Lake of the Pines Campground, near Winter, Wisconsin, is a serene spot tucked away in the Flambeau River State Forest, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle. With its rustic charm, this campground offers a peaceful retreat surrounded by towering pines and hardwoods, making it a great place to unwind.

The campground features clean vault toilets and a hand pump for drinking water, ensuring you have the basics covered. Many visitors have enjoyed the nearby lake, which boasts a fishing dock, a boat launch, and a small swimming area. As one camper noted, “You can hike a wonderful nature trail and also bike in areas,” making it a fantastic spot for outdoor activities.

For those who enjoy paddling, the milder sections of the Flambeau River are just waiting to be explored. Campers have reported seeing wildlife like porcupines and hearing the calls of loons and owls, adding to the natural experience. Just remember, there’s no cell service here, so it’s a great chance to disconnect and soak in the sounds of nature.

While the check-in process can be a bit tricky, the overall vibe is friendly and laid-back. Whether you’re here for a quick overnight stop or a longer stay, Lake of the Pines Campground offers a refreshing escape into the great outdoors.

Lake of the Pines Campground — Flambeau River State Forest

Join the fun near Winter. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Winter is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near Winter, WI. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.

Winter

The Best Camping Near Winter, Wisconsin

You are able to reserve or have non reserve sites . Beautiful location tucked in by many pines and hardwoods. There is a lake with a fishing dock boat landing and swimming area. You can  hike a wonderful nature trail and also bike  in areas. There are hiking and a tv trails  close by. But the best is no cell service and the sound of the elk and loons in the evening.

Peaceful

We stayed here one quick night on a trip driving the Trans Wisconsin ATV Trail. This is one of 2 campgrounds in the Flambeau River State Forest. It was fairly rustic and remote, but had clean vault toilets, hand pump for water, and a nicely wooded sites. We walked to the lake at dusk and enjoyed great views. There is a boat launch, and also a path to a small beach with a swim area.   Not a destination for us, but a great stop.

  

Read more, check out the map: https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/stateforests/flambeauriver/camping.html You can check availability and reserve some of the sites online on the Wisconsin DRN site, or just pay at the pay station. 

  

Pro Tip:  We found wood close by at the Flambeau Forest Inn, with a pick up and paybox outside. Nice to be able to get wood without needing to go inside.

Quick Overnight near Gorgeous Lake

Beautiful campground. Early season camping, only a few other sites reserved. First time here, would definitely go back, and bring a canoe. I imagine the sites would be fairly private once the leaves fill in for the season. Great nature trail, saw a porcupine, heard loons and an owl. Amazing stars and perfectly quiet. Found wood in the site but no nearby sales within the required 10 miles. Not sure what typical conditions are for finding wood in summer. 

Excellent Spring Camping

We arrived at Lake of the Pines knowing sites were reservable. We didn't know they **had** to be reserved. There were no less than eleven signs at the entrance. You could purchase a vehicle pass required for entry but could not pay for camping. The instructions said to call a telephone number. With no cell service we were about to drive until we could call. Luckily a very pleasant maintenance women told us there was a dedicated phone for reservations at the forest headquarters a few miles away. We apparently missed that sign.

  

We took a chance and paid for an out-of-state annual vehicle pass for $38 as opposed to buying an $8 pass every day. We checked out the park and there were only two sites occupied. We chose one next to some campers on motorcycles because it had a partial view of the lake and drove to the headquarters. We called and asked for a specific site number. The person said she had no Lake of the Pines in her system. We figured out it was Flambeau/Lake of the Pines and confirmed that the adjacent site was occupied. We reserved the site and paid by card over the dedicated reservation phone. They said we would receive a confirmation email but...no cell service. Returning to the campground we found that the site we reserved was the one occupied. Apparently the motorcycle guys blew off the whole camping reservation and fee. We set up on another site and hoped no one reserved that one. All the site number signs said first come-first served? We corrected the site number at the phone at the forest headquarters the next day. First we tried the office which had hours posted but was closed, so we used the dedicated phone line.

  

After all this, we had a nice time paddling the milder sections of the Flambeau River. Shuttle prices for private canoes at local tavern/outfitters were reasonable. No one we saw other than DNR wore masks. Wisconsin DNR needs to get their act together. There is no reason to have a payment drop box for vehicle permits but not camping. Consolidate your check-in signs.

Photos of Lake of the Pines Campground — Flambeau River State Forest

Real photos from real campers