St. Croix State Park and surrounding campgrounds near Stone Lake, Wisconsin provide options for outdoor enthusiasts seeking woodland camping experiences. Stone Lake sits within Washburn County, approximately 30 miles from the Minnesota border where several established campgrounds operate seasonally. Winter temperatures can drop below 0°F, while summer averages 75-85°F with higher humidity levels.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Riverview Campground at St. Croix State Park offers shoreline fishing where families can catch smaller fish without specialized equipment. As one camper notes, "We fished right off the shore and were catching very small catfish and river chub faster than we could set our reels which was great for the kids!"
Nature programs: St. Croix State Park offers ranger-led activities throughout summer months. A visitor mentioned, "We DID have fun doing some of the activities like hunting for insects/animals in the pond with the ranger, hiking to the ranger tower, playing at the playground, and trying to catch butterflies with the ranger."
Forest exploration: Saint Croix State Forest Boulder Campground provides access to forest trails and waterways. According to one camper: "Wonderful forests, pleasantly quiet. Beautiful views along the Tamarack river. We like camping in state forest for the wild life experience. We seen Bear, Wolf, and plenty of Yote's."
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Boulder Campground offers opportunities to observe native wildlife in natural settings. A visitor reported, "We like camping in state forest for the wild life experience. We seen Bear, Wolf, and plenty of Yote's. This is nature at its finest."
Clean facilities: Riverview Campground maintains well-kept bathroom facilities. One visitor commented: "The showers and bathrooms were very clean," while another noted, "It is a nicely maintained campground with lots of open space and nicely constructed rustic bath houses."
Spacious group sites: Larger groups find accommodating spaces at Riverview. A scout leader observed: "Our scout troop camped for a weekend here. Our site was very spacious, and had close access to a well maintained outhouse and walking distance to indoor toilets and showers."
What you should know
Insect preparation: Summer months bring heavy mosquito activity to the area. Multiple campers emphasize this challenge: "There were HOARDS OF MOSQUITOS. We used 40% deet spray and fogged our campsite 3x over the 3 days so we could reduce the bites." Another visitor warned: "The second we walked out the door, you had at least 5 ticks on you. If you spent any extended amount of time outside, there were 20+."
Site selection strategy: For equestrian campers seeking horse-friendly options near Stone Lake, Wisconsin, availability is limited. While specific horse campgrounds are sparse, Saint Croix State Forest provides primitive camping with nearby trail access.
Reservation requirements: Boulder Campground operates strictly first-come, first-served. A visitor advises: "Get there early in the day because there are no reservations and it's first come first served. The campground was clean and in better shape than any state park campgrounds I have been to."
Tips for camping with families
Download entertainment: Cell service can be unreliable across campgrounds in the region. One visitor suggests: "Cell service is fairly spotty here so come with podcasts or shows downloaded ahead of time! But if you don't, you can always run into Hinckley for some WIFI or cell service to download some things."
Guest house options: For families seeking more comfortable accommodations, St. Croix State Park offers guest houses. A visitor shared: "Our family went up and rented Guest House 1. The house was great! It had everything we needed in the kitchen, a grill out front, picnic tables, fire ring, plenty of sleeping for our extended family."
Beginner-friendly fishing: Children can practice fishing skills at Riverview Campground. As one family reported: "We fished right off the shore and were catching very small catfish and river chub faster than we could set our reels which was great for the kids!"
Tips from RVers
Limited hookups: Most campgrounds near Stone Lake, Wisconsin offer minimal or no hookups for RVs. A Boulder Campground visitor noted: "Heads up! No hook up's. Vault bathrooms only," emphasizing the primitive nature of forest camping options.
Budget-friendly primitive camping: RVers seeking economical options appreciate state forest campgrounds. One camper at Boulder Campground stated: "For $17 a night you can't beat a state forest campgrounds. This is real camping for the kids."
Limited shade at Riverview: Due to previous storm damage, RVers should prepare for sunny sites. A camper observed: "Because of a large wind storm several years ago, there is very limited tree coverage in the campground. As a result, the sites get very little shade and protection from the hot summer sun."
