Tent campsites near Solon Springs, Wisconsin provide opportunities for anglers and paddlers to explore the region's rivers and lakes. The area sits within the Lake Superior Lowland geographical province, characterized by sandy soils and glacial features. Camping locations range from designated primitive sites to backpacking spots along hiking trails, with most situated near waterways.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: The Namekagon River offers excellent fishing experiences. According to a reviewer at Namekagon Trail Bridge, "We spent 3 days and 2 nights in the river in our canoe. Caught great fish and camping off the rice banks was great."
ATV trail access: Nemadji State Forest contains extensive motorized trail systems. A camper at Garfvert notes, "Excellent campground if you're into ATV use camping. Offers hundreds of miles of 4 wheeling and snowmobiling. Can't forget dirtbikes and UTV as well."
State park exploration: Jay Cooke State Park, located near Cloquet, features distinctive geological formations and hiking trails. One visitor staying at Cloquet-Duluth KOA shared, "We rode the Gitchi Gami trail up along the north shore of Lake Superior, hiked around in Jay Cooke State Park and explored Duluth a bit."
What campers like
River access: Tent sites positioned directly on riverbanks provide convenient water entry. At Phipps Landing, "You can drive in and park at this site, or canoe down the Namekagagen and pull up. There are 2 small sites with fire pits near the parking & landing, and one large group site with fire pit to the far back."
Wooded seclusion: Forested campsites offer natural privacy screens between sites. A camper at Garfvert mentioned, "I'd recommend Gafvert if you want a deeper woods experience without many people. Accessible trails, good, flat sizeable spots."
First-come availability: Most primitive tent areas don't require advance reservations. At Phipps Landing, a reviewer noted, "Camping is free, FCFS," referring to the first-come, first-served policy that allows for spontaneous camping trips.
What you should know
Limited amenities: Many sites require complete self-sufficiency. At Howell Landing, a reviewer described, "Clean, well kept little campground, which consisted of one large group site. Tent only with access to the Namekagon River. Plenty of parking. The only downside was no separation from other parties due to the group site setup."
Access considerations: Some camping areas have challenging approach roads. One Schoen Park visitor pointed out, "There's another small site cut out from the road that's somewhat separated from the main sites. There's enough room for small campers. Road is good."
Water sources: Most primitive sites lack potable water. A Phipps Landing camper advised, "Bring your own water or filtration. No rubbish bins."
Tips for camping with families
Site selection: Choose campgrounds with bathroom facilities when camping with children. A visitor to Schoen Park notes, "This is a great spot for the primitive campers. There are no real sites more of a dispersed camping area. No reservations."
Activity planning: Pack water-based recreation gear for river camping locations. At Namekagon Trail Bridge, one camper suggested, "Instead of paddling down the river I'd recommend turning this into a nice float/fishing trip. They provide nice maps depicting where off shore camping sites are."
Weather preparation: The area experiences temperature variations, especially near water. A visitor mentioned, "Bring your bug spray!" when describing the Dog Town campsite on the Namekagon River.
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions: Small trailers work best at primitive campgrounds. A Schoen Park camper advised, "We have a 19' travel trailer and it wasn't a problem but turning around is tight."
Alternative options: For full hookups, consider developed campgrounds further from the rivers. At Cloquet-Duluth KOA, a reviewer explained, "Grounds have a nice mix of RV spots out in the open as well as some RV and tent spots back in the trees with water and electric only sites. Full hookup sites are only out in the open spaces."
Dump station logistics: Plan for potential wait times when departing busy campgrounds. One camper noted, "Dump station is conveniently located on your way out of the grounds but can get backed up at the end of a busy weekend and can make it difficult to exit the campground."
