Best Tent Camping near Weyerhaeuser, WI

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. The pricing for sites is reasonable also with tent sites at $10.00 per night(prices subject to change), All other campers are $30.00 night. There are also monthly($500.00+75.00 for electric} and seasonal sites available{$1800.00+ electric fee at the end of the year).

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.

We spent two nights at Lake Wissota State Park tent camping in site 30. The site was very deep, and very private with lots of tree coverage on all sides to block out any noise and most of the light from your camping neighbors. The water source was a little far away (about 200 yards) but we were located near the bathroom and showers. The shower facilities were mediocre, but about what you'd expect at a state park.
Park has a swimming beach and several miles of trails.

Worth taking a trip into town and walking up and down the main street. Visit the local shops, and make sure to visit Leinenkugel's brewery for a tour and a pint, but don't over look the Brewster Bros. Brewing Company and the Chippewa River Distillery, also located right in Chippewa Falls.

We had a last minute idea to go camping on Labor Day weekend, hopefully omewhere near St Croix Falls so we could visit Interstate State Park and explore the surrounding area.  As luck would have it, there were no campsites avaialble at any of the local state parks on the Wisconsin side or Minnesota side of the river. So, we checked for other area campgrounds and discovered this gem of a private campground right on the shores of the Apple River. This is mostly a campground that rents seasonal sites to RV owners, and these are tucked away in the woods near the river with a real sense of privacy. But, for the casual camper,  they also have a swath of sites located right ON  the river, including sites with hookups if desired, or a separate lane of very large and very secluded tent sites also right on the river that I dare say are nicer than any of the tent sites at area state parks. The Apple River is really beautiful, and if we had brought our kayaks we could have plopped them right in the river from our campsites and had an amazing paddlle on this pristine tributary of the St Croix.  (See attached photo for map of the Apple River upstream towards its various headwaters lakes. Further down the Apple River is a canyon and whitewater section for tubing or paddling: 

https://www.stcroix360.com/2013/06/floating-the-apple-river-canyon/)

We were in site T3, which had an electric hookup used by friends who joined us in their van; there was also a water hookup which was handy even if we didnt hook up to it. There was a fair amount of  space at our site, but If we were to come back again we would want a bit more space and privacy so we would absolutely go for one of the tent sites, any one of them would be great! The campground over all is clean and well maintained, a lot of retired folks as seasonal campers but also a lot of families with kids, and a nice family atmosphere. Given that is was Labor Day weekend and every site ended up being taken, you might expect it to be busy and loud, but it was pleasant and quiet, and the neighbors friendly, The bathrooms and showers were clean and well kept, and bleach water disinfectant was avaialble to wipe down surfaces if anyone had concenrs. There is a small pub with a patio attached to the campground office, but it was surprisingly quiet and low key. There is volleyball and more outdoor games adjacent, and this is all a bit set apart from the campground anyway. Along the river is a small beach, boat dock for canoes and kayaks and fishing, and a nice playground for kids.  It is a good 20-minutes to half hour drive to Interstate State Park and the Falls towns, which has pluses and minuses. We also took the opportunity to try some hiking a little closer to the campground, and enjoyed the Stower Seven Lakes Trail on the old Soo Line : https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/stower

Other outdoor activities and special places to visit in Polk County near the campground: 

https://www.co.polk.wi.us/landinfowisdnrmaps

Really a lovely spot, and a nice surprise.

This is a small county campground with 15  simple campsites geared towards tent camping, though 5 of the sites are equipped with electricity so folks with vans or small trailers might be comfortable here. The park is nicely wooded and there are basic facilities such as water and vault toilets. They are adjacent day use areas including a group picnic shelter and playground. This is a good spot for fishing, and canoeing or kayaking https://amerywi.gov/432/Canoeing-Kayaking and there are other activities in and around the nearby town of Amery. 

I might not camp here as a destination vacation spot, but it might be a good stopover if on a weekend paddling trip. You could start at the DN Campground of vicinity further north https://thedyrt.com/camping/undefined/d-n-campground, then paddle a nice easy day trip to this campground, and then the next day paddle into the town of Amery and pull out there.

The camping is currently closed for the season, and will be have repairs and needed upgrades. It would be worth checking in spring 2021 to review the improvements!

Campground Review:

Lake Eleven campsite is a back country site located within the Chequamegon National Forest in Taylor County, Wisconsin. It is the 15.5 mile Lake Eleven Segment, part of the 1200 mile long Ice Age Trail. A 2.5 hr drive from the Twin Cities it is an excellent diverse section of trail with many geologic wonders formed by continental glaciation, with the most recent effects formed at the end of the Wisconsin Glaciation, a period ending about 10,000 years ago.

Starting our hike at the STH-64 parking lot we hike approximately 10 miles to our campsite. There are two sites on Lake Eleven, one on the south side and ours on the north side. Our initial intentions were to camp on the south side but surprisingly it was occupied on an otherwise empty trail. Our late October backpacking trip skirted hunting season in Wisconsin and it appeared a few groups were getting a head start on the weekend. The guide book does mention that this site is used for backpackers, hunters, fisherman and equestrians. We were fortunate to grab the north side location moments before another group of men came thru. I should note that there is plenty of space for large groups at the north side site but as a group of 7 women, the men knew better than to try and camp at our site; fortunate for us as we could hear their drunken banter across the lake. This north side location is accessible via a short spur trail and situated under a grove of pines so we had adequate protection from the sleet storm that was coming as well as a soft pad of needles for all 5 of our tents. This site also provided excellent space for hammock camping. Located next to the lake, it provided ease of access to water that was drinkable with a filtration system. The site has a nice stone fire pit with log benches surrounding it. Plenty of downed/dead trees provide firewood. There is no pit toilet at this location but plenty of open (no low lying brush) wooded area to find a spot to do your business.

Overall a pleasant spot to consider as you travel some or all of the Ice Age Trail.

Product Review:

As a Ranger Reviewer for The Dyrt, I am honored occasionally to test and evaluate products. During this trip I tested out the Oofos womens Oolala Slide Sandal https://www.oofos.com/collections/womens-oolala-slide-sandal

This sandal is touted as a recovery sandal but frankly I use it as an everything sandal. I walk the dog in them, use them at the beach, use them after running, use them around the house, use them at the campsite after a long day of hiking… they are so comfortable that I don’t really care to wear any other sandals. The extra cushy foam, apparently called Oofoam, really does make your feet and legs feel better. The thick sole took a little bit getting used to but like a day not a week. The grippy bottoms give you great traction on all surfaces and my feet fit comfortably yet snugly in the slide, no worries about them slipping off. For our backpacking trip they were a great post 6-8 hr hike shoe. I’d throw off my hiking shoes and throw on the sandals. I really felt this allowed for a quicker recovery and less leg pain and fatigue for the next days hike. What was also great was popping them off right before I got in the tent. No struggling with wet muddy shoes as I crawl into my ultralight 2p tent (aka no room at all). Speaking of light, these puppies were attached to the outside of my pack and added a whopping 10 ounces. As far as the pricing goes these tend to be mid to upper range compared to other recovery sandals. I’ve had a different brand of sandal at a similar price and while nice they only lasted a couple years. For the pricing and the fact that they’re not used for hard use (hiking, running, etc.) I feel they should have lasted longer. Only time will tell if these Oofos will do the same. If they do last longer than they are worth the price.

Tent only, reservable group site at Mondeaux recreation area. Boat landing, Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Part of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

Campground Review:

Sailor Creek campsite is a backcountry site located within the Chequamegon National Forest in Taylor County, Wisconsin. It is the 15.2 mile Jerry Lake Segment; part of the 1200 mile long Ice Age Trail. A 2.5 hr drive from the Twin Cities it is an excellent diverse section of trail with many geologic wonders formed by continental glaciation, with the most recent effects formed at the end of the Wisconsin Glaciation, a period ending about 10,000 years ago. In the Jerry Lake Segment you cross over the mile-long Hemlock Esker. An Esker is basically an inverted river. Look it up, it’s fascinating. It also provides incredible views as you’re about 80 feet up.

Continuing our backpacking trip from the Lake Eleven campsite, we hiked about 8 miles from our previous site to Sailor Creek. It is located in a grove of hemlocks about 150 feet away from your water source, Sailor Creek. It’s marked by a large blue gray boulder that looks exactly like Jeff Dunhams, Walter, and some very open ground. The trees are lovely but the site is a bit rough for tents. Lots of roots and low dips make for uncomfortable, possibly damp sleeping. Hammock camping, however, is readily available. This site has no pit toilet and not a lot of “privacy” so finding a place to do your business is not for the modest. You are also directly in contact with the trail. It’s literally right along the campsite so even though we never saw anyone, if you happen to camp during a busy time you will not have any privacy from those walking the trails.  The fire pit is very nice and there are plenty of dead downed trees to start a fire. The pit is surrounded by logs to sit on and oddly enough some of the “bridge” of Sailor Creek. We’re not sure if someone broke the boardwalk or they’ve repaired it and those were left over pieces. They made for nice tables though.

Product Review:

As a Ranger Reviewer for The Dyrt, I am honored occasionally to test and evaluate products. During this trip I tested out two LEDLENSER products, the MH2 Headlamp and the MT10 Flashlight. https://www.ledlenserusa.com

First up the MH2. This sturdy, well built, headlamp is great for tasks around camp. It is not incredibly bright at 100 lumens but it’s a no frills get the job done light. You can twist the front to go from soft 15 lumen light to the more direct spot of the 100 lumens. It’s lightweight at a little over 6 oz and has an excellent price point, for its qualities, of $25. It provided plenty of light for walking around camp, gathering firewood and setting up the tent. It requires 3 AAA batteries which were pleasantly included in the box along with instructions and a 7 year warranty.

The MT10 flashlight is in a word, intense. If the packaging doesn’t convince you (a chainsaw would have been useful) then the 1000 lumens of light might. It is incredibly well built and while just under 6 oz feels a lot denser. It’s a convenient, compact size at a little over 5 inches long and comes with a handy sheath that clips to your pants, shirt, backpack, etc. Like the headlamp you can go from a soft 10 lumens of light to the powerful direct 1000 lumens. As a women I considered the fact that this 1000 lumens light would blind a would be attacker in a heartbeat. The light comes with a rechargeable battery via usb cord and is advertised as providing 6 to 144 hours of light depending on your lumen intensity. I enjoyed using this light for a middle of the night bathroom run as I could see everything within a 500+ foot radius. No shining eyes were sneaking up on me. I would completely trust this light for late night trail jaunts. The pictures below looking up into the 100 foot tall pine trees give you just a peak at the power of this flashlight. This light comes in at a steeper price point of $80 but given its capacity I think it’s more than worth it if you need sunlight in the darkness.

Beautiful Wisconsin state park. Two campgrounds, the north campground is more primitive, the south campground, where we stayed, has electrical hookups. We stayed here in Oct. of 2014, our first night camping in our new RV. Only stayed one night, but we were impressed. Decent bathrooms and showers in the south campground.

Continuing my quest to visit as many Wisconsin state parks as possible. I stopped by here to check out the campsites for potential future camping and look over the park. When I found was a very well-maintained park, love the viewing area of the lake. Campsites looked good as well.

Enjoyed this island campground. There is a RV focused and a tent focused camping loops. This is a nice location for fisherman and kayaks/canoes. There are a few hiking trails that are loaded with mosquitoes (given the location and amount of water). There is a small beach to play in the water, playground and ball field. The bathrooms are nicely kept but dated. Great location to go with kids.

We stayed here one quick night on a trip driving the Trans Wisconsin ATV Trail. This is one of 2 campgrounds in the Flambeau River State Forest. It was fairly rustic and remote, but had clean vault toilets, hand pump for water, and a nicely wooded sites. We walked to the lake at dusk and enjoyed great views. There is a boat launch, and also a path to a small beach with a swim area.   Not a destination for us, but a great stop.

Read more, check out the map: https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/stateforests/flambeauriver/camping.html You can check availability and reserve some of the sites online on the Wisconsin DRN site, or just pay at the pay station. 

Pro Tip:  We found wood close by at the Flambeau Forest Inn, with a pick up and paybox outside. Nice to be able to get wood without needing to go inside.

If you’ve been anywhere in Minnesota or Wisconsin, you know about all the trees! As other reviews mention, this campground has a large grassy area - that gives a 100% clear obstruction for Starlink. We work full time, so this was important for us. HOWEVER, the other half of the campground is within a super treed area, so we got to pick!

The bathrooms were sparkling clean. The showers were hot and the laundry was reasonably priced. Had I known how much we liked the area, we would’ve stayed longer. 10/10 would recommend.

This is one of our favorite Wisconsin state parks. It is quiet and shady, next to the Chippewa River. You can kayak on the river and in-between the islands where the water is very calm and full of lily pads and wildlife. There is a paved bike trail, Old Abe, that connects to the park and is 20 miles long to Chippewa Falls. It's an easy bike ride, a few miles, into Cornell for ice cream at one of 2 shops that have it! One camground loop has electric and bathroom with showers and flush toilets. The other loop has no electric and pit toilets and has many sites next to the water. Campsites are roomy and shaded.

This campground is a child's paradise.  We were here with our 5 year old granddaughter.  There were activities for her to do all day long.  She loved the playground, pool, ice cream, wagon ride and crafts.  She made many friends at the playground and pool.  There were numerous friend and family groups camping in the same area.  I gave this a 4 star because even though it was great for families I felt we were packed together in a tight area.  Vehicles didn't fit well in the sites with the campers and/or tents.  We had 2 vehicles and we did make it work.

This campground is a great option close to the Twin Cities.  There are small number of hike in camp sites with nearby water (Straight Lake).  The park offered carts to help pack in camping supplies.  The Ice Age Trail also runs next to this park.  The amount of mosquitos seemed higher than other Wisconsin locations.  The lake shore, when we visited, was blocked by lots of vegetation, geese droppings with one small access point which would be great for kayaks; however you can't expect much more since it is a rustic campground.

I grew up on this lake from the early 90s to about 2012. The campground was always very peaceful and all the campsites on the lake had plenty of space for multiple tents or campers. The people that live/have cabins on the lake are all extremely friendly. There is excellent fishing mostly consisting of Bass and Bluegills and Perch. It’s a no wake lake so plan on just using a trolling motor or even a canoe to fish. There are outhouses close to the campgrounds but that’s about it for amenities. Mondeux dam isnt far away which serves food and Is a nice swimming hole.