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Cricket Ranch

100%

· Cascade, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

53 acres hosted by Jay S.

5 tent sites

Best in Wisconsin: 3rd place

Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.

Amazing views

Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.

Family-friendly

Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.

Jay is a Star Host

Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.

We are honored to again be named one of the Best Hipcamps in Wisconsin for 2024. Thank you to our guests for your wonderful reviews and helpful suggestions! And a special thank you to one of our guests, Brandon "Da Garbage Disposal" Clark, for featuring Cricket Ranch in his YouTube series "Outdoors Unsupervised: Survival Season 6". Learn more about this land: Cricket Ranch is a crazy combo of Nature's past, present, and future. The property was a farm with 75% of it corn fields until 30 years ago. It has been virtually untouched since then and in just a few decades it has reinvented itself as a forest. Chambers Creek runs thru the west side of the property. As a headwater of the Milwaukee River, it is part of the Great Lakes Basin and a source for Lake Michigan. Wisconsin has identified Chambers Creek as an Exceptional Resource Water (ERWs), Less than 10% of Wisconsin waterways carry this designation. What we do (or don't do) now affects the Great Lakes later. And you'll find fossils in the rock walls of some of the earliest examples of complex life on Earth (from 460 mya, Ordovician, Cambrian). No digging required. Seriously. How they got there is a very long story in the making and involves ancient inland seas, plate tectonics, glaciers, German immigrants, and 19th-20th century farming. Off the Beaten Path @ Cricket Ranch provides a true back to nature environment for campers, sometimes called "backcountry camping". Located on 50 acres of private forest, field, and valley, our campsites are very secluded and separated by acres of woodland. Each layout is unique, embracing what nature has provided. Backpacking (or wagoning) to your camp from the parking area is necessary as the 5' wide paths do not accommodate cars/trucks. Hiking distance from parking area: (1) Camp Cricket is 600 Ft. (2) Haen Hollow is 250 ft. (3) Rocky Top is 700 ft. (4) Grapeline is 1000 ft. Feel fee to explore the land! We are located near the Niagara Escarpment so, as previously mentioned, you might even find a 460 million year old fossil on one of the field rock walls. Keep it! So we can keep a count of how many are found, and out of an overabundance of curiosity, please let us know and send some pics of your find. Chambers Creek provides a spot to cool your feet, stone step, or just listen to the relaxing sound of a babbling brook. The creek is overgrown with brush so access is limited but we do have a trail that follows the creek for about 300 yds. We intend to clear some more of the underbrush in the near future to allow for better enjoyment and management of this invaluable natural resource. Near by: Kettle Moraine National Forest is a 10 minute drive, boasting great hiking and the can't-miss-it view from atop Parnell Tower. Lake Ellen has a nice no-fee public boat landing just 2 miles away. The lake has clear water and is stocked periodically with Pike and Walleye. It is surprising how un-busy this lake is so bring your boat, kayak, paddle board, and/or assorted flotation devices and check it out. Our parking area can accommodate boat trailers during your stay.

Activities

Biking

Boating

Fishing

Hiking

Natural features

Forest

River, stream, or creek

Field

Farm

100%

275 ratings · 146 reviews

Sandra M.recommends

November 9, 2024

Grapeline

Not too hard to find. The star view was magnificent. Really enjoyed it and will return in the future.

Jessica M.recommends

October 13, 2024

Grapeline

Great secluded group site

What a great spot! The Grapeline is a combo site with a large open sky area and a more sheltered area connected by a short path. It was a couple minutes walk from the parking area, but the provided wagons made it easy. Very secluded, with no other site in earshot. Could easily accommodate a larger group. There was a perfect spot to set up a hammock. Firewood available for sale was generous and dry. Lockable trash bin at the site, too. Beautiful with all the fall foliage! Would happily come back again. It's nearby Kettle Morraine Northern Unit with lots of great trails.

Arlin M.recommends

October 7, 2024

Rocky Top

Very nice location, beautiful view, easy access to unloading, clean.

Amy I.recommends

October 6, 2024

Grapeline

Really lovely spot to camp with kids. I like that they need to learn to pack light and carry everything in/out, yet it's an easy hike. Beautiful setting! Couldn't be easier with the yurt set up before arrival, looking forward to trip #3 next fall!

Grace S.recommends

September 30, 2024

Rocky Top

This was our second time staying at Cricket Ranch and we love it here! Rocky Top is the closer of the two walk in sites on this path. It has nice walking trails into the woods behind.

Viktor Z.recommends

September 29, 2024

Haen Hollow

Beautiful

Cricket Ranch was absolutely fantastic! The property is easily accessible through many well kept trails. The rock walls are mind blowing, they seemingly go on forever. The creek is so picturesque and beautiful as well. We were able to meet Jay on our first day there and he was incredibly polite, gracious and wanted to make sure we had everything we needed. He assured us that he would answer any questions we had and that we could message him at anytime. It’s a great place and will definitely be coming again. Oh and a little secret…..he has the cleanest porta potty I have EVER seen in any campground. I mean clean! Cricket Ranch is a gem, you should visit! Thanks Jay.

Location

Cascade, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Bodwéwadmi (Potawatomi), Myaamia, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, Oma͞eqnomenew-ahkew (Menominee), and Hoocąk (Ho-Chunk) First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking