4.5671 reviewsPrice
$15 - $18/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
77 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$15 - $18/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
77 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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Learn more about alerts →Franklin Lake Recreation Area
1247 E. Wall St. Eagle River, WI 54521
Paddlers, swimmers, and hikers get the most from this place. Grab a lakeside site (60-71) early via Recreation.gov for direct Franklin Lake access, and the Franklin Nature Trail connects to 13+ miles of additional routes through old-growth hemlock and hardwood.
Serious anglers may leave disappointed; multiple reviewers flag low fish populations. Also no showers on-site and no dump station, so RVers doing extended stays will need to plan supply runs to Eagle River 8 miles out.
Reference information about Franklin Lake Recreation Area sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>If you are looking for one of the most popular camping spots within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest of northern Wisconsin, try Franklin Lake Recreation Area off Highway 70 east of Eagle River. Its unique structures, including historic stone and log buildings, land it on the National Register of Historic Places.</p><p>The Franklin Lake Recreation Area on the Eagle River-Florence District has two camping loops with a total of 77 campsites. The campground features campsites available for tent and RV camping. Sites are equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible flush and vault toilets, as well as drinking water, are provided throughout the campground.</p><p>There are also two historic log picnic pavilions with picnic tables that can accommodate larger groups.</p><p>Day use facilities include an 892 acre clear blue water lake and boasts a beautiful sandy beach. The lake provides visitors with ample opportunities for boating, swimming and year round fishing. Anglers can expect a catch of walleye, northern pike, large and smallmouth bass, rock bass, perch, bluegill and trout, among others. The lake is open to all types of boating, motorized and non-motorized.</p><p>The popular Franklin Nature Trail is an excellent way to get a sampling of nature in the Northwoods. The trail will lead you through northern hardwood, pine, and hemlock forests where some trees are over 400 years old. You can stop off at Butternut Lake and view the beautiful lake from under huge hemlock trees. The boardwalk across the bog offers a chance to see many varieties of bog plants up close. If you visit in the spring, bring along your field guide to identify the numerous wildflowers in bloom. A short loop at the beginning of this trail is accessible to persons using wheelchairs.</p><p>The campground is in a beautiful setting, among tall pines and hemlocks, perched on the edge of the clear blue waters of Franklin Lake. In addition to its scenic landscape, the campground offers access to educational programs and numerous trails in the area, with some beginning within the campground, including a 6-mile hike to nearby Anvil Lake.</p><p>So, if you like to swim, boat, fish, hike picnic or enjoy being close to town, the Franklin Lake recreation area is the place for you, conveniently located just 15 minutes east of Eagle River. Franklin Lake Recreation Area is pet friendly; see our restrictions for more information.</p><p>Franklin Lake Campground now offers electric hook-up at reservable sites 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, & 28-40, as well as first come-first serve sites 1 & 12-15.</p><p><strong><em>Maps and Brochures</em></strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://usfs-public.app.box.com/v/FranklinNatureTrail">Franklin Nature Trail Map</a> (pdf)</li></ul><p> </p>
The elevation is 1,460 ft. Composed of a series of four overlapping loops and a long spur that ends in a fifth loop, the campground stretches along the west shore of the crystal blue Franklin Lake. The second section stretches along theshore of the crystal blue Franklin Lake. Sites in this second section, 60 through 71, are lakeside and have access to the lake. Many have steps leading down to the water, where there is room to sit in lawn chairs or swim at your own risk. Most sites are tightly fitted together in a beautiful, lush stand of mature pine and hemlocks. Historic stone and log structures are scattered throughout the campground. An interpretive center and naturalist programs are available during the summer. Numerous trails, including a 6-mile trail, link this campground with Anvil Lake. Perhaps the most popular campground in the Forest, it fills early for Summer weekends. This campground is on the National Register of Historic Places. Nicolet National Forest 324
Open May 4 through November 27
The water spigots are hand pumps.
Franklin Lake is 892 acres and has sandy beach.
Some parking aprons are paved, some are dirt and gravel.
From Eagle River, WI, take State Rt. 70 east 8 miles to Forest Rt. 2178. Turn right onto Rt. 2178 and go south 2 miles to Forest Rt. 2181 (Ninemile Rd). Turn left onto Rt. 2181 and go east to campground.
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Summer brings daytime highs in the mid-70s to mid-80s F and nighttime lows in the 50s-60s, creating ideal conditions for swimming, boating, and fishing. This is peak season for water activities and full trail access, but it's also when mosquitoes are most active and competition for lakeside sites is heaviest. Reserve in advance for weekends and holidays. Weekday visits offer the same pleasant weather with fewer crowds. Winter transforms the area into a quieter landscape, though camping operations wind down as temperatures drop below freezing.
Ideal summer temps, peak for swimming/boating; reviewers note summer popularity and full sites.
Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.
Franklin Lake Campground now offers electric hook-up at reservable sites 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, & 28-40, as well as first come-first serve sites 1 & 12-15.
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