Best Cabin Camping near Rice Lake, WI

As we arrived on a Saturday around 1:45 PM, there was quite the line of RVs checking in as most people come in for a week on Saturdays. As we have been here multiple times, we knew not to line up down the narrow road shoot that’s adjacent to the lodge where you check in but stay on the main road. They had plenty of staff on duty, so check-in was fairly quick, and we headed to site 457, which was an easy back-in with FHUs. We were pleasantly surprised we didn’t get site 456 right on the road. When we make a reservation for this campground(CG), you can only pick an area, not a specific site, for most of the sites. This was the first time we’d stayed in this area of mixed short-term and seasonal sites. The FHU facilities were placed in the middle of the gravel-grass site with a picnic table and fire pit. We were able to put out our back patio and have plenty of space to park our F450. There are a lot of mature trees in this park, so satellite is going to be iffy depending on the site. We were able to get an okay shot to the north for Starlink but no chance for the southern sky. You can opt to pay for the park Wi-Fi. The water pressure is good, and we had two bars on Verizon. The staff at the lodge/office is top-notch. We found out that this year’s“watch out” was kids riding electric bikes full out versus underage golf cart drivers of last year, so“watch out” in either case. The CG has been trying to police the lack of parental oversight, but this first-rate CG attacks a lot of families. Though there’s no formal dog park, there are plenty of areas to walk your dog, including the trail up and around the newer primitive camping area. Lake Chip is one of our favs, and we will continue to return.

Our RV GPS wanted to take us through Hayward city central to the campground (CG), which was fine. However, as this was our fourth time staying at Lake Chippewa Campground, we stayed on Hwy 77 past the Walmart to hook up on Hwy 63 at the casino to avoid traffic and stoplights in Hayward. We arrived with no issues and during check-in we were delighted to find out we had other site options than the pull throughs for our 12 night stay. We had changed our reservations to an earlier date, and the only open sites at the time were pull throughs, which are not bad. However, there are much better sites in this CG. We were provided a map of available sites and a golf cart to check out sites. As we know this CG well, it was a no brainer for us to chose back-in site 460 with FHUs. The regulars who normally stay in this site had gotten an opening in one of the CG's permanent site areas. We happily proceeded to our site and had no problems backing in. The hook ups are in the middle of this long pad. Water pressure was good at about 50 psi. 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. There are a lot of mature trees in this CG and in this site in particular. We put our Starlink on the roof and we were able to get a usable signal. 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. Lake Chip is a large private CG but has a state park feel. They have lots of amenities such site side trash pickup, laundry, boat/kayak rentals, golf cart rentals, propane, and the list goes on. Eat at Powell’s on Round Lake about 15 minutes away on Co Hwy C towards Hayward. Good food and service.

I’m willing to declare this the best hipcamp site within a couple hours of the twin cities. Most hipcamp sites are not my scene at all, since they generally seem to be in a random unmowed part of someone’s land. It combines the things that I like about the stereotypical hipcamp listing(farm animals of some sort and enough privacy) with things that the stereotypical hipcamp site doesn’t offer(mowed grass and not being in someone’s backyard). I really recommend that you check out their website and instagram, since it gives you a bigger picture of what the farm consists of beyond just a place to spend the night. They are heavy into permaculture. You can buy fresh or frozen produce off of their site, as well as CBD infused products that they make with hemp that they grow themselves. I didn’t get to see their farm area since it didn’t seem to be connected to the farmhouse(available on airbind)/campsite part of the property, but their aerial shots of it are gorgeous. Once normal life resumes I would love to participate in some of their educational opportunities! Onto the site review! Both the White Pine Meadow and the Lakeside Serenity sites are amazing and large. We wound up staying at the Lakeside site, which has a nice view of Mud Lake and one of the herds of goats. You park your car where the gravel driveway ends, and you have the choice to set up your tent down by the lake or in the upper area which is more by the goats. Be prepared to make multiple trips back and forth between your car and your campsite. The fire ring had plentiful stacks of firewood closeby, and there was also an electrical outlet(which was an unexpected surprise!) The mosquito situation was very good, we never even went into our screen house that we had set up just in case it was mosquito misery. There is a designated(and clean!) portapotty for each campsite, the lakeside one ais on the other side of the goat enclosure. It was close enough for daytime trips, but I wish it was closer for middle of the night visits. While the Lakeside site was serene, walking into the White Pine Meadow campsite felt magical. Also buggy. The pines tower over you, and the understory is full of beautiful ferns. The site is mowed, but we still managed to pick up one tick walking through the trail that leads to it. There is actually some educational tick materials in an informational binder that is located in a little structure by the parking spot for the lakeside spot. If you are sad that you aren’t by the goat pen, don’t worry because there is a second herd of goats(and their guard dog) that overlook this site. I would definitely recommend all sorts of bug survival gear to make your life less slappy if you are camping at this site in the summer. Random notes: The lake is pretty, but I’m picky and chose not to swim in it. The goats are friendly and are quiet once it starts to get dark. A goat tender comes twice a day to feed the goats, I’m not sure what staff activity levels are like during the weekdays. I wish that I hada brought ear plugs because there was a fair amount of noisy wildlife activity during the night.

We stayed here in mid April, I believe we stayed at CC #6. The site was beautiful, the cabin well kept. My only complaint about the site is how close the cabins are together, but the fact that the decks face into the woods and ravine is very peaceful and makes up for it. The cabins are nearby a trail that you can wander through the woods down to the river which is nice. We definitely used the heat at night to stay warm but had the windows open at night, it was perfect weather, this is a great place for spring and fall camping. (Never been during the summer months.)

I’ll say, one of the best parts of this park is all the interpretative kiosks. Love learning about the forestry and history of state parks!  Also many options for trails which is great. A lot of wildlife here, I heard a ton of coyotes and geese, a woodpecker, and a beaver under the bridge in the evening chomping away at peeling logs... totally scared me at first but he was just doing his job and I tried not to bother him! 

I stayed at the backpacking site: SPRING. It’s just a short hike (bout 400 meters)  from the river access where there is a vaulted toilet snd water year-round. The site had a bench overlooking the river and a rugged stair for water access. Also had a little personal rustic toilet just a trail behind the site. Nice and wooded campsite, soft dirt, and fairly spacious! In wet months, I bet it's pretty muddy. The only drawback is that the trail it’s situated on is the hiking club trail and heavily trafficked. I stayed in winter, where you could see through the trees and all that tho. Maybe in summer, it’s more secluded? But still, something to keep in mind.

Took a peek at the campground- some of the most spaced out and wooded sites I’ve seen yet. I like that they made it in separated loops, to avoid through traffic distracting your stay. Love the visitors center, great overlook, and interesting information. By the trail center, which is also very cozy and rents, skis and snowshoes and has a great inside fireplace, there is an interpretative walk about white pines- great for kids to imagine those huge trees! They do a great job aiding the imagination as you walk along the short trail.

Camper cabins here are up on a bluff- didn’t stay there but totes want to! Nicely situated.

Everything that I checked out here was very well managed and they clearly put a lot of time and care into making this park functional, interesting, and accessible. I loved my little backpack site but can’t wait to come back to camp in the summer or rent a cabin! The river is gorgeous, even as it was frozen in winter!