Wanoka Lake Recreation Area
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.
More like this: first-come in Wisconsin · tent only in Wisconsin
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | Individual campsite fee is $15/night, payable at the fee envelope tube at the site. Nightly fees are half of price shown with use of Interagency Senior or Access Pass. Interagency Pass discounts apply only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Temporarily closed |
| Season | May 2 to October 31 |
| Forest | Chequamegon-Nicolet NF |
| Booking | There are no reservable sites at the Wanoka Campground. Holding sites for others is not permissible. |
| Fees | Individual campsite fee is $15/night, payable at the fee envelope tube at the site. Nightly fees are half of price shown with use of Interagency Senior or Access Pass. Interagency Pass discounts apply only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder. |
| Rules | Campsite Capacity Each site includes a defined parking spur fire ring, picnic table and tent pad. Please help to not increase the size of the area and keep all equipment on the parking spur. Maximum of 8 people and 3 vehicles at each camp site. Vehicle capacity limit includes vehicles, wheeled camping units and trailers. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 46.5432° N, 91.2835° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireRedhouse
38 mi from the campground · 22 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Solstice Outdoors ↗ | 17.7 mi |
| Dump station | Madeline Island Sanitary Dump Station ↗ | 30.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 1.9 miWolf Trail1.5 mi trail · hiking, motorcycle, ATV, e-bike
- 3.1 miIron River ↗18.6 mi trail · hiking, motorcycle, ATV, e-bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
- inChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,005,629 acres
- 6.9 miRainbow Lake Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 7,135 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- John and Justina Palo HomesteadBuilding · Oulu · 9.8 mi
Guidebooks for Wisconsin
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Wanoka Lake Recreation Area?
No. Wanoka Lake Recreation Area is first-come, first-served. There are no reservable sites at the Wanoka Campground. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Wanoka Lake Recreation Area?
Individual campsite fee is $15/night, payable at the fee envelope tube at the site. Nightly fees are half of price shown with use of Interagency Senior or Access Pass. Interagency Pass discounts apply only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder.
Source: Forest Service
Is Wanoka Lake Recreation Area open right now?
Temporarily closed as of Oct 26, 2026. Season May 2 to October 31.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Wanoka Lake Recreation Area have?
20 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Wanoka Lake Recreation Area?
Wanoka Lake Recreation Area is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Wanoka Lake Recreation Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Bah1 (under 0.1 mi), Bah2 (under 0.1 mi), and Perch Lake Campground (9.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby