The best forest campgrounds near Hayward, Wisconsin

Looking to pitch your tent in the lush forests near Hayward, Wisconsin? Look no further than Balsam Ridge Retreat, the go-to website for outdoor enthusiasts. With over 229 options specifically tailored to your preference for forest terrain, you'll find the perfect campsite for your adventure. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or prefer off-roading in an OHV, there's something for everyone. And with popular campsites like Bad River Wilderness and Stone Creek Farm, you can trust that you're in for a great experience. Plus, with amenities like toilets, potable water, and trash services, you can enjoy the beauty of nature without sacrificing comfort. So pack your bags and get ready to explore the wilderness at an average price of $42 per night, with options as low as $5. Happy camping!

96% (545) • 37 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Hayward

Looking to pitch your tent in the lush forests near Hayward, Wisconsin? Look no further than Balsam Ridge Retreat, the go-to website for outdoor enthusiasts. With over 229 options specifically tailored to your preference for forest terrain, you'll find the perfect campsite for your adventure. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or prefer off-roading in an OHV, there's something for everyone. And with popular campsites like Bad River Wilderness and Stone Creek Farm, you can trust that you're in for a great experience. Plus, with amenities like toilets, potable water, and trash services, you can enjoy the beauty of nature without sacrificing comfort. So pack your bags and get ready to explore the wilderness at an average price of $42 per night, with options as low as $5. Happy camping!

96% (545) • 37 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Hayward

1. Bad River Wilderness

98%

(536)

41mi from Hayward · 4 sites · Tents, RVs

Update: This property was 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 unused since 2015 and it makes a nice hiking path along the river for many miles to the north into the national forest. 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.

2. Haugen Road Campground

98%

(24)

47mi from Hayward · 1 site · Tent

Come enjoy 4 acres of beautiful Red Pine woods on a dirt road corner. 2 minutes from Copper Falls State Park where you can enjoy kayaking, fishing, hiking the falls, biking, and enjoying a day in the park area with family and friends. Come back to camp and have a beer and cook some food by the fire.

3. Chippewa River Forest

95%

(30)

23mi from Hayward · 1 site · Tent, RV

This little chunk of land is a place that offers peace, solitude and an unplugging from life's hectic pace. Our 9 acre wooded lot is a quiet, secluded, woodsy retreat perched above the beautiful Chippewa River. The shallow river is perfect for wading, tubing, paddling & fishing. The undergrowth is a carpet of ferns & native plants. Birders will love this spot. We also encourage bringing your dog friends. We have several fire rings and encourage responsible campfire hangouts. *Please do not bring firewood. We provide dry wood & dead fall may be used for campfire, but ABSOLUTELY NO CUTTING from live trees, please. TENT site: Tent site is pretty basic-- it fits one large tent (12'x15') pad and has a fire ring, a cooking grate and picnic table. While it does not have electricity, there is an outlet on the property to charge phones, etc. BATHROOM: Our well maintained outhouse is a short walk from the tent site, and stays stocked with TP. It also has a solar light for night-time visits. CAMPERS/VANS: We have 30 Amp electric hookup available for small campers! Bring your pop-up or pull-behind. Intermediate trailer-backing skills are necessary to reach the camper site. *We do not allow hunting, shooting or ATV riding on the property. Archery practice is Ok however. ** As we continue our A-Frame cabin build, you will see some construction clutter. We will never be working during your stay, however - you'll have the place to yourself unless otherwise agreed upon. Feel free to view the cabin from the outside but please do not enter the structure.

4. Chequamegon National Forest

75%

(4)

351 sites · Rhinelander, Wisconsin

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, what a unique name and deservedly so as the forest itself is as diverse and attention getting as it’s namesake! The deep northwoods of Wisconsin offers a ton of hiking, biking, and camping to get stoked about; there’s 800 miles of hiking trails alone. But if you’re looking for a truly unique outdoor experience, try offroading or cross country skiing old military roads in the winter. There’s stunning Lake Superior views from St. Peter’s Dome and 70 foot Morgan Falls is sure to cool you off on a hot summer day. We dig the Quartz Trail where you can see giant quartz deposits discovered by the Native Americans who used to inhabit the area. There’s plenty of camping options to make this a wilderness weekend (or more) and with over 1.5 million acres to explore, we doubt you’ll be running out of rad things to discover!

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

5. Amnicon Falls State Park

100%

(5)

29 sites · Poplar, Wisconsin

Discover the serene beauty of Amnicon Falls State Park.

Toilets

Campfires

Potable water

6. Blue Lake Farm

17mi from Hayward · 1 site · Tent, RV

The property is a 120 acres. There is a small lake with fish in it, open fields with 1 water source and deep woods with trails snaking around. Don’t get lost to bad. A hollowed out gravel pit and a couple hundred feet from the ATV snowmobile trail.

7. Wildwood Haven Resort and Camp

100%

(6)

44mi from Hayward · 2 sites · Tents, RVs

Wildwood Haven is a private resort & campground located just south of Copper Falls State Park. It has tent sites, RV sites with W/E hookups, glamping and cabins, located on the north shore of Long Lake. Lake access for all guests. Near over 60 waterfalls.

8. Wild Wood Acres

100%

(12)

31mi from Hayward · 7 sites · Tents, RVs

Wild wood acres is a beautiful 70 acre mixture of various pines and hardwoods. It features great views overlooking a trout spring, small creek and lots of peace and quiet. Hiking / biking trails through out that are open to enjoy. Lots of natural wildlife that roams the property. Rustic Farms Produce farm is also on the property so if your in the market for some fresh produce you can grab some as you stay. A great place to relax and only 6 miles from the beautiful Shell Lake Beach.

9. Oakbrook

94%

(8)

43mi from Hayward · 2 sites · Tents, RVs

Welcome to our little retreat in the Northwoods of Wisconsin! We've got 24 acres of mostly Aspen Forest with oaks and maples. There's around 3km trails and a seasonal stream. We're located just 15 minutes from Lake Superior and Lake Nebagamon for fishing, swimming, and boating and 20 minutes from the twin ports of Superior and Duluth. Enjoy the touristy sites of the twin ports and then retreat to a quiet rural rustic campsite for a fire and conversation at the end of the day. Currently no outhouse on the property (hence the low price) but we have 15amp electric on our solar microgrid and we're working to add more everyday! Gichi-apiitenimaanaanig Meskwaabikikejig, Wenamanikejig, gaa-wenjibaawaad omaa miinawaa Anishinaabeg daawaad geyaabi ge-ganawendamowaad o’o aki. Ginisidawaabandaamin Gichigabegikendaasowigamig Miskwaa-Gete-Oodenang ateg Ojibwewakiing. Bizaan minjimendamog gaye jiikendamog ezhi-gizhi-inendaagwag gakina akiin. In honor of the Anishinaabe people, the original peoples and caretakers of this land, we would like to recognize that we inhabit the land of the Ojibwe people. We would like to take this space to honor and celebrate ancestral Ojibwe land and the sacred lands of all Indigenous peoples.

10. Copper Falls State Park

93%

(7)

51 sites · Mellen, Wisconsin

Discover Copper Falls State Park's ancient lava flows and scenic trails.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

11. Pattison State Park

100%

(5)

58 sites · Superior, Wisconsin

Discover Wisconsin's tallest waterfalls and serene nature at Pattison State Park.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

12. DragSmith Farms

83%

(6)

44mi from Hayward · 4 sites · Tents, RVs

DragSmith Farms is a 104 acre Certified Organic produce farm with 10,000 square feet of greenhouses and an on farm store. We grow organic produce and microgreens that we sell to restaurants in the Twin Cities and western WI. We have 40 acres of property that we do not use for farming that is wooded, swampy and has a river as the boundary on side. The river is a class "A" trout stream that is about 30 feet wide and is great for canoeing and fishing.

13. Higher Ground

100%

(5)

27mi from Hayward · 1 site · Tent, RV

The only private hipcamp site in a 20 mile radius. Large, peaceful, wooded plot with pond and adjacent golf course. Wind down next to the water and enjoy watching deer, birds, and many other wildlife. Just down the road are hundreds of lakes and streams, the Gordon dam, hiking trails, UTV trails, horseback trails, restaurants, bars, and the beautiful Gordon flowage. Thousands of county and federal acres for all types of hunters.

14. Robinson Lake Campground

22mi from Hayward · 2 sites · Tents, RVs

Brand-new 28-site RV campground featuring full water and sewer hookups, along with 50A, 30A, and 20A power at every site. Most sites are generously sized at 30’ wide by 60’ long. Enjoy the on-site bar and restaurant with stunning views overlooking Robinson Lake — a premier recreational spot known for some of the best fishing in the state.

15. The Evergreen Collective Tiny House

100%

(5)

30mi from Hayward · 1 site · Lodging

Nestled in the northwoods of Wisconsin, this Tiny home has the comforts of glamping while being off grid. On 5 acres of heavily wooded land, this property has a fire pit, picnic table and lake /dock access 100 yards away (2 min walk) Guests are welcome to 3 shared kayaks, paddle boat, paddle board and fishing boat. At 8 feet by 12 feet,this 96 square ft tiny house has a key pad door lock, and a big casement window, the kitchenette has a propane cooktop/oven. The sink has water pumped from a holding tank. The Tiny House has Solar power for lights and a usb port for phone charging. The futon style bed, slides out to form a full size bed, 2 pillows and bedding is supplied. The tiny wood stove is available in the fall and winter months. Solor powered A/C unit is available for summer months. The Little Lodge is located on a heavily wooded 5 acre property in Spooner Wisconsin. There are several nearby ATV trails , hiking trails and a quaint downtown. The lake that The Little Lodge is on is not a good swimming lake but there is a clear swimming lake less than 5 miles away. The fire pit has seating and the picnic table is a great spot to enjoy the scenery over breakfast. Please bring your own firewood. If you enjoy nature, wildlife, glamping, fishing, paddle boarding ,kayaking or paddle boating , this is your spot!

16. Wilderness voyage

100%

(1)

34mi from Hayward · 1 site · Tent, RV

Property has RV pad, 2 bedroom cabin and a tiny home onsite. Beautiful trees and trails. Lake in the back with great fishing and boating. As quiet as quiet gets. All sorts of wildlife, deer, owls, turkeys, and some predators. Excellent bird watching. Star gazing is as good as it gets, with spectacular northern lights.

17. Deer Lake Private Retreat

88%

(4)

35mi from Hayward · 1 site · Tent

Deer Lake is private 50 acre lake surrounded by 140 acres of hardwood forest Hiking trails Canoe and kayaks. Near Brule River Great kayak trip . Very private and quiet. Listen to the loons and Trumpet Swans large garden blue berries near Lake Nebegamon and lake Minnesong. Great pan fishing and boating. 5 miles to Brule river. Great trout stream and kayaking. Biking trails and quiet country roads.

18. Heister Kamp

100%

(1)

26mi from Hayward · 6 sites · Tents, RVs

Also known as the Hershey Homestead, our property is home to what we like to call the funny farm. We have lots of kids and all of them are involved in 4h so that means we have lots of animals. Chickens, ducks, geese, peacocks, goats, sheep, pigs, beef, and horses each have a home here as well as dogs and cats. It's rarely quiet but the chorus of sounds you hear can be an interesting mix of the mating calls of the peacocks to the mooing of the cows to the howls of coyotes at night. (And maybe some of our seven kids playing outside ). As a camper on our property, you are welcome to explore the homestead at your leisure and take in the sights and smells of the farm. We also have several ponds that bring in an array of wildlife that can be great for bird watching or maybe even catching a few bluegills. We have a new couple of bald eagles that built a nest in a towering white pine along the shore of the big pond, providing opportunities for eagle sightings and photography. There are multiple trails throughout the property available for hiking as well We are a 1/4 mile from the lake of Shell Lake which has one of the nicest public beaches in northern WI and there are lots of eating and shopping options within a short distance in all directions. We like to say that we live in the country with the convenience of city amenities only a hop skip and a jump away.

19. Lakeside

39mi from Hayward · 1 site · Tent, RV

This is a site tucked in amongst our back forest of white pines and birch trees about 35' from the back lake called Bass Lake. The lake is suitable for canoeing, kayaking and fishing. It connects with another lake in the Southwest corner of the lake. It is easy to back in your RV to the spot under the trees. There are no hookups and no fresh water. It's just one site near the lake. The driveway is an easement that runs from Bertram Road across my neighbor's property and continues on past my property to the next two properties. There is hardly any vehicles that use it and it provides nice access to the camp site.

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

Ross

November 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Chippewa River Forest

Awesome spot to camp. I endured some snow, but access to the site and plenty of firewood on hand made the cold enjoyable and manageable. I'll be back in calmer weather with my dog!

A

Armando

November 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Bad River Wilderness

Amazing a lot of space shame the doc wasent out but 100/10 would recommend beautiful pretty secluded but still close !

J

Julie

October 2025

18 ft campervan

2 nights at Bad River Wilderness

Very peaceful site right on the river. Loved the ancient white pines covering the camp area! Great location and fun to hike to the falls. Thank you, Jeff & Julie

N

Neeka

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Bad River Wilderness

Absolutely amazing! A little slice of heaven!!! Will be coming again next year!

D

Dee

October 2025

16 ft car

1 night at Bad River Wilderness

Wow! What a magical place. I had an amazing time camping at Eagle Pines On The Bad River and spending a gorgeous exploring Deans land. He’s clearly put much time and care into building and maintaining the trails. The map, signs and ribbons were very helpful for navigating the area. It was an absolute delight and adventure hiking the trails and wandering around the three waterfalls. Dean was also an excellent host. He was incredibly accommodating, responded quickly to my messages and provided very detailed instructions and recommendations upon booking. I highly recommend these sites to anyone wanting a peaceful, somewhat rustic and secluded spot to stargaze, canoe/kayak, hike and commune with the land and water. I hope to visit again soon.

Jennifer

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Bad River Wilderness

We had the greatest time camping at Bad River Wilderness! We stayed at Bad River Point. Dean was most accommodating and helpful. The campsites are very remote and short walks to the waterfalls. Gorgeous property! Extremely clean and well taken care of! We enjoyed hiking the beautiful paths! Walking on the railroad tracks. Exploring in the canoe was also fun! We can’t wait to stay there again! Thank you, Dean for sharing your property with us!

Lydia

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Bad River Wilderness

We were super impressed with the Balsam Shores campsite! It was lovely to be so close to the water, and it was so cool to have the option to canoe. Overall, everything was well-labeled and easy to find.

J

Janelle

October 2025

Tent

4 nights at Bad River Wilderness

Loved our time at this spot! Beautiful camp with amazing giant pine trees and a great setting on the river. Definitely plan to return! The river was low at this time of the year, but still managed to get out on the canoe provided and that was a great surprise to have available. We even saw a pair of swans!

Provided vault/pit toilet with hand sanitizer and toilet paper

F

Fiona

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Bad River Wilderness

Although I arrived in the dark, I still found it fairly easy to navigate and find my campsite based on the directions Dean sent and the posted signs he made. I was impressed at how nice the campsite was -- it is clear that a lot of work was put in to haul in a lot of accommodations (chairs to sit on, smores sticks, lifejackets, canoes, food safety bins, etc) and create easy to navigate trails to the campsites and waterfall spots. This is a lovely place to just spend the night or have a long weekend getaway. Unique location right on the river and unique way to get there (crossing railroad tracks and hiking in). I found the location to be very quiet and secluded which I really enjoyed; it felt like I had backpacked quite far into the woods, not just walked a couple minutes from my parking spot. Highly recommend!

M

Maria

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Bad River Wilderness

Host was super communicative and we loved the camp site right on the water, waterfalls, trails. Beautiful place!

Edward

October 2025

30 ft campervan

Weekend Trip to DragSmith Farms

Super nice hosts. We stayed one night here and it was quiet and peaceful

M

Molly Jo

October 2025

17 ft travel trailer

1 night at Bad River Wilderness

One of the best hip camps we have ever been to…. Maybe even the absolute best. Michael has great communication, the site was beautiful and private, and please don’t miss out on taking a ride in the supplied canoe. It’s a beautiful place! This is our second time there and we will return again.

S

Sue

October 2025

Tent

2 nights at Bad River Wilderness

I had a nice stay on Dean's property. Not only was it quiet and along the river, but it was also a good jumping off spot to play tourist in the area. The ability to have the dog off-leash made us both happy. My pup had a great time in the woods, running and exploring. The sites are definitely walk-in. It's not a difficult or technical walk, but expect your standard rocks, roots, and wet leaves. A bit of up and down. More advanced beginner than totally flat. (I include this for those of us with knee issues.) I arrived at night (my fault for the late start) and had no issues getting to my site thanks to the thorough directions and the signage on the property. Overall, good time!

A

Ashley

October 2025

16 ft car

With pets

Weekend Trip to Oakbrook

Secluded little nook close to beaches, parks, & towns. Not far from main highway & a lovely little drive down some maintained gravel roads. Caitlin is super friendly & provided a perfect spot to rest for a couple days before I started the next leg of my journey. The hosts are close by if you need anything, so even though you're secluded in the woods, there is a comfort knowing people are close by in case of emergency. They also supplied firewood, an electrical outlet, large fire pit, & big picnic table next to the parking pad. They even have trails right on the property! It felt like staying at a campground, without the chaos that campgrounds & RV parks can sometimes bring. It was a great last minute decision and I will definitely look forward to staying here again.

K

Keira

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Bad River Wilderness

The campsite was spacious and tucked away from the other sites which provided a good amount of privacy. Our dogs had enough space to run around and explore and we loved every second of it!

Will

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Bad River Wilderness

The campsite was magical! If you're looking for a beautiful place to really get off the beaten path, this is a great place to do it. The river was nice for a cooling swim on a hot day. Dean takes very good care of the property. I could occasionally hear voices off in the distance from other campers and their dogs, but I never saw another person in the day and night I spent there.

M

Michael

September 2025

Tent

1 night at Bad River Wilderness

Peace & quiet off the beaten track along the Bad River. Well worth the hike in.

J

Jordan

September 2025

Weekend Trip to Bad River Wilderness