Amanda S.
Scout
ScoutThe Pigeon river campground
Beautiful Campground and Facilities
We highly recommend visiting the Pigeon River Campground. Beautiful property with walking trails, a dog park, and clean facilities!
Dog-Friendly Camping near Townsend, WI
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
McCaslin Brook Dispersed site features three pet-friendly camping spots along the brook, each with a table, fire pit, and toilet pit for $5 per night. Pets must be kept on leashes throughout the campground with owners cleaning up after them. Boulder Lake Campground in Lakewood welcomes pets with spacious, private sites and clean facilities. Governor Thompson State Park Campground allows pets on trails and at campsites with a mandatory 6-foot leash requirement. Most campsites throughout the Nicolet National Forest region accommodate pets, though Ada Lake Campground prohibits dogs on the beach or beach area. The campgrounds maintain varying pet policies with some enforcing stricter rules about barking and waste cleanup.
Hiking trails throughout the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest provide excellent opportunities for exercising dogs, with many campgrounds situated near ATV/snowmobile trails that double as pet walking paths. The McCauslin Brook sites offer direct water access where pets can cool off during summer months. Bagley Rapids Campground serves as an ideal base for pet owners exploring the forest's extensive trail systems, with sites backing onto a clear, spring-fed river. Visitors report that mosquitoes can be problematic in some areas, so pet-appropriate insect protection is advisable. Most campgrounds feature vault toilets and basic amenities, with varying levels of privacy between sites. Local towns like Mountain and Wabeno provide access to basic supplies and services within a 30-minute drive of most camping areas.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Townsend (129)
1. Bagley Rapids NF Campground
"It's roughly 2.5 hours away from Madison and Milwaukee and just over an hour away from the Green Bay area. If outdoor recreation is your thing, this is the perfect base camp."
"I showed up on a Friday evening around 6:30pm and was still able to snag a spot on the river. Quite a few ticks here, make sure to bring some permethrin spray for your clothes and your dog."
from $15 / night
Check Availability2. Boulder Lake
"We chose this campground on a whim since we wanted to be near Lakewood where I would spend summers as a kid. We love this place and ended up choosing it for both of our camping trips last summer."
"Boulder lake is amazing and is located conveniently close to the Wolf river, which has whitewater rafting and trout fishing."
from $18 - $75 / night
Check Availability3. McCaslin Brook Dispersed site
"The first site, east side, is a pull in right off the road with the pit and table a few steps down from the parking pad. The second site is a pull through facing west right off the road."
"i would have rated this 3 stars anywhere else, but dispersed camping is so hard to find around here, i have to give this it's flowers. it's a great spot."
4. Ada Lake Recreation Area
"One was a multi-layer setup while others were more hidden as they moved further away from the lake. The picnic tables look very new and the vault toilets are well kept."
"We arrived mid-week and had no problem getting a lakeside campsite. The sites are low compared to the water level, so it was an easy walk from our campsite to the water (no stairs to climb)."
from $15 / night
Check Availability5. Heavens Up North Family Campground
6. Governor Thompson State Park Campground
"Park is located in the Peshtigo River state forest. Pet friendly!! Your pets are aloud on trails and with you at your campsite. They must be on a 6 ft leash. The park is beautiful."
"We stopped here for a quick overnight pit stop on our way from Minneapolis to our final destination camp site in Rowleys bay , Door county, Wisconsin."
from $19 - $36 / night
Check Availability7. Ada Lake NF Campground
"A nice little beach, quiet well spaced sites, and nearby snowmobile/hiking trails. The lake it small with a few lake cabins across the lake."
"Trolling motors only on this lake. Good fishing and quite. Dirty and grave sites with no concrete pads. Great place to spend a week or two!"
8. Bear Lake
"Small and secluded this campground sits on the edge of bear lake and little cub lake is a short walk or drive from there."
"It’s a nice drive out here passing some local homes along the way. The road to the lake is just for the campground. There is a boat launch and picnic area before the campsites."
from $15 / night
Check Availability9. Chute Pond Park
"The access to the ATV trails really makes this campground a convenience gem! The camp store is also supe convenient if you forget smores and Fire supplies."
"There’s lots to do the whole weekend whether you want to go hiking, fishing, boating, small cliff jumping, or take a walk to slippery rock."
10. Mountain Lakes
"ATV riders also frequently walk into your camp to use the toilet. I had to adjust my camp for privacy after the first couple of groups."
"This area has 3 sites 2 next to each other west side of lake and 1 on the north side of the lake. All have lake frontage. We choose the single, north of the lake site."
from $5 / night
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Drive Time
- 1 hr 14 min from Green Bay, WI
- 1 hr 21 min from Wausau, WI
- 1 hr 27 min from Appleton, WI
- 1 hr 45 min from Oshkosh, WI
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Townsend, WI
28 Photos of 129 Townsend Campgrounds
hesselinkj@yahoo.com
McCaslin Brook Dispersed site
hesselinkj@yahoo.com
Oconto River-2nd Branch
hesselinkj@yahoo.com
Oconto River off Mountain Lake Road
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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Townsend, WI
408 Reviews of 129 Townsend Campgrounds
Art S.
LegendBoot Lake Campground
Secluded lake camping
This campground is near Townsend. If this one s full just continue down the road to Boulder Lake Campground.
We liked the diversity of campsites. You can find your own space and even add in some shade. Vault toilets and water can be found. Garbage bins are here too. The boat launch gives you access to the peaceful Boot Lake. We aren’t into fishing but liked that hiking isn’t too far. The Quartz Hill Trail is a bit of a drive past Townsend.
This is a peaceful respite in the Wisconsin woods.
- LLori N.
TravelerRivers Bend Campground
Happy Camper
We enjoyed our stay very much. Pretty campground, extremely friendly and helpful staff, nice neighbors all around. The shower area could use some updating, but was fairly clean. It is a dog friendly place and for the most part they were well behaved pets. We planned on staying four nights and are staying six instead. Taking advantage of the last nice days of the season. I would highly recommend trying this park.
Jenny J.ScoutBoulder Lake
Noise
Leave the loud pets and noisey illegal moterbikeos ah home no nature here
Tammie R.
GuideGovernor Thompson State Park Campground
Private!
Park is located in the Peshtigo River state forest. Pet friendly!! Your pets are aloud on trails and with you at your campsite. They must be on a 6 ft leash. The park is beautiful. What surprised me the most was the pit toliets that looked like tiny houses. Pictures are attached. There is a small lake which is great for kayak and swimming. This park also has a boat launch onto the Cauldron Falls Reservoir. I've attached photos of the map. Almost all the campsites are private and hidden away in their own little spots. There are a few hiking trails which i enjoyed spending time on. If you go down the street a bit you will find Old Veterans state park which has a secluded quiet lake and beach. I spent an afternoon at the beach and never saw a soul. There is not a camp store. The only thing you can buy at the park is firewood.
Molly B.GuidePine Valley Lodge
Great view, Cabins run down and Beach was a mess
We have been coming here for a long time. It is under new management and we thought things would get better. While we were here other guests trashed the beach and had dogs running and using the bathroom throughout the campsite. The rules for dogs were to keep them on leashes and clean up after them. These rules were not being followed which caused the beach, in the past is lovely, but with the dogs using it as a bathroom the beach smelt like poop. Nobody in our week of staying cleaned up after them so we needed to go somewhere else to swim. If your place is pet friendly please make sure to keep up with your own rules. The cabins are run down but showers are hot and the utilities are still able to be used
- MMakenzie S.Traveler
Shawano County Park
First stay at this campground and would definitely go back
Stayed for the first time at this campground in July and loved it. We stayed on a tent site, it was huge and had electric. I love that the campground is right on the lake and there’s quite a few amenities for people who boat. It is pet friendly and the bathrooms are quite a walk but clean and hot water is available.
Jay W.LegendBoot Lake Campground
Quiet and Quaint
Boot Lake is located about 5 minutes outside the town of Townsend in North Central Wisconsin. It is a smaller rustic campground with large and unique campsites! There are pit toilets but no bathrooms or showers. Drinking water is available. There is a nice large beach with good swimming and fishing! There are some restaurants and places to pick up necessities with a 10 min. Drive. The trails available at the campground will take you around the campgrounds but nowhere else. This is the perfect campground for setting up for a few days and not wanting to go anywhere and do nothing but what camping is supposed to be and the type of campground you will come back to if you like quiet and relaxing camping
McKenna R.ScoutTranquil~Vista Campground
Love this place!
This place was so much fun! The back tent areas are great, great walking trails, right on the water, the staff is so friendly and do daily checks to check if you need fire wood or anything. They also have fun seasonal events that the host for the campers. Definitely check this place out! So many memories there. They also have a playground for the kids, pet friendly, and allow atv/utv.
Guide to Townsend
The Nicolet National Forest surrounds Townsend, Wisconsin with over 661,000 acres of mixed hardwood forest at approximately 1,600 feet elevation. Camping options in this area range from established campgrounds with basic amenities to primitive dispersed sites along waterways. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-80°F with higher humidity and frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
What to Do
Trout fishing on local waterways: Bagley Rapids Campground provides excellent access to brook and brown trout fishing. "Bagley rapids is a nice little campground in Nicolet National Forest. The short stretch of the Oconto River provides mainly brook trout and brown trout fishing," notes Christopher R.
Hiking nearby trail systems: Several trail networks connect throughout the national forest. "Visited John's spring trail that has great views; good exercise. Campground has water and toilet pit. Well maintained," reports Artem I. about the Bagley Rapids area trails.
Water recreation on quieter lakes: Ada Lake offers secluded swimming with minimal boat traffic. "The lake is electric motors only so the watercraft were generally quiet," explains Jen E. "It's rustic, so minimal amenities. First come, first served."
What Campers Like
Spacious, shaded sites: Boulder Lake campground offers larger campsites with good tree cover. "We had site 18 which is right on the water and across from the shower house. It was decently spaced out from the other sites," shares Julia B., who adds that "the shore was pretty level and easy to get our kayaks in and out."
River sounds for peaceful sleep: Campers frequently mention the calming effect of water features. "The most beautiful thing about this campsite is that it is right on the water. You can hear the constant rushing of the water over the rapids, which is so relaxing at night," writes Mary M. about her Bagley Rapids experience.
Natural swimming areas: Several campgrounds feature swimming access directly from campsites. "The shore is shallow and mostly sand. Nice for swimming," notes Julia B. about Boulder Lake, while other campers appreciate the smaller lakes with less boat traffic for safer swimming experiences.
What You Should Know
Limited services in remote areas: Cell coverage varies greatly throughout the forest. "T-Mobile signal is non-existent, Verizon had 1-2 bars of LTE which was enough to send out a few texts," reports Jacob V. at Bagley Rapids. Many campgrounds have no cell service.
Wildlife encounters: The forest hosts various wildlife including bears. One camper at Governor Thompson State Park reported, "Did hear some bear walking the first night and some coyotes/or wolves howling literally right behind our tent the second night."
Ticks are prevalent: Several reviewers mention tick concerns. "We found so many ticks on us!! Be careful!" warns Scott D. from Governor Thompson State Park, while another camper notes, "Quite a few ticks here, make sure to bring some permethrin spray for your clothes and your dog."
Tips for Camping with Families
Beach access options: Chute Pond Park offers family-friendly water activities. "They have a little footbridge to fish off of, a playground, and a nice beach. You can rent out kayaks and little boats," says Emily K. The park also features "slippery rock," a natural water slide popular with children.
Plan for weather variability: Summer temperatures can fluctuate significantly. Pack layers and rain gear, as afternoon thunderstorms are common in this region during summer months.
Campground amenities for children: Some campgrounds offer more kid-friendly features. "Very children and family oriented, some shorter trails, fishing area, playground, beach," reports Two Snoops about Chute Pond Park, making it ideal for families with younger campers.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: When choosing a campsite for larger vehicles, pay attention to access paths. At Mountain Lakes, "the camp is the perfect size for vans, small trailers or tents," according to Nicholas P., who adds that "the ground is not very even but you could probably get one or two tents in there."
Access roads can be challenging: Many forest roads are unpaved or poorly maintained. "The easements were a little washed out," notes Robyn B. about McCaslin Brook, adding "we bottomed our minivan coming in but were able to leave going out on the far right edge."
Electrical hookup availability: Availability varies by campground. "Almost all sites are electric," mentions Makenzie S. about Chute Pond Park, while most national forest campgrounds like Ada Lake and Bagley Rapids operate without electricity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near Townsend, WI?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Townsend, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Townsend, WI is Bagley Rapids NF Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 11 reviews.
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dog-friendly camping near
Townsend, WI?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Townsend, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 129 dog-friendly camping locations near Townsend, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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