water hookups. Marina and boathouse next door.

    Stayed in campsite #35 which has no shade. It was a gravel site which shares a pull-through with site 36. There was more than enough parking for my TT and truck and grass on either side. The site included: picnic table and fire ring. Utilities were located in the rear. 20A/50A electric and water. Site was level. Neighbors were nearby.

    AT&T had 2 bars of LTE and Verizon 2 bars of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 47 Mbps down, 1.3 Mbps up. Verizon data VERY SLOW. No WiFi.

    Would stay here again. We camped at Mud Lake Park in a Travel Trailer.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2021

    Swiss Valley County Park

    Great County park, preserve, campground

    Campground is well maintained, restrooms, showers, recycling station, fire wood available, campground host onsite, resident park ranger, standard RV sites, some electric tent sites otherwise primitive with fire rings and tables. Trout stream (Catfish Creek) runs through campground and park and is stocked by Iowa DNR, has Swiss Valley Nature center with trails.

Guide to Prairie du Chien

Tent camping near Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying a variety of outdoor activities. With several well-reviewed spots nearby, you can find the perfect place to pitch your tent and unwind.

Tips for tent camping near Prairie du Chien

  • Camp Glen Wendel Primitive Backcountry provides a secluded experience with fire rings and benches, perfect for those looking to escape into nature.
  • At Camp John Schultz, you'll find lush forest surroundings and the opportunity to practice Leave No Trace ethics while enjoying the tranquility of the area.
  • South Bear Creek offers a remote setting with makeshift fire rings and the soothing sounds of a nearby stream, ideal for a peaceful camping experience.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy hiking and exploring the scenic trails at Camp Glen Wendel, where you can discover beautiful stands of coniferous trees and a small pond.
  • Camp John Schultz is a great spot for fishing enthusiasts, with nearby trout streams and the chance to spot local wildlife.
  • The trails at Frontier Equestrian Campground are perfect for horseback riding, providing access to stunning views and stream crossings.

Unique features of local campgrounds

  • Camp Glen Wendel is known for its primitive sites that allow for a true backcountry experience, complete with fire rings and benches for relaxation.
  • At Frontier Equestrian Campground, spacious sites cater to both horse riders and tent campers, featuring tie-ups and self-registration for convenience.
  • Echo Valley State Park Campground offers a quiet atmosphere with a trout stream nearby, making it a fantastic choice for those who enjoy fishing and hiking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Prairie du Chien, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Prairie du Chien, WI is Camp Glen Wendel Primitive Backcountry — Yellow River State Forest with a 4.8-star rating from 12 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Prairie du Chien, WI?

TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Prairie du Chien, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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