- Mellen
Bad River Wilderness
Hosted by Dean · Mellen, Wisconsin
4 sites · RV, Tent · 41.5 acres
Best Hipcamps in Wisconsin
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2025.
Best in Wisconsin: 3rd place
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023.
Amazing views
Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
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.
There is no leash required for good pups. If your pup is aggressive with other dogs or people please leash them when on the hiking trails. If your pups would stay in your campsite no leash is required. Other campers may be hiking past your campsite on the trails that is still over 100 feet away from others campsites. You may run into others on the trails where others dogs may not be leashed. If your dog is aggressive to other dogs even if yours is on leash if you can’t control them please muzzle them.
This property is for sale if you may be interested. Please ask and I’ll send you the details.
Select a site
Tent-only sites
3 sites
Bad River Point
97%
(158)Tent site · Sleeps 9
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!!!
If you value a camping experience with privacy vs. camping a few feet away from another tent or RV, this camping experience on your own piece of the Bad River is epic! You will not see another camper unless you happen to stumble upon the few other campers that may be hiking on this private property's trails to the multiple waterfalls nearby. Or, other campers may be floating quietly by in the canoe that's free to use at all 3 of the campsites.
There are good options for hammock trees here also.
IMPORTANT: If you book this campsite, you will receive detailed directions and other important after you log back into your Hipcamp account.
This is a sister site to my other sites on the same property along the Bad River; "Eagle Pines on the Bad River" "Balsam Shores on the Bad River". In the national forest, there is no camping allowed within 75 feet of water but here you will be camping about 15 feet from the water. This is a hike in tent site that is about 1/8 mile from the parking area and should take about 5 minutes to hike to camp.
This will be a tent site with an enclosed pit toilet with a toilet seat, a canoe/paddles, a picnic table, a fire ring, and a grill to cook on.
At the site is the largest white pine on my property with a circumference of 13 feet. Within a 3 minute hike are one of the nearby waterfalls and with another 1/2 mile hike north downriver is another set of falls. If you're more adventurous, there is the largest falls in the general area that is about a 2 1/2 mile hike each way on the abandoned railroad tracks. Or, you can drive to within a 3/4 mile hike of this falls by driving north of Cayuga on Hwy 13 and turning left/West on the next road (Forest Road 184/Conley Road) and driving west until you come to the bridge and tracks and parking there to hike 3/4 mile north on the railroad tracks. Cross 3 railroad bridges and look for the trail on the left about 150 yards north of the 3rd bridge.
There are Brook Trout in the river and the best way to catch them is with a #1 spinner or with a sinker and worms below the waterfalls in the deeper pools.
The river is great for swimming with clean water and a hard sand bottom as we have no farm fields for pesticides/herbicides or erosion in our headwaters. The river water is great for using a water filter for drinking.
There is no Poison Ivy, no Poison Oak, and no poisonous snakes or spiders in this area.
Bears or bear sign have never been seen at the campsite because campers have been very good about having no food in their tents or eating in tents. There is a large 8.5 gallon in size rectangular ammo can at the campsite to use for storing food. If you have food waste or food wrappers, please burn it completely in the fire ring or pack it out.
I have now extended the hiking trail past the first waterfalls that will follow the river and marking ribbons and eventually lead to the railroad tracks instead of having to backtrack on the same trail to get back to the tracks. Then, once you get to the tracks, if you turn right you will head towards waterfalls #2 and if you turn left you will head back towards the campsite.
The Drop Tine Bar Grill in Cayuga 1 1/2 miles away from the parking area has great food and drinks. Their business hours are posted on the door and you can check that on the way in as it's right on the way to the campsite. They should be closed Monday-Wednesday and open at noon Thursday-Sunday. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the low cost of drinks compared to big cites! :)
This site is just a 10 minute drive to Copper Falls State Park. Also nearby is Morgan Falls, St Peters Dome, Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands, and just a 20 minute drive to the Clam Lake area to watch the Elk along the roads.
Please bring some toilet paper in case previous campers have left the lid off of the toilet paper container and it got wet.
This is the woods and wilderness, not a populated campground where there is an insect control program. The bugs could be minimal or they could be bad since this is a woods. Insect numbers depend on many variables including how much rain we've had, how cold or warm the weather is, or insect hatch efficiency. I'm sorry but I cannot control how good or bad the bugs are and can't issue refunds if the bugs are beyond your tolerance. There have been no mosquitos after mid-August.
Consider bringing fire starting fluid if it has rained as the wood laying in the woods may be damp making it difficult to start a fire. You could put charcoal starting fluid in a small 1oz booze bottle and bring that in your backpack. Diesel fuel works great too. Don't use gasoline.
I will set the refund policy for 100% up to 3 days prior to check in. Please do a check on the weather outlook at least 3 days before you arrive to see if the weather will be nice for at least part of your stay. If you cancel within 3 days before your arrival, I am sorry but the system won't provide a refund. If you need to cancel, please cancel at least 3 days prior to your arrival date so you can be refunded and others can have a better chance to schedule a stay. Thank you for understanding this.
As a heads-up, this probably isn’t a good campsite if you need to have many items at the site that you would have to carry from your vehicle. It’s a 1/8 mile hike over irregular terrain from the parking area to the campsite. There are wet areas, rough/rocky areas, and hills on the path to the campsite. There is no paved or gravel path. Some campers have used a wagon or cart to go about 1/2 the way to the campsite on the railroad tracks. After that, it's not possible to use a wagon or cart since the terrain is so irregular.
IMPORTANT: Detailed directions and other important info should be provided after you book but, do not turn at the sign, turn right 150 feet past sign which would be right after the gravel pit. Please read the directions carefully. IMPORTANT: When you see the sign, go past that sign 150 feet and turn right after the gravel pit. Then drive 1/4 mile to the parking area. Do not turn at the sign as that is a different campsite. Thanks.
Moderate walk to site
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Pets allowed
Balsam Shores
98%
(135)Tent site · Sleeps 12
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!!!
If you value a camping experience with privacy vs. camping a few feet away from another tent or RV, this camping experience on your own piece of the Bad River is epic! You will not see another camper unless you happen to stumble on the few other campers that may be hiking on this private property's trails to the multiple waterfalls nearby. Or, other campers may be floating quietly by in the canoe that's free to use at all 3 of the campsites.
IMPORTANT: If you book this campsite, you will receive "arrival instructions" that provide detailed directions and other important information after you make your booking. PLEASE make sure you log into your Hipcamp account to read that. Thanks. Also, please remember the name of your campsite so you follow the correct directions on the signs.
This is a sister site to 3 of my other sites on the same 40 acres along the Bad River; "Eagle Pines on the Bad River", "Bad River Point", and "Cayuga Falls". In the national forest, there is no camping allowed within 75 feet of water but here you will be camping about 25 feet from the water. This is a hike to tent site that is less than 1/4 mile and should take about 5 minutes to hike to camp. There is a canoe and paddles for you to use at the campsite with adult size life preservers available also. The river is only about 2 or 3 feet deep in most of the river. This will be a primitive tent site with a pit toilet with a toilet seat, a fire ring and grill, a picnic table, and a few plastic chairs. There is plenty of dead and down firewood to collect in the nearby woods There are good options for hammock trees also.
Within a 5 minute hike are one of the nearby waterfalls and with another 1/2 mile hike is another set of falls. If you're more adventurous, there is the largest falls in the general area that is about a 2 1/2 mile hike each way on the abandoned railroad tracks. Or, you can drive to within a 3/4 mile hike of this falls by driving north of Cayuga on Hwy 13 and turning left/West on the next road (Forest Road 184/Conley Road) and driving west until you come to the bridge and tracks and parking there to hike 3/4 north on the railroad tracks. Cross 3 railroad bridges and look for the trail on the left about 100 yards north of the 3rd bridge.
This site is just a 10 minute drive to Copper Falls State Park. Also nearby is Morgan Falls, St Peters Dome, Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands, and just a 20 minute drive to the Clam Lake area to watch the Elk along the roads.
There is enough room to place at least six 2/3 person tents and room to place larger tents.
There are Brook Trout in the river and the best way to catch them is with a #1 spinner or with a sinker and worms below the waterfalls in the deep pools.
There is no Poison Ivy, no Poison Oak, and no poisonous snakes or spiders in this area.
Bears or bear sign have never been seen at the campsite because campers have been very good about having no food in their tents or eating in the tents. There is a large 8.5 gallon in size rectangular ammo can at the campsite to use for storing food. If you have food waste or food wrappers, please burn it completely or pack it out.
I have now extended the hiking trail past the first waterfalls that will follow the river and eventually lead to the railroad tracks instead of having to backtrack on the same trail to get back to the tracks. Just follow the ribbons down the trail Then, once you get to the tracks, if you turn right you will head towards waterfalls #2 and if you turn left you will head back towards the campsite.
This is the woods and wilderness, not a populated campground where there is an insect control program. The bugs could be minimal or they could be bad since this is a natural woods. Insect numbers depend on many variables including how much rain we've had, how cold or warm the weather is, or insect hatch efficiency. I'm sorry but I cannot control how good or bad the bugs are.
Consider bringing fire starting fluid if it has rained as the wood laying in the woods may be damp making it difficult to start a fire. You could put charcoal starting fluid in a small 1oz booze bottle and bring that in your backpack. Diesel fuel works great too. Don't use gasoline.
I will set the refund policy for 100% up to 3 days prior to check in. Please do a check on the weather outlook at least 3 days before you arrive to see if the weather will be nice for at least part of your stay. If you cancel within 3 days before your arrival, I am sorry but the system won't provide a refund. If you need to cancel, please cancel at least 3 days prior to your arrival date so you can be refunded and others can have a better chance to schedule a stay. Thank you for understanding this.
There are numerous signs posted for directions to the campsite and the waterfalls. IMPORTANT: Arrival instructions will be provided after you book but, do not turn at the sign, turn right 150 feet past the sign to get to the parking area. Please read the directions carefully. Thanks.
The Drop Tine Bar And Grill in Cayuga 1 1/2 miles away from the parking area has great food and drinks. They're open at noon Thursday-Sunday and closed Monday-Wednesday. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the low cost for drinks compared to bigger cities! :)
As a heads-up, this probably isn’t a good campsite if you need to have many items at the site that you would have to carry from your vehicle. It’s a 1/8 mile hike over irregular terrain from the parking area to the campsite. It will take about 4 minutes to hike to the campsite. There are wet areas, rough/rocky areas, and hills on the path to the campsite. There is no paved or gravel path. I’ll include pictures of the trail in the image group. Past campers have left negative reviews because they had to carry items that 1/8 mile but I was very clear in describing that situation. Even if you consider using a wagon it will be very difficult to pull it over the rough terrain. I have no cart or wagon but you could use a wagon or cart to haul gear about 1/2 the distance to the campsite down the railroad tracks.
Moderate walk to site
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Pets allowed
Cayuga Falls Hike-In River Campsite
98%
(72)Tent site · Sleeps 8
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!!!
You will be very close to the waterfalls and you can fall asleep to the relaxing sound of those This is a hike-in/backpacking campsite with a 1/4 mile hike to the campsite. If you elect to carry in lots of gear it will be lots of work.
If you value a camping experience with privacy vs. camping a few feet away from another tent or RV, this camping experience on your own piece of the Bad River is epic!
IMPORTANT: If you book this campsite, you will receive "arrival instructions" that provide detailed directions and other important information after you make your booking. PLEASE make sure you log into your Hipcamp account to read that. Thanks. Also, please remember the name of your campsite (Cayuga Falls) so you follow the correct directions on the signs.
This is a sister site to 3 of my other sites on the same 40 acres along the Bad River; "Eagle Pines on the Bad River", "Bad River Point", and "Balsam Shores on the Bad River". In the national forest, there is no camping allowed within 75 feet of water but here you will be camping about 20 feet from the water. This is a hike to tent site that is less than 1/4 mile and should take about 6-8 minutes to hike to camp. Most of the river this property is 2-3 feet deep but here there are areas over 6 feet deep in certain areas of the big pool by the campsite. This will be a primitive tent site with a pit toilet with a toilet seat, a fire ring and grill, a picnic table, 4 plastic chairs, and a free canoe to use. There is plenty of dead and down firewood to collect in the nearby woods There are good options for hammock trees also.
Within 100 feet are one of the nearby waterfalls and with another 1/2 mile hike is another set of falls. If you're more adventurous, there is the largest falls in the general area that is about a 2 1/2 mile hike each way on the abandoned railroad tracks. Or, you can drive to within a 3/4 mile hike of this falls by driving north of Cayuga on Hwy 13 and turning left/West on the next road (Forest Road 184/Conley Road) and driving west until you come to the bridge and tracks and parking there to hike 3/4 north on the railroad tracks. Cross 3 railroad bridges and look for the trail on the left about 100 yards north of the 3rd bridge.
This site is just a 10 minute drive to Copper Falls State Park. Also nearby is Morgan Falls, St Peters Dome, Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands, and just a 20 minute drive to the Clam Lake area to watch the Elk along the roads.
There is enough room to place at least four 2/3 person tents and room to place larger tents.
There are Brook Trout in the river and the best way to catch them is with a #1 spinner or with a sinker and worms below the waterfalls or in the deep pool right by the campsite.
There is no Poison Ivy, no Poison Oak, and no poisonous snakes or spiders in this area.
Bears or bear sign have never been seen at any of the campsites because campers have been very good about having no food in their tents or eating in the tents. There is a large 8.5 gallon in size rectangular ammo can at the campsite to use for storing food. If you have food waste or food wrappers, please burn it completely or pack it out.
I have now extended the hiking trail past the first waterfalls that will follow the river and eventually lead to the railroad tracks instead of having to backtrack on the same trail to get back to the tracks. Just follow the ribbons down the trail Then, once you get to the tracks, if you turn right you will head towards waterfalls #2 and if you turn left you will head back towards the campsite.
This is the woods and wilderness, not a populated campground where there is an insect control program. The bugs could be minimal or they could be bad since this is a natural woods. Insect numbers depend on many variables including how much rain we've had, how cold or warm the weather is, or insect hatch efficiency. I'm sorry but I cannot control how good or bad the bugs are. The mosquitos are the worst in June and somewhat in July and after the beginning of August there are much fewer. Campfire smoke helps to keep mosquitos away.
Consider bringing fire starting fluid if it has rained as the wood laying in the woods may be damp making it difficult to start a fire. You could put charcoal starting fluid in a small 1oz booze bottle and bring that in your backpack. Diesel fuel works great too. Don't use gasoline.
There is a refund policy for 100% up to 3 days prior to check in. Please do a check on the weather outlook at least 3 days before you arrive to see if the weather will be nice for at least part of your stay. If you cancel within 3 days before your arrival, I am sorry but the system won't provide a refund. If you need to cancel, please cancel at least 3 days prior to your arrival date so you can be refunded and others can have a better chance to schedule a stay. Thank you for understanding this.
There are numerous signs posted for directions to the campsite and the waterfalls. IMPORTANT: Arrival instructions will be provided after you book but, do not turn at the sign, turn right 150 feet past the sign to get to the parking area. Please read the directions carefully. Thanks.
The Drop Tine Bar And Grill in Cayuga 1.5 miles away from the parking area has great food and drinks. They're open at noon Thursday-Sunday and closed Monday-Wednesday. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the low cost for drinks compared to bigger cities! :)
As a heads-up, this probably isn’t a good campsite if you need to have many items at the site that you would have to carry from your vehicle. It’s a 1/4 mile hike over irregular terrain from the parking area to the campsite. It will take about 7 minutes to hike to the campsite. There are wet areas, rough/rocky areas, and hills on the path to the campsite. There is no paved or gravel path. Past campers have left negative reviews because they had to carry items that distance but I was very clear in describing that situation. Even if you consider using a wagon it will be very difficult to pull it over the rough terrain. You could use a wagon or cart to haul gear about 1/3 the distance to the campsite down the railroad tracks.
Moderate walk to site
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Pets allowed
RV/tent sites
1 site
Eagle Pines
98%
(278)RV/tent site · Sleeps 28 · Vehicles under 40 ft
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!!!
If you value a camping experience with privacy vs. camping a few feet away from another tent or RV, this camping experience on your own piece of the Bad River is epic! You will not see or hear another camper unless you happen to stumble on the few other campers that may be hiking on this private property's trails to the multiple waterfalls nearby. Or, other campers may be floating quietly by in the canoe that's free to use at all 4 of the campsites.
IMPORTANT: After you book the site, you will be provided detailed directions and other important info in your Hipcamp account. Please log into your Hipcamp account and find this info before your travel to the campsite. Thanks.
If you’re looking for a campsite where you can interact, see, or even hear other campers, this campsite isn’t for you. There are no other campsites within 1/4 mile so you will definitely have lots of privacy. You may see other campers on the hiking trails to the waterfalls but you'll still have seclusion. This is a tent/RV site along the Bad River and you'll be camping within about 25 feet of the river near 3 very large (The trunks are 8, 9, and 10 feet in circumference) old growth White Pines. The name "Eagle Pines" is such because I often find Bald Eagle feathers on the ground in the campsite since they use the massive White Pines over the campsite to roost and preen their feathers.
I have 3 other hike-in backpacking tent sites nearby; "Balsam Shores on the Bad River", "Bad River Point", and "Cayuga Falls" so if this site is booked for the dates you want, check out those sites also.
Edit July 2024: For the first time in 5 years of offering this campsite, I had to refund a camper because he couldn’t get his class C RV into the campsite. If you’re not comfortable backing well please don’t reserve this campsite as many, many others have successfully used this site with their RV and I won’t be offering refunds for this again. The gravel pit close to the campsite is an option if you can’t make it work. You can drive your vehicle up the road right to the campsite. If you bring RV's or trailers you could back your camper up the road if you're good at backing but it is mostly a straight-line back of about 150 feet. Start backing in at the sign. You can run generators for your RV. If you're not comfortable about backing your RV up the road, you can park it in the gravel pit. I will have some 8" X 8" and 6" X 6" blocks at the campsite to help with leveling your RV. Please leave those for the next campers.
This site is just a 10 minute drive to Copper Falls State Park. Also nearby is Morgan Falls, St Peters Dome, Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands, and just a 20 minute drive to the Clam Lake area to watch the Elk along the roads.
There are very secluded and little known waterfalls a short hike away on the Bad River. The trailhead with signs to these waterfalls begins right at the campsite with an easy to follow path. When you walk up the steep hill to the tracks at the end of the trail, turn right to go to waterfalls #2 and turn left to go back to the campsite area. These waterfalls are on private land so the only way you can see these is if you camp at these campsites.
There is another waterfalls north on the railroad tracks about 2 1/2 miles north of the campsites. The best way to visit these is to drive north of Cayuga on Hwy 13 and turn left about 1 mile north on Forest Road 184/Conley Road. Drive west until you see the Bad River Bridge and park there. Hike north on the tracks and look for the short trail to the falls on the left about 100 yards north of the 3rd railroad trestle. This falls is on national forest land. A landowner that has land north of the falls about 100 feet has been illegally putting signs on the trail to the falls and the national forest law enforcement has been notified about this. If you see signs on the trail to the falls ignore these as they are illegally placed.
We have no light pollution up here so the gravel pit is a great place to stargaze and view the Milky Way.
I'll provide some free cherry wood for cooking with the grill over the firepit as cherry has a really good flavor for cooking. Please only use this for cooking as it's hard to find. The cherry wood will be on top of the woodshed or in the old outhouse structure. I'll have an arm-full of campfire wood by the fire pit for you and will have small woodsheds full of campfire wood you can purchase for $20 or $15 (labeled) which will be much less than the cost of the wood you find at gas stations/convenience stores. l'll have an ammo can on the woodshed you can leave the money in if you want to purchase the firewood. There are some bags of dry sticks for kindling wood in the small shed if you might need those. (FYI, Wisconsin DNR recommends limiting firewood transport within a 10-mile radius of where it originated to prevent tree-killing insects and diseases.)
If you might wish to purchase cherry firewood for cooking or smoking at home, I'll sell a 1/2 face cord (16" long X 4' high X 4' wide) for $50, or 1/4 face cord (16" X 4' high X 2' wide) for $25. Just let me know and I'll drop it off before you leave.
If you're interested in geology, there are interesting rocks in the gravel pit and we have found rocks with seashell fossils in them there. I am an experienced gold prospector and own 5 mining claims in Idaho and we do find gold in the gravel pit so you can pan for gold there if you'd like. The gold is very fine as it's been ground up by the glaciers so it's difficult to see unless you're experienced in gold recovery. You can also pan or sluice in the river.
There are larger rocks in the gravel pit that would be cool for a momento from your camping trip and good for landscaping and you can take a few home if you'd like. If you'd like to take a large amount of rocks home we can discuss a reasonable price for them.
You can have your pets off-leash here as long as they will stay around the campsite as there are wolves in this country. You may be able to hear the wolves howling at night.
There is good Brook Trout fishing in the river near the waterfall pools 1/3 mile downstream along with nice kayaking/canoeing on the river. There is a canoe and paddles for you to use and I do have adult life preservers available I'll hang by the small woodshed if you'd like to use them. Most of the river is a calm paddle about 3-4 feet deep and it's easy to paddle up or downstream so the river is yours to explore. The river going upstream about a mile and downstream about 1/2 mile is a slow current lazy river great for paddling. If the water isn't too low, you can canoe to the upstream bridge where the Drop Tine Bar and Grill is located. Further downstream are some serious whitewater rapids that deserve caution. Please don't consider going through the rapids with the canoe.
There is a 32 foot dock that extends into the river but please, no head-first diving as it is not deep enough for that. The river is about 3 feet deep in the middle so it's great for swimming and cooling off. The dock wood can also get slick when it's wet so please be careful with that.
There is good Musky and Walleye fishing in a nearby lake called Spillerberg Lake. I have a hardwood tent/relaxation platform I made from local trees I cut on my sawmill on the slope along the river where you can place a tent or your chairs to relax along the water.
There is a retired couple that live 1/4 mile from the campsite and you may hear their lawn mower or a dog barking once in a while but the local bears do not like anything to do with dogs as they are hunted up here with hounds. So, the dog that sometimes barks helps to keep the bears away from this area. We have never had an instance of a bear at the campsite so the dogs are keeping them away. Nobody else lives within a mile so it's a nice and peaceful location if you want to hear no other campers and want the forest all to yourself.
I've seen Eagles, Otters, Beavers, ducks, Mink, Fisher, Pine Marten, Weasels, Kingfisher, Snowshoe Hares, flying squirrels, and deer from the campsite as I worked to expand and improve it. There is a family of 3 otters that come by in the river pretty much every day and they're fun to watch as they make cool sounds as they look at you and swim by.
I will set the refund policy for 100% up to 3 days prior to check in. Please do a check on the weather outlook at least 3 days before you arrive to see if the weather will be nice for at least part of your stay. If you cancel within 3 days before your arrival, I am sorry but the system won't provide a refund. If you need to cancel, please cancel at least 3 days prior to your arrival date so you can be refunded and others can have a better chance to schedule a stay. Thank you for understanding this.
There is a solar powered motion sensor light near the outhouse for lighting if you use the outhouse in the dark. Please don't be startled when the light comes on! :)
There are numerous trees to hang hammocks on. I also have fishing baits in the ammo can that work good here. They are marked as either $2 or $3 each and you can leave the money for those in the ammo can.
Suggested items to bring: 1. Dry newspaper, lighter/matches, and kindling wood as it may have rained and it will be difficult to find dry twigs etc to start a fire. Also maybe bring lighter fluid or diesel fuel works great too. 2. A leather glove or potholder to adjust the grill handle over the fire. 3. Child size life preservers if you prefer them if you use the canoe. 4. Bow saw or hatchet to use if you’ll want to cut up dead/down firewood. 6. Bug spray. 7. Camp chairs.
You will see my "No Trespassing" signs as you drive in the road to the campsite area but just ignore those please.
Verizon has good cell service at the campsite. AT and T does not, and T-Mobile has 1 or 2 bars of service. I am not sure on other carriers.
We have no poisonous snakes or spiders up here. I’ve also never seen Poison Oak or Poison Ivy anywhere near here. You may see harmless Garter Snakes along the railroad tracks but please don't harm them.
Please take pictures as you explore this amazing Bad River wilderness to share with other campers as you'll be asked to provide a review and have the chance to share your pictures.
This is the woods and wilderness, not a populated campground where there is an insect control program. The bugs could be minimal or they could be bad since this is a natural woods. Insect numbers depend on many variables including how much rain we've had, how cold or warm the weather is, or insect hatch efficiency. I'm sorry but I cannot control how good or bad the bugs are. After early August the mosquitos are pretty much gone.
I have now extended the hiking trail past the first waterfalls (marked with ribbons) that will follow the river and eventually lead to the railroad tracks instead of having to backtrack on the same trail to get back to the tracks. Then, once you get to the tracks, if you turn right you will head towards waterfalls #2 and if you turn left you will head back towards the campsite. The hiking map won't reflect the trail extension.
The Drop Tine Bar and Grill in Cayuga 1.5 miles away from the campsite has great food and drinks. They're closed Monday-Wednesday, open at noon Thursday-Sunday. If you stop in for drinks or food there is wi-fi available here too. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the low cost of drinks compared to any bigger city! :).
So that you are aware; Hipcamp will be adding a "service fee" (15-20%) when you complete the booking to cover their site management and other things that is somewhat a high %. I don't get any of this service fee and they also take an additional 10% from the price I list to cover the $1 million in insurance for you. The total % Hipcamp gets is 25-30% which I and other folks that offer campsites do not appreciate as we have discussed this on social media sites for Hipcamp hosts. I am very sorry for this and I will do everything I can to ensure you enjoy this very special wilderness on the Bad River.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Pets allowed
Reviews
98%· 645 reviews
Themes
Review summary
Generated from real Hipcamper reviews
Dean's campsite on the Bad River offers a beautiful and secluded escape for nature lovers. The site is well-maintained and provides amenities like a canoe and private hiking trails, enhancing the peaceful and enjoyable experience. While most campers appreciate the serene environment and clear communication from the host, some have noted that the hike to the site can be challenging and recommend packing light. Despite minor challenges like uneven terrain and occasional noisy neighbors, the majority of reviews highlight the site's natural beauty and relaxing atmosphere.
- Maddie F.
Tent camped at Eagle Pines On The Bad River, Oct 2026.
Recommends
Dean was an absolutely amazing host, and his property is incredible! We stayed at Eagle Pines & had the most wonderful weekend. The site was well maintained, clean, and is absolutely beautiful. Dean was incredibly detailed which we found very helpful in finding the site. He was responsive & kind throughout our stay and we could not say nicer things! We would recommend over and over again.
- Martha R.
Camped in a 19 ft travel trailer at Eagle Pines On The Bad River with pets, Oct 2026.
Doesn't recommend
I wish I had taken photos….the host mentioned he didn’t have good RV photos. It would have helped my decision.
- Aj P.
Tent camped at Balsam Shores Hike-In Campsite, Oct 2026.
Recommends
I couldn’t have asked for a more fantastic camp site and overall experience!
Amenities
Fire pitsPrivate fire pit at each site · Firewood provided, Firepit
Pit toilets
Picnic tables
Cooking equipmentGrill over firepit
No potable water
No showers
No electricity hookup
No water hookup
No wifi
No laundry
No trash disposal
No hot tub
No playground
Things to know
Walk-in access at some sites2WD accessible. Moderate walk at some sites; drive in at the rest. Wheelchair accessible at some sites.
Pet-friendlyOff leash.
Campfires allowedAlways review local fire regulations before enjoying a campfire.
Check-in processYou'll head straight to your site upon arrival.
Cancellation policyFull refund 3 days before check in time starts.
Check-in and check-outCheck-in at 12pm. Check-out at 11am.
Booking windowSame-day bookings welcome, up to 12 months ahead. Stay up to 29 nights depending on the site.
Location
Mellen, Ashland, Wisconsin, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Your Host
Dean W.Joined August 2020•60% response rate•Responds within 10 hours
Frequently asked questions
Yes — toilets are available at every site at Bad River Wilderness.
Yes — picnic tables are available at every site at Bad River Wilderness.
Yes — cooking equipment is available at every site at Bad River Wilderness.
2WD accessible. Moderate walk at some sites; drive in at the rest. Wheelchair accessible at some sites.
Yes — Bad River Wilderness is pet-friendly. Off leash.
Yes — campfires are allowed at Bad River Wilderness. Always review local fire regulations before enjoying a campfire.
You'll head straight to your site upon arrival.
Full refund 3 days before check in time starts.
Check-in at 12pm. Check-out at 11am.
Same-day bookings welcome, up to 12 months ahead. Stay up to 29 nights depending on the site.
No — no potable water at Bad River Wilderness.
No — no showers at Bad River Wilderness.
No — no laundry at Bad River Wilderness.
No — no wifi at Bad River Wilderness.
No — no trash disposal at Bad River Wilderness.
