Bar

Hidden Shady Nook

3 RV Sites, 2 Cabins

Perched on the spring-fed shores of Pike Lake in Wisconsin's Chippewa County, Hidden Shady Nook delivers the kind of lakeside escape that makes you want to cancel your checkout date. The resort spreads across 800 feet of shoreline on Pike Lake—a 200-acre, 38-foot-deep gem known for clear water and excellent fishing—positioning it as one of the most distinctive camping experiences in central Wisconsin. Cornell, a small town tucked into the rolling Chippewa River valley, serves as the jumping-off point, and the surrounding forests of the Wisconsin Northwoods provide a backdrop that shifts from emerald green in summer to blazing color by fall. Twenty-five RV and camping sites plus four lodging options give guests plenty of ways to enjoy the lake, from full-hookup spots to comfortable overnight accommodations. Thirteen fishing docks, a private boat launch, and kayak rentals keep water lovers busy from first light to sunset, while the onsite restaurant—famous for Friday fish fries, Saturday ribs, and Sunday brunch—means you never have to drive far for a memorable meal. Live music performs on the lakefront deck throughout the summer, the pole barn hosts activities and events, and UTV and ATV trail access opens the surrounding forests to exploration. Boat storage, a dog park, and a playground round out an amenity list rarely matched at a lakefront resort of this size. Pike Lake itself is the star of the show—spring-fed and exceptionally clear, it supports strong populations of walleye, bass, and panfish that draw anglers from across the Midwest. The resort's 800 feet of private shoreline gives guests direct access to a sandy beach for swimming, paddling, or simply sitting with a cold drink watching the loons drift by. Surrounding the property, mature hardwoods and conifers filter the light and provide the natural canopy that gives the resort its name—shady, quiet, and genuinely tucked away from the noise of everyday life. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail traverses the property itself, offering guests access to miles of hiking through terrain shaped by the last glaciers to push across Wisconsin. The trail winds through kettles, drumlins, and moraines that tell the story of a landscape still bearing the marks of its glacial past. Beyond the property, the Chippewa River corridor provides paddling, and the surrounding forests offer birding, hunting, and wildlife watching throughout the seasons. The city of Eau Claire, with its vibrant arts scene and full range of dining and shopping, lies less than an hour west for those who need an urban fix between lake days. Hidden Shady Nook shines brightest in summer when live music floats across the water and the fishing is at its peak, though the fall walleye run draws dedicated anglers well into October. Spring arrives early on the lake and brings migrating waterfowl and the first warm evenings perfect for dock sitting. The resort's combination of waterfront access, on-site dining, live entertainment, and trail access makes it rare among Wisconsin campgrounds—an all-in-one destination rather than just a place to sleep. Book your site on Pike Lake and discover why guests return to Hidden Shady Nook year after year.

from $35/night

Stargazers U.P. Campground

25 RV Sites

Stargazers U.P. Campground opened in Spring 2025 as part of the North Ironwood Acres resort on the Black River Scenic Byway in Ironwood, Michigan—a new 25-site campground in the Gogebic County section of the Upper Peninsula where the Black River's waterfall corridor, Lake Superior's Black River Harbor, and the dramatic dark skies of the U.P. interior have defined an outdoor recreation landscape that the resort's name captures precisely. Ironwood sits on Michigan's western U.P. border with Wisconsin, in the core of the Gogebic Range mining country that has evolved into one of the most complete four-season outdoor recreation destinations in the Great Lakes region. Twenty-five large sites—each 75 by 35 feet—provide water, sewer, and 20/30/50-amp electric hookups on grassy pads with a bathhouse offering showers and flush toilets. A catch-and-release fishing pond accommodates paddleboarding and kayaking within the campground property, and private wooded multi-use trails give guests direct access to the Black River for river fishing, wading, and exploration without driving. Dog-friendly policies accommodate the working and hunting breeds that are common travel companions in the U.P.'s outdoor recreation culture. The Stargazers name reflects the property's unobstructed northern view, which provides optimal conditions for both routine stargazing and Aurora Borealis viewing—the Gogebic County latitude and the dark skies of the Upper Peninsula make it one of the more reliable aurora observation locations accessible by road in the contiguous United States. The North Ironwood Acres resort's Lodge, of which the campground is a part, adds significant amenity depth: an event hall seating 200, a full-service cocktail bar, a general store with essentials, billiards, and approximately 7.8 miles of maintained trails on the 400-acre resort property. The combination of campground infrastructure and resort social facilities gives Stargazers a hybrid character between a traditional campground and a destination resort that is rare in the U.P. market. The Black River Scenic Byway is the defining attraction corridor in the campground's immediate geography—the byway follows the Black River from Ironwood north to Lake Superior at Black River Harbor, passing through five named waterfalls (Gorge, Potawatomi, Conglomerate, Sandstone, and Rainbow Falls) that cascade through the sandstone and volcanic rock of the Black River canyon in a series of overlook platforms and moderate hiking connections. Stargazers is the closest lodging to all five waterfalls, making early morning and evening visits to the waterfall corridor practical without full-day drive commitments. Copper Peak, a ski-flying hill north of Ironwood that was the largest artificial ski jump in the Western Hemisphere during its operational years, now operates as a adventure tower with gondola and sky walk providing views across the U.P. into Wisconsin and Minnesota. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, 35 minutes east on M-64, protects 60,000 acres of old-growth northern hardwood and hemlock forest—the largest tract in the Midwest—around Lake of the Clouds, a mountain lake visible from the Escarpment Trail in a panoramic view that is one of the most photographed in Michigan. Peak seasons include summer hiking and water activity, fall color from late September through mid-October when the U.P.'s maple and birch forest delivers one of the most vivid foliage displays in the Great Lakes, and winter for downhill skiing at Ironwood's four ski areas—more ski terrain within a short drive than any other city of comparable size in the Midwest.

from $50/night

Whiskey Creek Family RV Park

39 RV Sites, 2 Cabins, 1 Glamping Site

Whiskey Creek Family RV Park in Sparta, Wisconsin, offers 39 RV sites, two cabins, and a glamping site across 38.5 wooded acres along the Little La Crosse River, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 50 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. A one-acre lined swim pond with an Aquaglide aqua park anchors an unusually deep amenity set behind a gated entrance. Thirty-nine back-in sites run in full-hookup and water-and-electric categories carrying 30 and 50-amp, sized to 50 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Two cabins and a glamping site round out the accommodations. A general store, laundry, dump station, restrooms, showers, firewood, recycling, and site WiFi handle the practical side, with a gated entrance controlling access. The recreation is the reason to book. A one-acre lined swim pond with an Aquaglide inflatable aqua park anchors the summer, with a beach, water park, and inflatable water toys besides. A ninja slack line, gaga ball, playground, dog park, sports courts, volleyball, and basketball fill the grounds, with a golf driving range, bike rentals, walking trails, hiking, and biking from the property. A camp store, bar, and snack bar serve pizza, ice cream, a Friday fish fry, and beachside treats, with live music and planned activities through the season. The park also operates as a wedding venue. Pets are welcome. Sparta wears its title as the Bicycling Capital of America with genuine pride, and the Driftless Region's trail connections run directly from the area. Memorial Day through Labor Day is the peak. Reserve well ahead.