Camping options near Rib Lake, Wisconsin span across hardwood forests at elevations between 1,500-1,700 feet. Situated within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest region, this north-central Wisconsin area features glacial lakes and seasonal temperature swings from below-freezing winters to humid 80°F summers. Most campgrounds operate May through October when water recreation on multiple lakes becomes accessible.
What to do
Paddling on Clear Lake: Clear Lake Campground in Northern Highland State Forest offers exceptional paddling opportunities on waters that live up to their name. The lake permits non-motorized watercraft, making it ideal for kayaking and paddleboarding. As one visitor notes, "Beautiful clear water lake with only a handful of houses. It is a popular campground so it can be busy and hectic but is nice for families. A lot of locals come to the swimming beach on the weekends."
Hiking forest trails: Council Grounds State Park Campground maintains several hiking paths through mature pine forests. A camper reports, "Very nice campground, more family-oriented. The campsites were clean and spacious, we had enough room in our site for a tent, screen tent, and a boat. Hiking trails were ok, routing throughout the park. Not very long, only one to two miles per trail, but well maintained."
Fishing opportunities: Sara Park provides direct water access for anglers. A visitor explains, "Campground has 10 sites for $30 a day, all with electricity and water. The sites have immediate access to the river for fishing. There is a beach, two sand volleyball courts, boat launch, and park across the dead end road."
What campers like
Site privacy and spacing: Cunard Lake Campground in Northern Highland State Forest provides well-separated campsites. A visitor shares, "I love returning to this campground every year, it has some great walk in campsites and a good amount of privacy if that's what you're looking for. You can come here on the 4th of July without reserving ahead of time and still find plenty of open sites."
Natural quiet: At Big Falls County Park, the secluded setting creates a peaceful camping experience. According to a camper, "Very secluded/primitive. Outhouse only. Nice campsites & the river is gorgeous. Nice walking & exploring trails."
Swimming areas: Chippewa National Forest Campground offers good swimming access. One reviewer mentioned, "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. Fishing pier and trails to get kayaks in the water are accessible from the main campgrounds."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Most glamping in Rib Lake, Wisconsin operates during the warmer months with limited winter options. At Terrace View Campsites, the season runs "April 15 to December 1," making it one of the longer-running campgrounds in the area.
Bathroom facilities: Bathroom quality varies significantly between campgrounds. At Council Grounds, "Bathrooms and showers were clean. Showers were free, which is a plus." Meanwhile, Sara Park offers "vault toilets with free showers."
Site reservation timing: Clear Lake Campground fills quickly due to popularity. One camper advises, "You will need to reserve your site 11 months in advance because it fills up fast. If you have a lot of people there are no group sites but there are some double sites that work great."
Tips for camping with families
Beach access for children: Clear Lake provides excellent swimming options for children. A visitor notes, "There are 2 beaches, trails, beautiful wooded sites, and the lake's water is as clear as advertised. You will need to reserve your site 11 months in advance because it fills up fast."
Group site availability: Council Grounds offers dedicated group camping areas. A family camper explains, "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. Non-flush toilets in between the two sites on opposite side of the campsites."
Wildlife viewing options: Children can enjoy wildlife spotting at several campgrounds. At Birkensee Campground, one camper shared, "Our campsite was just in view of the pond on the campground. Everything was clean. We even got to see some otters in the pond."
Tips from RVers
Electric service reliability: West Bay Camping Resort offers full hookups but with mixed reviews about electrical service. One camper noted, "Full hookups, no wifi or at least we couldn't find it. Dogs are welcomed, no barking allowed. Cell phone service was good so you can work if you have too. AT&T and Verizon."
Site levelness considerations: When glamping in Rib Lake area in an RV, site levelness varies by campground. At West Bay, a visitor observed, "Some sites are tight/close and others you could turn around in. Most are fairly level or it doesn't take much to make your camper level."
Dump station availability: Several campgrounds provide dump stations, often at additional cost. At Sara Park, "There is a dump station nearby behind the city garage for $10."
