Cabin camping options near Rice Lake, Wisconsin provide rustic to modern accommodation alternatives within the dense northern hardwood forests and lake-dotted terrain of Barron County. Winter temperatures can drop below -10°F while summer averages 80°F, making seasonal considerations important for cabin campers. The area's mixed conifer and hardwood forests surround more than a dozen lakes within a 20-mile radius, creating varied habitats for wildlife viewing from cabin porches.
What to do
Tubing adventures: O'Neil Creek Campground offers a natural creek for floating that connects to the main lake. "We can tube down the creek, very shallow so even littles can do it too," reports one visitor who appreciated the water activities for children of various ages.
Winter camping experiences: Wild River State Park Campground maintains year-round operations with winter camping opportunities. "I stayed in the campground in late March, 2025. This is a big park with a diversity of hiking, equestrian, and canoeing options. Since the park runs along the St. Croix, there are beautiful river-side walks to be had," notes one camper who visited during unexpected spring snow.
Lake activities: Lake Chippewa Campground provides water recreation with boat rentals. "We rented a pontoon for the day and beached it on one of the many islands the lake has," explains a visitor who discovered the expansive water recreation options.
Star gazing: Take advantage of minimal light pollution at designated viewing areas. "The star gazing area was great!" shares a Wild River State Park visitor, highlighting one of the less-mentioned evening activities available to cabin campers.
What campers like
Private sites: Wild River State Park Campground offers secluded cabin settings. "The sites are private, couldn't see any neighbors as there are a lot of trees. The park rangers were very helpful and informative," mentions a camper who appreciated the natural separation between accommodations.
Backpack cabins: Some properties provide more remote cabin options. "Backpack site Buck Hill is right on the river, beautiful view to the east. Circled by flowers (goldenrod in the late summer), brush and trees. End of the path so zero foot traffic / passersby," details a Wild River camper who enjoyed the seclusion of a hike-in cabin.
Group accommodations: Larger family units can find suitable options. "We stay at this group site for a week every summer with our extended family and look forward to returning as soon as we pull-out. The group sites with water access and full hook-ups can't be beat. Plenty of space for our 4 RV's of various sizes plus tents/easy ups," writes a Lake Chippewa camper.
Lodge facilities: Hayward KOA provides recreational buildings. "Great campground to stay with family! Campground was kept very clean, even though it is an older campground," notes a visitor who enjoyed the maintained facilities despite the age of the property.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Secure bookings early for summer months. "They start their booking for the year on January 1st. We called all day long (4500 times not kidding) and finally got a spot," explains a Lake Chippewa camper highlighting the extreme competition for prime cabin dates.
Site selection: Not all cabin sites are created equal. "Site 133 was super small, so much so I thought he was kidding. Saw site 204 was open and switched to that one instead," reports an O'Neil Creek Campground visitor who recommends checking site dimensions before finalizing reservations.
Payment methods: Some facilities maintain traditional payment systems. "Be aware they do not accept credit cards so plan ahead," warns a Lake Chippewa camper about the cash-only policies at some camping cabins near Rice Lake.
WiFi considerations: Connectivity varies significantly between cabin locations. "We did not opt for their Wifi, which you have pay for and later found out it doesn't work in this area anyway. We got 1 bar on Verizon and the signal was basically useless," notes a Lake Chippewa visitor about the technology limitations.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Big Rock Creek offers free water equipment. "It was nice to have kayaks and paddle boards to try for free, but everything else is a charge," explains one visitor who appreciated the included recreational options.
Scheduled activities: Look for campgrounds with organized events. "They also have themed weekends for the kids, and plenty of activites!" shares a Hayward KOA camper who enjoyed the structured entertainment options for children.
Playground options: Multiple facilities include play areas. "Large 9ft heated pool, mini golf, large playground, horse shoes, volleyball, nice size water slide, covered stage for music, ice cream shop, huge jump pillow, and much more," details a Hayward KOA visitor listing the extensive recreation facilities.
Water safety features: Shallow creek areas provide safer swimming for younger children. "The creek was flowing through it to tube, swim and even kayak. Rentals available," notes an O'Neil Creek camper highlighting water features appropriate for various age groups.
Tips from RVers
Site spacing: Country Quiet RV Park and Campground offers larger cabin and RV sites. "This is a very nice RV Park. There's plenty of sites and they appear to be expanding. Sites are fairly spread out. Easy loop system makes this campground very easy to navigate through," explains a visitor who appreciated the accessibility.
Electrical considerations: Monitor power usage in cabins with limited electrical service. "We had no problems backing in. The hook ups are in the middle of this long pad. Water pressure was good at about 50 psi," notes a Lake Chippewa camper sharing practical utility information.
Privacy versus accessibility: Balance seclusion with convenience. "We would rather have a nice site with privacy than wifi or a phone signal. This site sits well off the road and has a large back yard area," shares a Lake Chippewa visitor who prioritized natural setting over technology access.
Navigation routes: Consider alternate approaches to avoid traffic. "Our RV GPS wanted to take us through Hayward city central to the campground, which was fine. However, we stayed on Hwy 77 past the Walmart to hook up on Hwy 63 at the casino to avoid traffic and stoplights," advises a Lake Chippewa RVer with local knowledge.
