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Camping

Established Camping

Ada Lake Recreation Area

Ada Lake Recreation Area, near Wabeno, Wisconsin, is a charming spot for those looking to escape into nature. This campground offers a rustic experience with well-kept amenities, making it a solid choice for a peaceful getaway.

The sites are spread out, providing a sense of privacy while still being close to the water. Visitors have noted that the picnic tables are in great shape, and the vault toilets are well-maintained, which adds to the overall comfort of your stay. As one camper mentioned, “The sites are low compared to the water level, so it was an easy walk from our campsite to the water.”

If you’re into outdoor activities, you’ll find plenty to do here. The lake is perfect for quiet paddling, as only electric motors are allowed, keeping the atmosphere serene. There’s also an ATV trail right at the entrance, which connects to other hiking options, making it easy to explore the surrounding Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

While the campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis, many campers have had no trouble finding a spot, especially during the week. With its beautiful wooded areas and the tranquil setting by the lake, Ada Lake Recreation Area is definitely worth a visit for anyone looking to unwind in nature.

Description

National Forest

Ada Lake Recreation Area is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of some of the more popular recreation sites on the Lakewood-Laona District. It has many amenities of the other recreation areas, just not all the crowds. There are plenty of sites to see on the district and Ada Lake Recreation area can serve as a home base. Clear water, a sandy beach, and a blue sky are all it takes for many to have a memorable camping experience. Ada Lake Campground offers this and more. The exceptionally clear water makes it great for swimming, and the lake contains northern pike, bass, rainbow trout, and panfish. Another nice feature is the boat landing which makes the lake easily accessible to non-motorized boats. The Ada Lake Recreation Area is near popular local site-seeing spots Quartz Hill, Jone’s Springs Area, Cathedral Pines and Knowles Creek Interpretive Trail. So, if you like to camp, swim, boat and fish then the Ada Lake Recreation Area is the place for you, conveniently located just 5 minutes southwest of Wabeno. Ada Lake is one of our dog friendly recreation areas.

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Location

Ada Lake Recreation Area is located in Wisconsin

Detail location of campground

Directions

• From Wabeno, drive north 0.8 mile on Highway 32 to Highway 52. Turn left (west) on Highway 52 and drive 7.0 miles to FR 2126. Continue straight on FR 2126 for 0.4 mile to FR 2620. Turn left on FR 2620 and drive 1.2 miles to campground. • From Laona, drive south 8.0 miles on Highway 32 to Highway 52. Turn right (west) on Highway 52 and drive 7.0 miles to FR 2126. Continue straight on FR 2126 for 0.4 mile to FR 2620. Turn left on FR 2620 and drive 1.2 miles to campground.

Coordinates

45.36960074 N
88.73150097 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Available
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump

Reviews

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5.0

out of 5

4 Reviews

Reviewed May. 30, 2023

Great Quick Stop

We were coming from Oshkosh, WI, picking up a kid in Wausau and ultimately heading to the eastern part of the UP. I figured a night stop would be needed and we were kinda just hoping for the best in finding sites this weekend, so I picked a few along our route just in case, this being the first choice. We were lucky and found one last spot to call home for the night. Great campground, albeit gravely. The amenities were well kept and placed and having our dog with us wasn't a problem. Trillium in the wooded areas are radiant in the morning sun shining through the trees. We would absolutely stay again!

SiteUK
Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Jun. 10, 2018

A picturesque forest oasis: campground and Snapbuds review

The Chequamegon-Nicolet forest roams throughout middle Wisconsin. A variety of national forest campgrounds are found. Choosing Ada Lake would be a great move. Only 3 other campers stayed the night. A local family drove in to spend the day at the Ada Lake beach. My neighbors brought kayaks and their puppy joined them on the water. Birds chirping and minimal mosquitoes were also part of making this a beautiful stay.

Campground review:

To get here, you must negotiate a few miles of gravel and dirt road but others brought their larger rv’s. The site we choose is right on the water. A few trees added to the scenic view of Ada. Sites vary quite a bit. One was a multi-layer setup while others were more hidden as they moved further away from the lake. The picnic tables look very new and the vault toilets are well kept. We had room to set up the teardrop camper and the screen room with plenty of space left to roam around in. Once the night settled in it became very dark. I’m glad we sought out the toilet before having to find it by flashlight.

Insider tip: There is a atv trail right at the entrance. This trail connects to others and gave us some nearby hiking options. I didn’t find these on the maps that I had so it was a good bonus! There is a boat ramp a bit further on if yours is too big to carry (ie a kayak or canoe).

We planned to only stay for the night but our neighbor convinced us to give it a longer look. We’re glad we spent the extra day here. Driving over to the Cathedral of the Pines and hearing the nesting herons was a highlight. This will be on my list of places to come back to.

Product review:

As a Dyrt Ranger, sometimes I get products to review. This time I was sent some Snapbuds to try out. Their tempting claim is to solve the tangled mess of headphone wires that happen in your pocket or bag.

The packaging was straightforward. I loved how the plastic also held the different pieces in place - a promising start to keeping things organized! Next I noticed the color choices - white, gray or black. These should fit with a variety of headphones. The rubber bands holding the upper and lower pieces together were labeled and I found myself checking them to be sure I was using the right parts.

“Snapbuds will permanently attach to your headphones!” This warning was in several places. It also means that they don’t move around on your cord. The directions unfold to the length of standard headphones. They have 2 styles laid out and offer more on their website. I choose the wrap around style that fits wrapped around my phone or hand. The directions label where to put each magnet but I didn’t follow those locations.

My phone and case must be larger than the one their design calls for. This was easily accounted for by measuring how many inches it was around my phone - 7 if you are interested. This helped me locate the first lower magnet. Once that was attached (it’s a really easy snap on design) I just wrapped the cord around the phone to get the next location. As with to the upper magnets when I got to the single strands going to each ear and it was installed. Snapbuds are a snap to attach :)

Trying them out:

I carried them wrapped around my phone in my pocket as we hiked. Even using the phone for a map or to take photos was not a problem. The cords stayed snapped together. When listening to music, I found the magnets can snap together to take up extra cord. This was handy since my dog’s leash is a challenge. Normally I have to put the cord inside my shirt to avoid the leash or my hands.

I wrapped the cords around my hand and the magnets snapped together nicely. The anchor has a spot to tie in your earbuds to the headphone jack. This whole thing I put in my pocket. I wanted to see if they would stay untangled this way. After hiking and driving I pulled them out. This time a couple of upper magnets came undone. When I tried to unravel the headphones there were a few snags. Even with some tangle, this was still better than the pile I started with. Looking closer at my installation led me to discover that the upper magnets try to snap together opposite of the lower ones. I must have put the magnets facing the opposite direction. Something you should pay attention to when you put yours on.

I paid more attention to how I put the bundle in my pocket and this time the Snapbuds stayed connected throughout our hike. Carefully placing them in your pocket will pay off in the end.

Pros:

Lightweight, magnets adhere together quickly, straightforward installation, great packaging, Snapbuds stay in place on the cords, anchor holds headphones to jack once attached

Cons:

Magnets caused a tangle on one hike but not on a second, use your own phone as a guide in addition to the one provided, anchor is difficult to attach both headphones to (this might be user error but it takes me awhile)

Overall:

The Snapbuds do a great job at keeping things better situated. I give them a thumbs up and say you should check them out. They may even give me more options as I continue to use them on our adventures. 5/5 on Snapbuds doing what they are designed to do. 4/5 for usefulness in my gear set up. This may rise with more use.

Check them out at www.snapbuds.us

Site5
Month of VisitJune
  • Snapbuds- : a product review
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  • Ada Lake Campground. A beautiful oasis
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  • Review photo of Ada Lake Recreation Area by Art S., June 10, 2018
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Reviewed Sep. 3, 2016

Up north

A nice up north campground. No reservations so it is first come first serve. Only electric motors on the lake so it is usually a quiet setting. Away from town for a nice relaxing time

Reviewed Sep. 1, 2016

Beautiful rustic campground right on a pretty lake

This is a great campground. It's rustic, so minimal amenities. First come, first served. We arrived mid-week and had no problem getting a lakeside campsite. The sites are low compared to the water level, so it was an easy walk from our campsite to the water (no stairs to climb). The sites are relatively spread out. The lake is electric motors only so the watercraft were generally quiet, but there are a number of houses across the lake from the campsite and we did hear noise from the houses (I think someone using a leaf blower?) Nice northwoods campground on a quiet lake.

  • Review photo of Ada Lake Recreation Area by Jen E., September 1, 2016
  • Review photo of Ada Lake Recreation Area by Jen E., September 1, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are fires allowed at Ada Lake Recreation Area?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Ada Lake Recreation Area, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Ada Lake Recreation Area have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Ada Lake Recreation Area does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Ada Lake Recreation Area?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is available, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is good.