Cabin camping near Winter, Wisconsin offers rustic accommodations within the northern woods region at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 feet. The area experiences distinct seasons with winter temperatures often dropping below 0°F and summer days typically reaching 75-85°F. Cabins provide shelter from the region's notorious mosquito population during peak summer months while maintaining access to surrounding lakes and forest trails.
What to do
Waterfall touring: 15-minute drive from Winter to Copper Falls State Park Campground where multiple cascades await. "If you like waterfalls, then this is the area that you want to visit. You can hike here and see 3 different waterfalls or take a short drive to numerous others in the area," notes Jeanne M. The park features the North Country Scenic Trail to Red Granite Falls.
River tubing: Seasonal activity available through Hayward KOA with shuttle service. "The pool was nice and the waterslide was fun but the river tubing was the best. They shuttle you out and pick you up," reports Melissa H. The tubing runs typically operate during summer months when water levels are appropriate.
Fishing on Lost Land Lake: Access directly from Reel Livin Resort and Campground with boat and pontoon rentals. "Lost Land Lake offers good fishing and boating. Kevin and Elise were welcoming and even provided parts to fix a major RV plumbing issue," shares Lynn M. The lake spans approximately 1,300 acres with walleye, northern pike, and panfish.
What campers like
Wooded privacy at variable levels: Sites at Wildwood Haven Resort and Campground offer diverse settings. "If I didn't care about being near the lake, I would look at the new sites they put in the wooded area. They were a little more 'remote'," explains Adam A. The campground features both lakeside and forest options.
Quiet evenings for stargazing: Low light pollution at several locations enhances night sky visibility. "Since this is further from town, it is very dark here and great for star gazing," notes Adam A. about Wildwood Haven. Jim W. adds, "Within an hour we went from noisy happy kids to hearing a loon somewhere out on the lake. The quiet peaceful evenings that followed were exactly what we were looking for."
Lake access and beaches: Many cabin rentals provide direct water access for swimming and boating. At Lake Chippewa Campground, "They have lots of amenities such site side trash pickup, boat/kayak rentals, golf cart rentals, propane, and the list goes on," according to MickandKarla W. Lindsay T. notes, "The group sites with water access and full hook-ups can't be beat."
What you should know
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds. "We did not opt for their Wifi, which you have pay for and later found out it doesn't work in this area anyway. We got 1 bar on Verizon and the signal was basically useless," reports MickandKarla W. about Lake Chippewa Campground. Many cabin renters bring satellite internet devices for remote work needs.
Reservation timing requirements: Booking windows open months in advance with specific dates. "They start their booking for the year on January 1st. We called all day long (4500 times not kidding) and finally got a spot," shares Melissa H. about Lake Chippewa Campground.
Winter cabin demand: Cold weather accommodations book quickly. Kim H. notes about Roam Base Camp, "Cabins are unique and one of a kind and will be a fun place during the winter to stay!" Winter activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat tire biking on nearby trails.
Tips for camping with families
Adventure-oriented facilities: Facilities geared toward active families provide structured recreation. "Awesome place to stay with family! Campground was kept very clean, even though it is an older campground. Only complaint would be that sites are close together!" advises Anna about Hayward KOA. Lynn N. adds, "Campground is very clean, the staff is super friendly, and there are lots of things to do! Pool, waterslide, mini golf, playgrounds and so much more!"
Playground access considerations: Multiple locations offer play equipment with different age appropriateness. "We were fortunate to experience this campground in two very different situations...a large family gathering covering three campsites with eight to ten cousins all enjoying the playground and waterfront. They kids really seemed to be enjoying themselves and the parents could relax and let them play," observes Jim W. about Wildwood Haven.
Insect preparation essential: Pack appropriate repellents for mosquito and tick protection. "Lots of mosquitoes- so many it was hard to be outside and enjoy a fire at all, but also an untypical rainy weekend," warns Kim H. about Roam Base Camp. "Small sites with long grass around all the sides, which makes for a fair amount of ticks."
Tips from RVers
Tree clearance challenges: Large rigs face navigation difficulties at some locations. "Love all this campsite has to offer with amenities! Beautiful area as well. But there are alot of trees that make it very challenging for larger rigs. There are a handful of sites that would be easy to access, I recommend calling first. We have a 43ft 5th wheel," advises Sheila H. about Hayward KOA.
Dump station protocols: Facility maintenance varies between campgrounds. "Clean, efficient, groomed, with a new owner who is enthusiastic and really working hard to provide a great customer service experience. When, if ever, have you been to a campground that disinfects the dump station between uses? Yep, this one does," reports Jim W. about Wildwood Haven.
Site positioning considerations: RV site layouts affect comfort and usability. "We did not back in as far into the site as we would have liked due to overhead tree branches. Due to the rig's position on the site, we needed about 20' of sewer hose plus the connection is not threaded and sits up about 6 inches making it tough to dump," explains MickandKarla W. about Lake Chippewa Campground.
