Franklin Lake

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193 reviews
U S D A FOREST SERVICE, 1247 E. WALL ST., EAGLE RIVER, WI, 54521, USA
Summer Destination
Featured in:Boating Camping Wisconsin#3Hiking Camping WisconsinRV Camping Wisconsin+13 more

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Quick Facts

1,700 ft

Price

$15 - $25/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

77 campsites

Season

Open May 22 - Octobe...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

Electric
Book on USDA Forest ServiceOfficial Website
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Franklin Lake
$15.00 - $25.00 / night
Campsite Fees
Host Site $15+$10: $25.00; Lakeside Non-Electric $18: $18.00; Standard Electric $15+$10: $25.00; Standard Non-Electric $15: $15.00; Tent Only...
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Recreation Dot Gov
Provider
715-479-2827evan.miller@usda.gov
I manage this campground

Campground Map

U S D A FOREST SERVICE, 1247 E. WALL ST., EAGLE RIVER, WI, 54521, USA

Franklin Lake

U S D A FOREST SERVICE, 1247 E. WALL ST., EAGLE RIVER, WI, 54521, USA

Nearby places
Eagle River (15 miles, approximately 20 minutes)

Weather at Franklin Lake

About Franklin Lake

I manage this campground

RV details

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Go if

You want affordable lakefront camping with modern restrooms, electric hookups, and room to spread out in the Northwoods.

Skip if

You're visiting in summer and highly sensitive to mosquitoes or generator noise from neighboring campers.

Campgrounds
Chequamegon-Nicolet NF
Franklin Lake

From the U.S. Forest Service

Reference information about Franklin Lake sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →

Overview

<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, &amp; 28-40, as well as first come-first serve sites 1 &amp; 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>&nbsp;</p>

About the campground

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

Seasons & access

Open May 4 through November 27

Facilities

The water spigots are hand pumps.

Water activities

Franklin Lake is 892 acres and has sandy beach.

RV information

Some parking aprons are paved, some are dirt and gravel.

Directions

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.

National Forest
Nicolet National Forest
Ranger District
Eagle River
Elevation
1460
Rate
$12 and $15 per day
Maximum Stay
14
Open Season
May 2 – October 15

About Chequamegon-Nicolet NF

Context for the broader area surrounding Franklin Lake, 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>