Sarona, Wisconsin features a range of camping options within a landscape of lakes and forests. Chinty Lake Roadside Camp offers free primitive sites for tent and RV camping, while developed campgrounds like Shell Lake Municipal Park and Whitetail Ridge Campground provide full hookups and amenities. Most established campgrounds in the area accommodate both tent and RV camping, with some like Country Quiet RV Park and Log Cabin Resort also offering cabin rentals. The region includes several waterfront campgrounds situated on popular lakes like Shell Lake and Birchwood's Chetac Lake.
Camping season in the Sarona area typically runs from May through mid-October, with most campgrounds closing during winter months. Many established sites require reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holidays. The area features a mix of municipally-operated parks and privately-owned campgrounds, each with varying amenity levels from primitive to full-service. Accessibility varies significantly between locations, with some sites offering level, easily accessible spots while others present more challenging terrain. "Most of the sites I checked had at least 30A electric; most also had 50A. All have water and it appears all but the very back row along the municipal parking lot have sewer as well," noted one visitor about Shell Lake Municipal Park.
Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the Sarona region. Shell Lake Municipal Park provides lakefront camping with convenient in-town amenities, while Doolittle Park in Birchwood offers family-friendly facilities including a public beach, playground, and boat launch. A review mentioned that "for what it is - a rustic, small, free campground - it's very nice," regarding a nearby primitive site. Several campgrounds provide recreational opportunities beyond camping, with amenities like swimming beaches, fishing access, and boat launches. Visitors particularly value campgrounds that balance natural settings with convenience, as sites like Eagle Point Park demonstrate with their combination of quiet lakeside camping and proximity to town services. Family-oriented campgrounds like Red Barn feature additional attractions such as playgrounds, animal encounters, and organized activities.
"Nice campground with lake views! Very nice beach and located in a very walkable area! Will be returning!!! The main road nearby is a little noisy but everything else was great!!"
"Close to trails and fishing. Nice beach in shell lake."
$25 - $60 / night
"The campground revolves around children. A huge playground, pony rides, animal parades and mini golf are only a few things that happen at Red Barn."
$0 - $18 / night
"Fishing is very good on the Big Chetac Chain of Lakes approx.1700acres. Reservations can be made through the Village of Birchwood by calling 715-354-3300."
$49 - $300 / night
$45 / night
"Quiet and surrounded by water, it’s a pretty cool spot. Public beaches and hiking trails, boat launch. It is small and fills up fast so I would make reservations."
TravelerStaying here currently & they have been very accommodating, friendly & flexible. Water & electric hookup but no sewer however there is a dump station, a bathhouse with real toilets & nice showers. Pretty quiet for being so close to the main highway. My cats are able to free roam the property & my dog can be tied up outside. Usually pretty nice neighbors too.
ScoutFound this spot pretty late at night, pulled in to see a sign that says No Camping. Had to backtrack to the highway and found a truck stop for the night.
TravelerElectric hookup, dump station on site. Sites are a little close together. $25/night with a 7 day max stay.
LegendInterstate Park in Wisconsin is just south of HWY 8 on HWY 35. The entrance is located on the west side of HWY 35 in the town of St. Croix Falls. St Croix Falls is a small town with a nice downtown on the river with plenty of restaurants (Dalles House Restaurant and Lounge is a favorite) and places for necessities. There are coffee shops, hotels and even a Wal-Mart nearby. There is also a casino in the town of Turtle Lake about 30 mins away.
The park is home to the western terminus of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail that covers 1200 miles through Wisconsin. The park also offers a Ice Age Interpretive Center which boasts interactive activities and displays of the last Ice Age. The park is also home to several other trails worth discovering.
There are two campgrounds in the park, a North and South campground as well as two group campsites. The South is a bit more rustic. The showers are located at the North campground.
For amenities there are flush toilets and showers. There is a sandy swimming area available as well as boat launch and other water activities.
This park is beautiful especially being on the cliffs of the St. Croix River offering spectacular views through out the park and the area. You can even take the bridge over to Taylor Falls Park Minnesota for more spectacular views as well as other shopping options. If you take this trip, Taylor Falls Park will be on the South and your shopping options will be to your North.
Even being in such a wonderful location with plenty of activities and amenities, I find the camping hard to enjoy at this park for all the noise that generates from the hwy crossing over the river. The sound especially of the semi trucks and their brakes that go all night long. This is the big reason for the average rating for this campground.
ScoutThe sites are VERY close to each other.
ScoutMany sites with lake access! Clean as I've ever seen a campground!
TravelerClean and well-kept, this is a very small park with mowed lawn but no separation between the campsites, and close to a highway. Quiet at night. We stayed there off-season, and had it mostly to ourselves. It's convenient for an overnight stay while hiking the Ice Age Trail road connection nearby.
RangerI was looking for a secluded backpack in site where I could have a peaceful 48 hours of prayer and solitude, and this site was perfect! I also wanted one that wasn't too far remote, since I hadn't been on a proper backpacking trip since the pandemic hit. And as a solo female camper, I wanted a reserved site so that there would be a record of my location for safety reasons. I'm so glad I chose the Deer Creek site, and will almost definitely stay here again at some point!
This site is accessible by either hiking or canoe. It took me about 30 minutes to hike in from the visitor center parking lot. There is easy access to river water to boil or filter from the canoe landing.
This site was incredibly spacious. It includes a fire ring and picnic table overlooking the creek and river. It also includes 2 large tent pads (look out for widow makers, one of the tent pads is under a dead tree!). It also has a spot nestled in some pine trees that could fit a smaller tent, canoe storage, or I found it to be the perfect spot to hang my hammock! (This would be a great site for hammock camping.) So if you're camping with a small group of people this would be a great site. It also includes a trail to a fairly private latrine, and a bear box (the park ranger warned me that there are bears in the park although I did not see any.) I also found plenty of dead down and dry wood and birch bark on the ground for building fires.
This site is great for a one nigjt stay on a longer backpacking or canoeing trip, but also great for camping out at for a couple of nights. I stayed for two, and it connects to all the major trails in the park, so I was able to use it as a great base for hiking and seeing the beautiful changing leaves. In the morning I hiked North to do the Riverside trail and looped back through the woods. Then in the afternoon I did the Deer Creek loop, which is a shared horse and hiking trail. It was so nice to he able to hike out to some of the best trails in the park directly from my site.
This site felt remarkably remote for being only an hour from the twin cities and a mile from the parking lot! I stayed there Thursday -Saturday, and after leaving the parking lot on Thursday did not see another human being for the rest of the day, and Friday not until I hit the main trails! There was no one else staying within at least a mile of me. I was even able to see fantastic stars Friday night. There was amazing wildlife - a blue heron frequented the site, and I heard all types of owls. Two bald eagles had a nest across the river so I got to see and hear them the whole trip, too- it was absolutely magical!
This site has a great view of both sunrise and sunset. Thursday night there was a gorgeous sunset over the woods reflected in deer Creek. Both mornings I woke up to watch the sunrise while drinking my coffee next to the fire (it was freezing!!!). Watching the sun rise over the river and fog roll over th water and evaporate while eagles soared was truly magical. Having an easy backpack in site surrounded by water on two sides and with views of the sunrise and sunset like this was so incredible!!!
GuideInterstate State Park has some nice features, but overall it wasn’t my favorite. Many of the exterior loop sites have river access, which was a highlight, and we didn’t have to deal with mosquitoes thanks to being right on the water. The nearby towns are also very charming and worth exploring.
That said, the campground is small and very crowded, likely because it’s so close to the Cities and popular with canoe rentals. Expect a lot of traffic noise, and in the fall, migrating geese can be very loud (which didn’t bother me, but might for some). The ranger office had limited hours, and since firewood is locked up, there’s no self-serve option. Another downside: a riverboat cruises by frequently, blasting music in the evenings and giving tours during the day.
The sites are close together, with RVs and tents mixed on one loop, so generator noise is common. It wasn’t a terrible stay, but just too small and busy for my preference—I don’t think I’d return.
Best sites seemed to be 21 (great river views, less private), 23 (fun detached tent pad), and 18 (most private). Sites 4–5 were also lovely but close to the bathrooms and camp host, so expect more foot traffic.
Camping near Sarona, Wisconsin centers around several lakes including Shell Lake, Chetac Lake, and Chinty Lake. The region sits at approximately 1,200 feet above sea level within the Northern Highland geographic province, characterized by glacial till soil and mixed hardwood forests. Winter temperatures often drop below 0°F, creating a camping season strictly limited to the warmer months when temperatures range from 50-80°F.
Water recreation access: Eagle Point Park provides direct access to water activities with boat launch facilities. "Public beaches and hiking trails, boat launch. It is small and fills up fast so I would make reservations," notes a camper.
River tubing: At Log Cabin Resort and Campground, campers can enjoy floating down the river. "They will bring you up the river to float down and land on their nice sand beach," according to one visitor.
Family farm activities: The family-focused Red Barn Campground offers unique activities beyond typical camping. "A huge playground, pony rides, animal parades and mini golf are only a few things that happen at Red Barn. The 126 year old barn on the premises holds barn dances, and indoor movies," shares a reviewer.
Lakefront proximity: Campers appreciate sites with direct lake access. "Nice campground with lake views! Very nice beach and located in a very walkable area!" reports a visitor to Shell Lake Municipal Park.
Family-friendly amenities: Doolittle Park receives praise for its comprehensive facilities. "This campground, run by the Village of Birchwood, is family friendly with many amenities. There is a public beach, playground, picnic area, boat launch, fish cleaning house, and pavilion," explains one camper.
Quiet atmosphere: Some campers prefer the more secluded options available in the area. "Great, amazing secluded spot. 5 stars, vaulted toilets, canoeing, kayaking, hiking & more," according to a review of Sawmill Campground.
Site availability variation: Campgrounds in the Sarona area vary significantly in capacity and booking patterns. "This little city campground is a gem. Quiet and surrounded by water, it's a pretty cool spot. Public beaches and hiking trails, boat launch. It is small and fills up fast so I would make reservations," advises a camper about Eagle Point Park.
Roadside dispersed options: Chinty Lake Roadside Camp offers free camping but with significant limitations. "This is literally just a roadside pull off not really a campsite (and the road was kinda busy), two girls traveling did not feel comfortable spending the night here and went somewhere else," cautions a reviewer.
Seasonal infrastructure: Facilities vary with some parks offering more extensive services. "I stayed here one night while traveling. The bathrooms seemed fire. I could not find a dumper on site. There is a dump station. Plenty of tent only camping areas. All sites require some leveling," notes a camper about Eagle Point Park.
Kid-oriented activities: Some campgrounds specifically cater to children with organized activities. "The campground revolves around children. A huge playground, pony rides, animal parades and mini golf are only a few things that happen at Red Barn," reports a visitor.
Water recreation for children: Doolittle Park offers kid-friendly swimming areas. "Awesome place to go swimming. Very kid friendly, and pet friendly," confirms a camper.
Inflatable water features: Certain campgrounds provide additional entertainment options. "There is a nice inflatable park for the kids. They will bring you up the river to float down and land on their nice sand beach," mentions a visitor at Log Cabin Resort and Campground.
Site leveling requirements: Many campgrounds require some adjustment for RVs. "All sites require some leveling. Some of the sites have water hookups. Lots of people use the park during the day. It was very quiet at night," notes an RVer at Eagle Point Park.
Size restrictions: Larger rigs may face limitations at some campgrounds. "You might be able to get a large rig into the first few spots. But if you try to drive the loop around to the other sites, you might not make it. But I did not have trouble in my 25 foot motor home," advises an RV camper.
Connectivity options: For those needing to stay connected, signal quality varies by location. "I had great 5G signals from Verizon and T-mobile here," reports an RVer at Eagle Point Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sarona, Wisconsin located and what are the nearby towns?
Sarona is located in northwestern Wisconsin, approximately 60-70 miles northeast of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It's situated in Washburn County, with the nearby town of Shell Lake just a few miles away. Other surrounding communities include Spooner to the north, Rice Lake to the south, and Cumberland to the southwest. The area is part of Wisconsin's lake country, with numerous bodies of water including Shell Lake and Long Lake. Visitors can use Shell Lake Municipal Park as a convenient base for exploring the region.
What outdoor activities and attractions can visitors enjoy near Sarona, Wisconsin?
The Sarona area boasts abundant outdoor recreation options. Water activities dominate with excellent fishing at Two Lakes, where visitors can tie boats at the water's edge and enjoy forest camping. The nearby Chippewa River at Brunet Island State Park Campground offers calm kayaking waters among lily pads and wildlife, plus a 20-mile paved bike trail. Hikers can explore the Ice Age Trail near Straight Lake. The St. Croix River valley provides spectacular rock formations, swimming holes, and scenic hiking trails. Wildlife watching, mountain biking, and seasonal activities like fall foliage tours round out the recreational opportunities in this nature-rich region.
What camping options are available in the Sarona, Wisconsin area?
The Sarona area offers diverse camping options for all preferences. Whitetail Ridge Campground & Backwoods Saloon provides full amenities near Sarona, while Red Barn Campground offers family-friendly accommodations by Shell Lake. For those seeking more natural settings, nearby state parks provide excellent alternatives. Additionally, several RV parks cater to travelers with larger rigs, including sites with full hookups. The region's county parks often feature more rustic camping with beautiful lake access for fishing and swimming, perfect for those wanting a more immersive outdoor experience.
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