If you’re looking for a Hipcamp in Wisconsin that feels secluded, gives you an enormous amount of space, and even comes with a little added excitement in the form of black bears in the neighborhood, let me introduce you to Superior Beach Camp.
I recently spent the night here while solo RV camping with my dog, Thor, and let’s just say I learned after arriving that northern Wisconsin is prime black bear country.
Good to know AFTER I got there. 😂
But bears or no bears, this turned out to be one of those unique camping experiences that reminds me exactly why I’ve fallen in love with Hipcamp.
Camping at Superior Beach Camp in Northern Wisconsin
Superior Beach Camp is a Hipcamp located near South Range in northern Wisconsin, not far from Lake Superior.
When I first pulled in, the thing that immediately struck me was the SIZE of my campsite.
It was enormous!
Rather than pulling into a traditional campground with RVs and tents surrounding me, I had this huge open clearing tucked back in the woods completely to myself.
I had to drive down a gravel road to reach the campsite, and once I arrived, it really did feel like I was out there all by myself.
Well… almost.
The property owner mentions that bears and other hungry critters live in the neighborhood.
Suddenly my peaceful little solo camping trip had gotten a lot more interesting.
Just How Many Black Bears Are in Northern Wisconsin?
Of course, once I got settled in, curiosity got the better of me.
I started wondering just how common black bears actually are in this part of Wisconsin.
So I looked it up.
Wisconsin has an estimated population of more than 24,000 black bears, and much of the state’s core black bear range is in northern Wisconsin.
Which is exactly where I was camping.
Maybe Googling bears while sitting alone in the woods wasn’t my smartest decision.
Thankfully, I had Thor.
I officially put him in charge of campsite security.
Granted, at the time he was considerably more interested in chewing on a bone he’d found underneath my camper, but I had complete confidence in him. 😂
Why I Love Hipcamp Camping
This campsite is a perfect example of why I’ve become such a fan of Hipcamp camping.
If you’ve never used Hipcamp, it’s a platform for finding campsites on private property. Instead of always staying at a traditional campground, you can find some incredibly unique places to camp.
And that’s what keeps bringing me back.
I’ve stayed at some beautiful Hipcamps over the years and made camping memories I simply wouldn’t have experienced in a crowded campground.
This Wisconsin Hipcamp was another great example.
I had a ridiculously large camping area surrounded by thick woods, plenty of privacy and the feeling that I had my own little piece of northern Wisconsin for the night.
Want to Try Hipcamp Yourself?
👉 CHECK OUT THIS PRIVATE WISCONSIN STAY ON HIPCAMP: https://geni.us/4cBlQwi
👉 FIND HIPCAMP CAMPSITES NEAR YOU: https://geni.us/HgAC5Ss
Setting Up My Secluded Wisconsin Campsite
There was one little problem with having such a big, open campsite on this particular day.
It was HOT.
By mid-afternoon, I was dripping wet, and there wasn’t much shade in the clearing.
That’s when my MoonShade portable awning came to the rescue.
The awning that came with my camper doesn’t provide nearly enough shade for me, so I frequently bring my MoonShade along. Once I had it set up, the difference was incredible. Sitting underneath it felt noticeably cooler, and Thor and I finally had a comfortable place to hang out.
I also set up my Starlink Mini, which is something I’ve really come to appreciate when I’m camping in secluded places like this. Even when I’m tucked away in the woods, it allows me to stay connected when I need to be.
Normally, when I’m solo camping, I also put two chairs outside my camper. It’s one of my little solo camping habits so it isn’t quite as obvious that I’m camping by myself.
At this campsite?
Nobody was going to see whether I had one chair or twelve.
One chair it was!
A Hidden Trail to Lake Superior
Once camp was settled, Thor and I went exploring.
There’s a trail leading away from the camping area and through the woods. Eventually, we reached a set of steps leading down toward the water.
And at the bottom?
Lake Superior.
No matter how many times I see Lake Superior, that first view never seems to get old.
After such a hot afternoon, being next to that cool water felt amazing.
Thor and I spent some time exploring the shoreline, and I even found several pieces of sea glass.
Of course, getting down there meant I eventually had to climb all those steps back UP.
Not too bad for a 63-year-old woman with two hip replacements!
By then, however, I was hungry.
And I had something planned for dinner that I hadn’t done in years.
Cooking Over a Charcoal Grill Again
Superior Beach Camp had a charcoal grill available, and the minute I saw that in the listing, I knew what I wanted for dinner.
Burgers on a charcoal grill.
Growing up, I remember my dad cooking food over charcoal, and there’s just something about that flavor that takes me straight back to my childhood.
I normally don’t get terribly excited about cooking when I’m camping. In fact, it’s probably one of my least favorite camping chores.
This time I couldn’t wait.
Once those burgers hit the grill and I started smelling them cook, however, another thought crossed my mind.
Do bears like hamburgers?
Probably wasn’t the best time to start thinking about that. 😂
Thankfully, no bears showed up for dinner, and my charcoal-grilled burger tasted every bit as good as I remembered.
And yes, I put Thousand Island dressing on my burger.
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!
Camping Alone in the Woods Feels Different After Dark
During the day, I really wasn’t worried about the bears.
The campsite was beautiful. Thor and I explored. We walked through the woods. I cooked dinner. Everything felt peaceful.
Then the sun started going down.
Funny how quickly those woods can start looking different.
I built a campfire and settled in for the evening, and suddenly I became very aware of every little noise coming from the trees.
What was THAT?
The interesting thing was that earlier in the day, before I even started filming, Thor had suddenly begun barking toward the woods.
He definitely heard something.
I never figured out what it was.
Once darkness settled in and the campsite became extremely quiet, every little rustle seemed considerably louder.
Squirrels.
They were definitely squirrels.
At least that’s what I kept telling myself.
Thankfully, my campsite security officer was keeping a close eye on things.
Sleeping in Wisconsin Bear Country
Before heading inside my camper for the night, I made sure everything was cleaned up.
Anything that smelled—or that I thought might smell remotely interesting to wildlife—was put away.
Then Thor and I climbed inside.
At that point there wasn’t much left to do except try not to think about how many black bears live in northern Wisconsin.
I gave Thor one final instruction before bed:
If you hear something outside tonight, LET ME KNOW.
With my security detail briefed, we called it a night.
So, Did We See a Bear?
Nope!
I’m happy to report that Thor and I both slept like babies.
No bears.
No middle-of-the-night visitors.
No campsite security emergencies.
We officially survived our night camping in bear country!
And while the bears gave this trip a fun little twist, what I’ll remember most about Superior Beach Camp is the incredible amount of space, the seclusion, the woods and that little adventure down to Lake Superior.
Would I Recommend This Hipcamp in Wisconsin?
If you enjoy camping in Wisconsin but prefer private, secluded campsites over busy traditional campgrounds, Superior Beach Camp is definitely an interesting option to consider.
I think it’s especially appealing for campers who enjoy:
- Large, private campsites
- Camping in the woods
- Primitive and more off-grid camping experiences
- Exploring Lake Superior
- Camping with dogs
- Getting away from crowded campgrounds
- Having plenty of room to spread out
Just remember that this is a more natural, secluded camping environment—and yes, you’re camping in an area where black bears and other wildlife live.
For me, that’s part of the adventure.
Would I rather have my huge secluded campsite than squeeze my little camper between a bunch of other RVs?
Absolutely.
Although I might keep Thor on campsite security duty.
Just in case. 🐻
Plan Your Own Wisconsin Hipcamp Adventure
If you’d like to experience Superior Beach Camp yourself, or you’re curious about what other unique Hipcamps might be hiding near you, you can check them out below.
🏕️ BOOK/CHECK OUT SUPERIOR BEACH CAMP ON HIPCAMP: https://geni.us/4cBlQwi
🏕️ FIND HIPCAMPS NEAR YOU: https://geni.us/HgAC5Ss
🏕️ OWN PROPERTY? JOIN HIPCAMP! AND EARN: https://geni.us/E2rI0C9
And if you enjoy solo RV camping, camping with dogs, and discovering unusual places to camp, come along on my next adventure. There’s always another camping spot waiting to be explored!
— Randi
![A Free VS a VERY EXPENSIVE Campsite? [PROS & CONS!]](https://randisadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/A-Free-VS-a-VERY-EXPENSIVE-Campsite-PROS-CONS-600x338.jpg "A Free VS a VERY EXPENSIVE Campsite? [PROS & CONS!]")