Dispersed camping near Trego, Wisconsin offers primitive sites within the northern Washburn County forest systems. The area sits between 1,100 and 1,300 feet in elevation with mixed conifer and hardwood forests surrounding numerous lakes and waterways. Winter camping is possible but requires preparation for temperatures that regularly drop below 0°F, while summer brings moderate 70-80°F days with significant mosquito activity from June through August.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: FlowMama Trail Head provides direct access to the CAMBA mountain bike trail system. "Nice clean and quiet site. No facilities or cell service. Easy access to mountain bike trails. Keep it clean if you use it," notes Mike B. about this FlowMama Trail Head Dispersed location.
Fishing opportunities: Grace Lake Road Dispersed offers good fishing access according to visitors. "You're about 20 foot from the water and fishing is good," reports Michael S. about this Grace Lake Road Dispersed site just across the Minnesota border.
River hiking: Explore riverside trails at Sandrock Cliffs where hiking paths follow the Saint Croix River. "The hiking trail was awesome also, you hike along the Saint Croix river," shares Emily about her experience at this location.
What campers like
Wildflower meadows: The open clearing at Afterhours Meadow provides spectacular wildflower viewing during summer months. "Surrounded by wildflowers in mid July. Easy to get level and ruin for several rigs," explains Joni Z. about Afterhours Meadow.
Quiet forest surroundings: Many dispersed sites offer peaceful settings away from developed areas. "This is a beautiful, quiet spot at the end of a forest spur road," notes one camper about Afterhours Meadow.
Multiple site options: Grace Lake Road Dispersed camping area contains various spots to choose from. "A lot of ATV traffic but super friendly people, really buggy but a few nice spots to pull into for the night," shares Lizzy K., while another camper notes, "This spot was super nice and peaceful! Lots of different dispersed spots."
What you should know
Site conditions vary significantly: Quality ranges from simple roadside pull-offs to more established clearings. "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," warns aly E. about Chinty Lake Roadside Camp.
Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites have no amenities. Sandrock Cliffs offers pit toilets near the parking area and picnic tables at some sites, but most locations have no facilities whatsoever.
Seasonal usage impacts: Some sites experience heavy use during peak seasons. "The campsites all have a fire ring and are decently spaced apart, but most of the sites were full of trash and broken tent poles," reports Joslyn H. about Sandrock Cliffs during summer.
Tips for camping with families
Check site security: Roadside locations may feel exposed. As one camper noted about Chinty Lake, "the road was kinda busy, two girls traveling did not feel comfortable spending the night here." Choose more secluded spots when traveling with children.
Bring bug protection: Multiple reviewers mention significant mosquito populations, particularly in June and July. "Really buggy but a few nice spots to pull into for the night," mentions a Grace Lake Road camper.
Plan for terrain challenges: Some sites have rough ground conditions. "Nice little field. Would be great if the ground wasn't all sticks and thorns. Good place to sleep. Not for extended camping," advises a visitor to Afterhours Meadow.
Tips from RVers
Narrow access points: Some forest road gates restrict larger vehicles. "Gate is very narrow had to fold the mirrors on my Tacoma to squeeze through but if you park at the entrance it's a short walk," advises Michael S. about Grace Lake Road Dispersed.
Cell service reliability: Connectivity varies significantly between sites. "ATT with my external antenna was great," reports one RVer at Afterhours Meadow, while another notes "No facilities or cell service" at FlowMama Trail Head.
Low-clearance accessibility: Many forest roads are navigable without high-clearance vehicles. "Easy gravel road to the pin... we turned right and went down the 2 track (which was fine in 2wd vans w low clearance) and you end up in a big clearing," explains Liona L. about accessing Afterhours Meadow.
