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Bad River Wilderness

98%
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· Mellen, Ashland, Wisconsin
60 acres hosted by Dean W.
1 RV/tent site · 3 tent sites
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Best in Wisconsin: 3rd place
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023.
Off-leash friendly
Pets can be off-leash at this Hipcamp.
Private sites
97% of recent Hipcampers say the sites felt private.
Staff verified
Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.
Update: This property was just awarded 2nd place for 2024 as the 2nd best Hipcamp in Wisconsin out of 252 Hipcamp's based on reviews and ratings! Thank you to all who have enjoyed this amazing property and provided a review or rating!!! On the upper Bad River, I have a special location that I'd like to share for others to enjoy. I was fortunate to acquire this land 20 years ago and now that I have retired from the United States Air Force, I can dedicate time to create peaceful campsites along the river. This land was originally railroad property as the railroad companies bought much land in the late 1800's to have options to place their railroads. There is still a railroad track nearby but it has been abandoned since 2015 and it makes a nice hiking path along the river for many miles to the north. There are 3 waterfalls nearby and I will have many signs leading to the waterfalls. There are 4 total campsites on the property, 1 site you can drive to (Eagle Pines), and 3 tent sites that require 1/8 mile hike to 2 sites, and a 1/4 mile hike to the other hike-in site.
Activities
Biking
Boating
Fishing
Hiking
Natural features
Forest
River, stream, or creek
Swimming hole
Waterfall
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98%
328 ratings · 260 reviews
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Breanne C.recommends
June 13, 2024
Eagle Pines On The Bad River
Beautiful serene spot
This was an absolutely beautiful spot! Loved being near the water and the little dock was a delight to hang out on. Appreciated all the firewood available for the fire ring, even if the evening did get rained out. It’s a very private location but not hard to get to. Sadly, my mosquito repellent didn’t stand a chance and had to leave the spot sooner than I would have liked. But hey, it’s summer! Absolutely recommended this site during a less buggy season.
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Ben K.recommends
June 12, 2024
Cayuga Falls Hike-In River Campsite
Great spot for quiet campsite
This was a beautiful location. The river runs right by the campsite and you can hear the waterfall just down stream. The site was well setup with plenty of wood for campfires, a canoe with paddles, and well marked paths. Everyone in my family enjoyed the setting. Biggest upsides - solitude, atmosphere, secluded, river (fishing, canoeing, hiking by waterfalls) Points of note - the connected trail.system is small so you will want to plan additional hikes if interested in hiking (eg Copper Falls State Park), campsite is on smaller side (we had space for two tents but it was cozy).
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Shawn Q.recommends
June 11, 2024
Balsam Shores Hike-In Campsite
Beautiful campground along the river with nice amenities. Dean was great and communicated everything clearly. Very buggy, but to be expected at the time of year I visited
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Kaitlyn N.recommends
June 9, 2024
Cayuga Falls Hike-In River Campsite
The campsite was beautiful. It is obvious that Dean is passionate about maintaining the land and providing a good experience for his guests. He provided detailed instructions about the stay and clear signs to locate the site. It rained the day we got there and Dean went out of his way to drop off dry kindling without us even asking. 10/10, will hopefully be staying again!
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Emmerson H.recommends
June 7, 2024
Bad River Point Hike-In Campsite
Had a great stay at the Bad River Point campsite on Dean's property! Where to go was cleary explained and the signs he had up were very helpful. It was no problem getting to the site from the parking lot, though a bit muddy and rocky, but not much you can about that. Stayed during the week with my dog and we had the whole place to ourselves. At the site itself, Dean's got a fire ring, grill for the fire, a canoe, paddles, life jackets, a picnic table, a box for food/trash, and extra rope. There was also a decent bit of firewood piled up nearby. Overall great experience and beautifal site but the toilet could use an emptying. Highly recommend!
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Ryan A.recommends
June 4, 2024
Cayuga Falls Hike-In River Campsite
Great setup and easy to find. Had chairs, wood, and a grill for over the fire. Cool location. Host is responsive and replies quickly.
Location
Mellen, Ashland, Wisconsin, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Dean W.Joined in July 2017
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