Go if
You want peaceful lakeside camping with swimming and fishing access in a national forest setting.
Bear Lake Campground (Chequamegon-Nicolet Nf, Wi)
4.27108 reviews4978 Highway 8 West
Summer Destination
Featured in:Best Campgrounds Wisconsin
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Quick Facts
1,430 ftPrice
$15/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
27 campsites
Season
Reservable from May ...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
RV Friendly
Get DirectionsReal-Time Availability
Select a month, then check for open campsites
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
Quick Facts
1,430 ftPrice
$15/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
27 campsites
Season
Reservable from May ...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
RV Friendly
Get DirectionsBear Lake Campground (Chequamegon-Nicolet Nf, Wi)
$15.00 - $15.00 / night
Campsite Fees
STANDARD NONELECTRIC: $15.00; TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC: $15.00; WALK TO: $15.00. Plus Recreation.gov reservation transaction fee ($8 online / $9 phone /...
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Hike and Bike Site Fee$15.00
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Recreation Dot Gov
Provider(715) 674-4481evan.miller@usda.gov
I manage this campgroundCampground Map
4978 Highway 8 West
Bear Lake Campground (Chequamegon-Nicolet Nf, Wi)
4978 Highway 8 West
Nearby places
Wabeno (5.5 miles), Laona (3 miles), Lakewood (approximately 25 minutes by car).
Weather at Bear Lake Campground (Chequamegon-Nicolet Nf, Wi)
About Bear Lake Campground (Chequamegon-Nicolet Nf, Wi)
RV details
Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist
Skip if
You camp mid-summer and are sensitive to mosquitoes, deer flies, or generator noise.
From the U.S. Forest Service
Reference information about Bear Lake Campground (Chequamegon-Nicolet Nf, Wi) sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
Overview
<p>The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest has an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities at the Bear Lake Recreation Area including camping, fishing, swimming, kayaking and canoeing. Only electric motors are allowed on Bear Lake providing a quiet and relaxing environment. The Rat River Recreational Trail is a good nearby hiking opportunity and popular with grouse hunters and fall color enthusiasts.</p><p>The Bear Lake Campground sits on the southwest corner of 68-acre Bear Lake with some sites located along the wooded shore and ridge with outstanding views of the lake. The campground is a mix of hardwoods and pine.</p><p>Bear Lake Campground has 27 sites. A majority of campsites can accommodate campers as long as 30 feet and longer. The campground also has five tent-only walk-in sites on a wooded peninsula jutting into the lake. Drinking water, vault toilets, swim beach, picnic area and a boat landing are also provided at this location. All roads are paved with blacktop.</p><p>Bear Lake is in close proximity to the Rat River Recreation Trail. Trout fishing opportunities are also nearby on the Peshtigo and Rat Rivers.</p>
About the campground
The elevation is 1,200 ft. Tranquil and serene are words that best describe this campground. Stretching along the west shore above Bear Lake, the campground features sites tucked into a pleasantly dense woods of mixed hardwoods. Many sites are adjacent to the lake but dense vegetation blocks the view. Primitive boat docking is possible at several sites. Tent-only sites are located on a small jut of land away from the combined sites and are all walk-ins. The dense vegetation and spacing provide excellent privacy. Northern pike in the lake, Brown and Rainbow trout in the nearby rivers, and panfish in Cub Lake will give anglers of all ages a challenge. Bear Lake is also known as a loon nesting area.
Seasons & access
Open May 25 through September 3
Facilities
The water spigots are hand pumps. Nicolet National Forest 318
Water activities
Bear Lake is 68 acres with a sandy beach. Electric motors only allowed.
RV information
The parking aprons are dirt. An RV waste station is available for a fee at the Hiles Pine Lake Campground (private) on Pine Lake Rd.
Directions
In Laona, WI, take County Rt. H (off State Rt. 32) 5.5 miles to Goodman Park Rd. (Forest Rt. 2136) . Turn left onto Goodman Park Rd. and go 4.1 miles to Forest Rt. 3770. Turn onto Rt. 3770 and go 0.4 miles to campground.
- National Forest
- Nicolet National Forest
- Ranger District
- Laona
- Rate
- $12 per day
- Maximum Stay
- 14
- Open Season
- May 2 – November 30
About Chequamegon-Nicolet NF
Context for the broader area surrounding Bear Lake Campground (Chequamegon-Nicolet Nf, Wi), sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cnnf/?cid=STELPRD3791205"><img alt="Campsite photo with a camper and chairs set up." src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd628634.png" style="width: 518px; height: 291px;"/></a></p> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:500px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/cnnf/recreation/camping-cabins"><img alt="Camping button with an illustration of a tent." src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd576367.png" style="width: 125px; height: 125px;"/></a></td> <td><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/cnnf/recreation/hiking"><img alt="Explore trails are found across the forest. Click to check conditions." src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd576370.png" style="width: 125px; height: 125px;"/></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cnnf/?cid=STELPRDB5110152"><img alt="Button with an illustration of a map for maps and publications." src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd576371.png" style="width: 125px; height: 125px;"/></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cnnf/?cid=STELPRDB5130790"><img alt="Button with an illustration of a pass for the passes and permits page." src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd576372.png" style="width: 125px; height: 125px;"/></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Unplug and reconnect to the largest expanse of public lands under one ownership in northern Wisconsin. Explore the more than 1.5 million acres of water and woodlands year- round motorized trail riding, water and land-based sports and the solitude of quiet campgrounds. </p> <h3>Top Spring Recreation Areas</h3> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:500px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cnnf/recarea/?recid=27959">Ed's Lake Trail</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cnnf/recarea/?recid=27853">Valhalla Recreation Area</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cnnf/recarea/?recid=27827">Wintergreen Trail</a></li> </ul> </td> <td> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cnnf/recarea/?recid=27759">Rock Lake Trail</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cnnf/recarea/?recid=27751">Mukwonago Trail</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cnnf/recarea/?recid=27859">Anvil Lake Recreation Area</a></li> </ul> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>To view recreation features on the map below ...</p> <p>Zoom in on the map to the area that you want to visit and then select the specific site you want to visit such as a campground, cross-country ski area, etc. Once selected, you can click on the individual sites recreation page to learn more about that area.</p> <p><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cnnf/?cid=FSEPRD640106">2019 Recreation Fee Proposal</a></p>
