Fishing and paddling draw campers to Wanoka Lake Campground, a first-come, first-served site within Chequamegon National Forest that sits alongside a small lake stocked with trout. The lake has a dock, though boats must be carried in on foot rather than driven down. ATV trails connect to the area as well, making it a reasonable base for riders.
Sites are forested and fairly private, though spacing between them is close. Most sites are unlevel, which can make getting a rig flat enough to be comfortable a challenge, particularly for larger rigs. The access roads are narrow with low-hanging branches that can scrape along taller vehicles, so drivers should proceed carefully. RVs up to 35 feet are permitted, and some pull-through sites are available. Verizon and AT&T users have reported workable cell coverage here, which is a notable plus for a remote National Forest campground.
Amenities are minimal but functional: vault toilets, potable water (with a noted rust residue from the spigot), a trash dumpster, and a recycling bin. No playground is on-site. Al J. describes it as "a good place to teach the younger kids fishing skills," though families with active children may find the lack of play infrastructure limiting. The campground runs from May 1 through November 30 at $15 per night. Nearby options include Twin Bear County Park and Delta Lake County Park for campers who want to compare alternatives in the area before committing.
Description
JULY 2024
The Wanoka Lake Campground in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest will be closed starting July 19, 2024, to conduct site improvements. mprovements will be made to site drainage and the campground access roads (FR243, 243A, and 243B), boat launch access, and overflow parking area will be repaved. Solar electrical service and a wastewater holding tank will be added to the host site. FR243 will remain open during the repaving process.
Wanoka Recreation Area is located off an ATV route that connects to local ATV trails and other open routes. Visitors may ride their ATV or smaller UTVs to and from the route. ATVs may not be used to drive around the campground for fun. ATVs need to be kept on their trailers or on the parking spur on the site. Located approximately 7 miles east of Iron River, this campground is located on a 15-acre lake that has panfish and trout. Wanoka Lake Campground has 20 sites. Each site has a defined parking spur, fire ring, picnic table, and tent pad, and can accommodate RV's up to 35 feet. Please help to not increase the size of the area and keep all equipment on the parking spur. There are two pull-through sites. Drinking water and vault toilets are available. There is a carry-in-boat access. Did you forget something? Don't sweat it! The small town of Iron River can meet your camping supply needs ranging from groceries to firewood. If you need an out-of-state fishing or ATV/UTV license, Iron River gas stations have these available for purchase. So, if you like to fish, kayak, hike, bike or enjoy being close to town, then the Wanoka Recreation Area is the place for you, conveniently located just a short drive from Iron River.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsWanoka Lake Campground is located in Wisconsin near Iron River
Directions
In Iron River, WI, take US Rt. 2 east for 7 miles to campground sign. Turn right (south) onto Forest Rt. 234 and go 0.9 miles to campground.
Coordinates
46.54228268 N
91.28309682 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GGood Coverage
VerizonLTESome Coverage
AT&T5GExcellent Coverage
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GGood Coverage
- VerizonLTESome Coverage
- AT&T5GExcellent Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Phone Service
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
Drive Time
- 52 min from Duluth, MN
- 2 hrs 21 min from Eau Claire, WI
- 2 hrs 57 min from Minneapolis, MN
- 3 hrs from Wausau, WI
