Northern Highland State Forest camping areas sit within Wisconsin's Northwoods region, characterized by dense pine forests and over 900 glacial lakes. The forest spans more than 232,000 acres across Vilas, Oneida, and Iron counties, with elevations ranging from 1,500 to 1,800 feet above sea level. Most campgrounds in the area operate from May through mid-October, with rustic options available year-round at specific locations.
What to Do
Backwater exploration: Lake Cunnard offers non-motorized boating opportunities with protected waterways. "You can come here on the 4th of July without reserving ahead of time and still find plenty of open sites," notes Kayla R. about Cunnard Lake Campground.
Winter activities: Cross-country skiing is popular during snowy months at several forest locations. According to Joel N., "Bring your boat to fish and ski" at Clear Lake Campground, which has trails that transform for winter use.
Hiking to hidden lakes: The region offers numerous interconnected trails. Elliot Q. mentions, "There is a great one that wraps part of the lake, which will take you to 2 hidden lakes as well" at Clear Lake Campground. These secluded lakes provide peaceful areas for wildlife watching.
Photography opportunities: The morning hours offer prime conditions for nature photography. "Mornings were beautiful with the pines mirrored on the lake and the crying Loons," shares Jeanna Marie C. about her experience at Sandy Beach Lake.
What Campers Like
Spacious, private sites: Many glamping sites provide ample separation between neighbors. At Sandy Beach Lake Campground, Scott M. notes, "Sites are fairly private because of the lower vegetation so you don't feel as though you are right on top of your neighbors."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained restrooms and shower buildings are consistent across several locations. According to Stacey N., visitors can expect "Clean showers. Friendly staff" at Clear Lake Campground.
Lakefront access: Many premium sites allow direct water access. "If you can get one of the sites right on the lake, do it!" recommends Caroline C. about Sandy Beach Lake Campground, where "Families staying here had kids swimming right off the campsite in the very nice lake."
Affordable firewood: On-site firewood purchases are reasonably priced. Stacey N. mentions "Great firewood… only 5$ per bundle" at Clear Lake Campground, while Caroline C. notes Sandy Beach Lake Campground had "firewood for sale for $5 (cash or check)."
What You Should Know
Reservation timing: For peak summer weekends, plan far ahead. According to Braden H. at Crystal Lake Campground, "The lake is one of the cleanest I've ever been on," making it highly desirable.
Quiet zone requirements: Some areas have strict noise policies. As S P. explains about Cunnard Lake, it was "designated a 'Quiet' campground several years ago - one of only two in the 18 different Northern Highlands American Legion state forest campgrounds. That means no 'noise producing devices', including generators, radios, TV's, video games, guitars, etc."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely across the forest. Mike R. reports that at Crystal Lake Campground, "We have Verizon service and it is spotty in areas... Even when we had 3 bars, it wasn't much better than the 1 bar at our site."
Seasonal insect considerations: Prepare for seasonal bug activity, particularly in early summer. Art S. shares about Big Lake Campground, "Upon arrival the horseflies greeted us with curiosity. They seemed to leave us after we finished setting up but we still put up our screen room."
Tips for Camping with Families
Best beaches: Sandy swimming areas are ideal for children. Matthew K. recommends Clear Lake as "a popular campground so it can be busy and hectic but is nice for families. A lot of locals come to the swimming beach on the weekends."
Multi-family arrangements: Some campgrounds offer double sites for larger groups. Joel N. advises, "If you have a lot of people there are no group sites but there are some double sites that work great" at Clear Lake Campground.
Bike-friendly locations: Paved paths allow safe cycling for all ages. Braden H. highlights that at Crystal Lake, "There is a paved bike path through the woods all the way to the registration area."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Morning and evening provide the best animal watching times. Jordan A. enjoyed Cunnard Lake Campground for "getting to paddleboard (brought my own) and listen to the loons day and night."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Look for level sites away from the shoreline. Larry L. explains that at Big Lake Campground, "Sites that I stayed in seem to have good amount of vegetation in between for privacy."
Water access considerations: Most sites don't have direct hookups. Art S. notes that at Big Lake, "Vault toilets are spread throughout" and "Firewood is for sale in the wooden building - an honor system for payment."
Cellular connectivity: RVers needing connectivity should check signal strength in advance. Scott M. observed at Buffalo Lake Campground, "Great state campground, near Minocqua WI. Was clean and was a busy weekend of people but great space, little to know bugs."
Storage preparation: Limited on-site storage means bringing appropriate containers. Caroline C. suggests at Sandy Beach Lake, "They also had firewood for sale for $5 (cash or check)" - good to have small bills on hand for such purchases.
