Map showing campground location near Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin

Camper submitted image from Point Detour Wilderness Campground

Point Detour Wilderness Campground

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Fishing, swimming, and shoreline exploration draw campers to Point Detour Wilderness Campground, where several sites sit close enough to Lake Superior that one reviewer described a short trail leading directly from their site to the water. The campground runs 24 sites total, spread across a mix of open and wooded configurations. No two sites are alike: some are compact and sheltered by mature trees and brush, others more open for larger groups. Most have fire rings, and many include a picnic table.

Registration happens at a casino hotel roughly nine miles away, not at the campground itself. Campers check in at the front desk, then call back once they've chosen a site. Showers are also available at the hotel, free of charge, with time slots booked at the front desk. The outhouse on site is a pit toilet with a light inside. Mowing consistency has varied across visits, with some sites well-maintained and others overgrown enough to complicate tent setup.

Crowds stay light even during holiday weekends. Memorial Day and Fourth of July visitors both reported available sites, though the campground did fill on the Fourth. There's no water or electricity at the sites. Cell service is listed as available. Firewood has been stocked on-site at no extra cost, at least during summer visits. "With a little more maintenance definitely could be a five star," notes Shy R., which fairly captures the tradeoff here. Campers wanting developed facilities can find campgrounds near Bayfield with more infrastructure, or consider Little Sand Bay Recreation Area to the southwest for a federally managed alternative.

Description

A few miles north, experience Point Detour “Wilderness” Campground. Rustic camping surrounded by nature and located on an overlook of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands.

On a first come, first serve basis
No reservations required (but advised if it's a weekend or holiday)

Pay site fees at Legendary Waters Resort & Casino Hotel Front Desk
Campground Check-in: 12PM / Campground Check-out: 11am

Stay six nights, get the seventh night FREE! TENT: $25 For reservations or information, please contact the Hotel Front Desk at (800) 226-8478 Toll Free.

The showers are at the casino, not the campground (but they are FREE). You must book a "time" to take a shower with the casino front desk

Reservation Info

Reservations not required, but helpful. They are about 9 miles from the casino, so you book at the casino (or call the casino). Then you must check in at the casino to get your "tags" for your dashboard and campsite.Then you drive to the campground and call the casino back to let them know what space you are in.

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Map & DirectionsPoint Detour Wilderness Campground is located in Wisconsin near Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Private Campground

Address

95995 Point Detour Road
Bayfield, WI 54814

Coordinates

46.96024831463095 N
90.87349921120365 W

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Connectivity

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Connectivity

Presented by

T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More

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Last on 5/20/26
Verizon
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Verified by 8 users
Last on 8/15/26
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 8/15/26

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site

Site Types

Tent Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group

Features

For Campers

Trash
Picnic Table
Phone Service
Reservable
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

Contact

General Info

Reservations

+18002268478

Drive Time

1 hr 34 min from Duluth, MN
3 hrs 12 min from Eau Claire, WI
3 hrs 31 min from Wausau, WI
3 hrs 39 min from Minneapolis, MN

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Reviews4 Camper Reviews - Point Detour Wilderness Campground

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

4.0

out of 5

4 Reviews

A primitive campground with unique sites offering good availability and basic amenities. Maintenance varies across sites, with some well-kept areas and others needing attention, though the unusual casino check-in process works fine.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Patrick W.

Traveler

Reviewed May. 30, 2026

Perfect Rustic Campsite.

The staff at the hotel where you registered to camp there was wonderful and helpful. They tell you the campsite is rustic and there’s no water and electricity and it’s exactly how they describe it. The outhouse was clean though rustic but it does have a light. The sites have fire rings and a picnic table. On Memorial weekend, there was only one other set of campers each night. I was there. If you wanna remote location that’s right on Lake superior this is a great site. If you want amenities, this is not the place to go. But I give it five stars for what it is a great rustic primitive campsite.

Site7

Month of VisitMay

Shy R.

Scout

Reviewed Aug. 10, 2025

Beautiful Rustic/Remote Camping

We had a group of 7 at one campsite (3 of them being under 5). Its kind of hard to find some of the camp sites but when you do find them they have tables and rock fire rings. Outhouse was a pit toilet which didn't smell to bad and was nice they had a light in it. The garbage is also right next to the toilet. Again very beautiful, but with a little more maintenance definitely could be a five star!

Month of VisitAugust

Brittany M.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 10, 2024

Quiet Rustic campground

We camped here over the 4th of July. Our site had a short trail directly to Lake Superior. We arrived mid afternoon on the 4th and there were multiple sites still available. The campground did fill up though. Some sites had grass which had not been cut in quite some time and would make it really difficult to camp, others had the grass cut. Sites had a fire pit and picnic table. The outhouse was a bit messy, but usable.

Site8

Month of VisitJuly

Amy G.

Legend

Reviewed Jul. 9, 2021

Free firewood at a lovely primitive campground!

We used The Dyrt to find this location. Thinking we would be staying at the casino campground, we discovered this gem, that they also run. Not as crowded, as most people want to be closer to the casino itself, it's lovely, although primitive.

The sites were all mowed. There were 24 in total. I was told that most of the time, you don't even need a reservation, but we were there on July 4th. Even so, there was still availability. The reservation set up is a bit odd since you have to make it with the casino/hotel front desk and check in there, but the campground is about 9 miles away. once you get to the campground, then you call the front desk to let them know what space you are in.

Fun fact: free firewood! Or at least there was a large pile of it when we were there. Free for the taking, so that was a nice surprise.

All the spaces were mowed and ready for campers except for one that was so far back in the woods that someone seemed to have missed it. No biggie. Plenty of other spaces. All were very unique, no two were the same. Some very small for a tiny tent and privacy and a few others more open for bigger tents and maybe a small family group. Most had fire rings, some had picnic tables. Some had lake view (not access...it was way up a steep hill/small cliff). Most had decent space between them so you couldn't see neighbors. Lots of mature trees and bushes.

There was an outhouse and while it looked quite primitive on the outside, it had what you needed on the inside. Lots of TP and a latch on the door. It was an outhouse made of wood. It did the job.

Not many trees for hammocks, although I did find some. Might have to get creative, but some sites had space for them.

There ARE showers available, but not at the campground. You can sign up for a time slot at the casino front desk and then go there and take one. They are quite clean (I think they clean them after each person is done). So while not terribly convenient, they are free and it is a nice shower. Lots of hot water!

We had a tiny incident the second night of stay with a neighbor that was playing music too loud, but the hotel was quick to respond, once it was reported.

Would definitely stay here again.

Site5

Month of VisitJuly

Frequently Asked Questions

What do reviews say about Point Detour Wilderness Campground?

Point Detour Wilderness Campground offers a primitive camping experience with 24 total sites. It's generally less crowded than the nearby casino campground and features direct Lake Superior access from some sites. The campground has basic amenities including tables and rock fire rings at the campsites. Even during busy holidays like the 4th of July, sites may be available until later in the day when it tends to fill up. The facilities include pit toilets with lights and a garbage disposal area. Some sites may have tall grass during peak season.

Where is Point Detour Campground located in Bayfield, WI?

Point Detour Wilderness Campground is located in Bayfield, Wisconsin near Lake Superior. It's managed by the same organization that runs the nearby casino campground, though it sits at a distance from the casino itself. The campground features direct access to Lake Superior with some sites having short trails leading directly to the lakeshore. Its somewhat remote location makes it less crowded than the main casino camping area, offering a more secluded wilderness experience in the Bayfield area.

Are there photos available of Point Detour Campground facilities?

Photos of Point Detour Wilderness Campground would show its 24 mowed sites, each equipped with tables and rock fire rings. The facilities include pit toilets with lighting and a garbage disposal area. Images would also capture the natural setting with trails leading to Lake Superior from select campsites. For current photos and visual information about the campground's facilities, check the official campground website or contact the management directly as visual representations help in planning your stay and selecting the right site.

How much does camping at Point Detour Campground cost?

Specific pricing for Point Detour Wilderness Campground isn't detailed in available information. As a primitive campground with basic amenities (pit toilets, fire rings, and tables), fees are likely modest compared to full-service facilities. The campground accommodates groups, with reports of up to 7 people sharing a single site. For current and accurate pricing information, contact the campground management directly or check their official website before planning your trip.

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