Camping near Ringle, WI

Camping opportunities in Ringle, Wisconsin exist primarily in nearby Marathon County parks and adjacent areas along the Wisconsin River. This central Wisconsin region sits at around 1,250 feet elevation with thick mixed hardwood forests and multiple river systems creating diverse camping environments. Winter temperatures frequently drop below freezing with summer averages in the mid-70s F, producing a distinct May-October camping season.

What to do

Mountain biking at Dubay Park: Located along the Wisconsin River, this wooded park offers excellent mountain biking trails through forest terrain. One visitor noted, "A beautiful, full forest Park with great sites. Lots to do: mountain biking, swimming, hiking. Dog friendly."

Disc golf at Big Eau Pleine Park: This 1,450-acre park features a scenic disc golf course through wooded areas. There's a daily fee for course use, and one camper mentions, "The park also offers several fishing points near the entrance and along the three boat landings. There is also a beach, two shelters and scattered picnic areas."

Off-road vehicle trails at Tigerton OHV Park: This park combines camping with off-road vehicle trails. "This place is beautiful. Especially if you can get a spot on the river. Everyone is so nice and fun. The lady that runs the place is so nice!!!!" reports one visitor.

Paddling on the Little Plover River: Jordan Park provides river access for paddling. As one camper explains, "Pretty setting, small, good start to a day long paddle down the little plover river." Canoe-in sites are available for paddlers who want riverside accommodations.

What campers like

Waterfront sites: Multiple campgrounds offer direct water access. At Tigerton OHV Park, "The sites are large or very large. 10 are riverfront, amazing." Jordan Park also features special canoe-in sites which one camper describes as "cheaper and much more secluded with view of the lake."

Natural rock formations: Dells of the Eau Claire Park Campground features distinctive river rock formations. A visitor described, "Nestled between towering trees, the campsites here were clearly marked and tidy. Each site has a nice fire ring with grate. Main road is paved and sites are small gravel."

Wooded privacy: Council Grounds State Park Campground offers sites with good separation. "Sites are wooded and offer plenty of shade. Well spaced so you feel like you're all alone. Quick walk to the river or drive along the loop to the beach," notes one camper.

Clear campsite markings: Several campgrounds maintain well-defined sites. At Dells of the Eau Claire, "The night time temperatures dipped in the low 30's in the middle of May when I was there. The campground attendants were on site twice a day to sell firewood and collect camping fees."

What you should know

Water quality concerns: Some waterbodies experience seasonal algae. At Big Eau Pleine Park Campground, "The water quality suffers from green algae almost the entire season. Fishing can be good. No longer good for nocturnal carp due to water." Water conditions should be checked before planning swimming activities.

Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly by provider and location. One camper at Dells of the Eau Claire noted, "Poor cell coverage," while another at Big Eau Pleine mentioned, "For those requiring cell service, I had 3 bars LTE with Verizon at my site."

Spring high water: Eau Claire River water levels rise significantly in spring, affecting beach areas and swimming safety. "Spring time the water is usually high and the breakup of ice happens it's amazing to see. It's crazy loud too!"

Campground noise levels: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby roads. At Jordan Park, "The only down fall was that you could hear semis on the road very clearly during the evening." Marathon Park in Wausau has similar issues as it's "situated by two main busy roads."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Multiple parks feature play areas for children. At Jordan Park, visitors note it's "Close to Jordan River, and it's parks, beaches, Pavillion, and playground. They also have a nature center to explore right next door!"

Swimming options: River's Edge Campground provides designated swimming areas. "Lots of activities to do and for the kids to do. Themed weekends throughout the season. Great bar and grill on property," reports one family.

Group camping potential: Council Grounds offers specialized group sites. "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."

Weekend activity planning: Campgrounds often run special events on weekends. River's Edge Campground features "Themed weekends throughout the season," providing structured activities for families with children of various ages.

Tips from RVers

Winter parking restrictions: Most campgrounds close between late October and early May. Big Eau Pleine Park operates from May 2 to October 31, while at Marathon Park Campground, "There is a 2 day minimum for online reservations. That's not required for walk up self registration so you can do one day as a walk up."

Limited open fire options: Not all sites permit campfires. Marathon Park Campground specifically prohibits open fires as one camper noted: "Couldn't have any fires, sites are easily visible from one end to the next, virtually no privacy from neighbors." Some RV sites allow propane grills while prohibiting wood fires.

Dump station availability: Facilities for RV waste vary between parks. At Dells of the Eau Claire, "This campground just put in a dump station this year which also includes portable water to fill up your tank."