The Boulder Lake Recreation Area is one of the most popular campgrounds in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. A great camping destination for families, couples and groups. Abundant recreational opportunities in the area include whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing, mountain biking and hiking.
The campground is in a wooded setting on the south shore of 370-acre Boulder Lake. Sandy shallows front the entire Recreation Area and many campers, especially those on waterfront sites, will swim, tube, hang out with friends or enjoy fun water activities with their kids. The Rec Area also features an excellent sandy swimming beach with a small picnic area shaded by pines and firs. A small, outdoor amphitheater is directly behind the beach and picnic area and features stadium style seating with a large fire pit and electric outlets.
This campground has probably the best amenities of the entire Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Three shower buildings offer running water with sinks, mirrors, flush toilets and free heated showers in private stalls. Overall, the campground is well-laid out and the sites are spaced comfortably apart from each other. Every site offers moderate to full shade. The campground roads are paved as is every campsite parking spur.
There are 89 individual campsites available for tent and RV/trailer camping (back-in only, see list below). 23 sites offer electric hookup (50-amp) and 66 are non-electric. Site #41 has electric hookup and is accessible. The campground host is across from the registration kiosk near the campground entrance. Each site has a tent area, parking spur, picnic table and fire ring. Campground amenities include accessible heated shower buildings, drinking water (electric wells, fountains, & hand pumps), accessible flush toilets, accessible vault toilets and an RV/trailer dump station with potable water. 55 sites are reservable and 34 sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
A separate camping area has 10 non-electric group campsites in two loops (tent & RV/trailer camping). All 10 sites are accessible. 6 sites can accommodate up to 16 people and 4 sites can accommodate up to 30 people. Three of the small group sites are back-in only with two paved spurs. The other 7 group sites are pull-through. All 10 group sites can be reserved. Amenities in the group camping area include a large heated, accessible shower building, drinking water (electric wells, fountains, & hand pumps), accessible flush toilets and accessible vault toilets.
Lakeside Campsites with Lake Access
The following waterfront campsites have shoreline access and at least partial views of the lake. Each site is within steps of the water except sites 34 & 35, which are set back from the lake but still offer lakeshore access: 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 26, 29, 31, 32, 34, & 35
Campsites closest to the lake are surrounded by balsam fir, pines and cedars, while a canopy of hardwoods shade the rest of the campground.
Boulder Lake
The lake itself is a popular destination. Cottages, summer homes and several resorts dot the west and northeast shore. Pontoon boats are common and wave runners are sometimes cruising the middle of the lake or along the opposite shore, but rarely intrude upon those enjoying the sandy, clear waters in front of the National Forest Area.
The public boat landing is at the west end of the campground, within a short walking distance of the beach and day-use area. The landing offers a paved ramp, boat pier, trailer-turnaround, and a large trailer parking area. A wide trail runs along the shoreline between the landing and the swimming beach, and campers who do not have waterfront sites will beach their watercraft here.
Boulder Lake is a Loon nesting site.
Trails & Places
- Nicolet Roche Trail* | Mountain Biking
- Wolf River State Bike Trail* | Bicycle path
- Wolf River | Paddling, whitewater rafting
- Peshtigo River | Paddling
- North Branch Oconto River | Paddling
- Jones Springs Area Trail* | Hiking
- Cathedral Pines SNA* | Hiking
- Mountain Fire Lookout Tower* | Scenic overlook
Season
The campground is open from May through the third week of October.
Registration
A self-registration kiosk is located near the campground entrance. You must register and pay before occupying a site. Reservable sites may be reserved online up to six months in advance (please visit the reservations website for more details).
GPS: 45.139780, -88.638200
Campground Stats
- Total Number of Campsites: 99
- RV & Tent Campsites: 99
- Tent Only Campsites: 0
- Group Campsites: 10
- Reservable Campsites: 35
Campground Amenities
- Contact station kiosk
- Drinking water (hand pump)
- Accessible flush toilets
- Accessible vault toilets
- Accessible heated showers
- Canoe launch
- Garbage & recycling
Campsite Amenities
- Electric Hookup: 23
- Non-Electric: 76
- Fire ring
- Picnic table
- Tent area
- Parking spur
- Campsite Capacity: 8 people per site
- Group Site Capacity: 16 or 30 people per site
- All sites offer at least partial shade
RV & Camping Trailer Info
- Campground Roads: Paved
- Campsite Spurs: Paved
- Back-in 25-foot max: 42e, 74
- Back-in 30-foot max: 19, 66, 69, 72, 89
- Back-in 35-foot max: 2, 7, 17, 40e, 46e-49e, 51e, 54e, 70
- Back-in 40-foot max: 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 20, 23, 27, 30, 31, 32, 34-38, 50e, 53e, 55, 57-60, 62, 65, 84
- Back-in 45-foot max: 1, 3, 9e, 10e, 11e, 13e-16e, 18, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28 29, 33, 39, 41e, 43e, 44e, 45e, 52e, 56, 61, 63, 64, 67, 68, 71, 73, 75-83, 85-88, Birch, Elm, and Maple
- Pull-through 45-foot max: Ash, Cherry, Oak, Balsam, Cedar, Hemlock, and Spruce
- Electric Hookup: 50 amps
- Generators Allowed: Yes (6:00am to 10:00pm)
- Generator noise must not disturb other campground guests!
- RV/Trailer Dump Station: Yes
Recreation Area Amenities
- Boat landing
- Canoe landing area
- Picnic area (tables, grills, shade)
- Swimming beach
- Ampitheater
- Pets Allowed? Yes
- Pets must be restrained or on a leash in campgrounds & developed areas.
- Pets (except guide dogs) are not allowed in swimming areas.
Recreation Area Activities
- Hiking
- Mountain Biking (Nicolet Roche Trail)
- Boulder Lake (370 acres, max depth: 11 feet)
- Swimming
- Boating (motorized)
- Canoeing & kayaking
- Paddleboarding
- Fishing
- ⥾ Panfish (common)
- ⥾ Largemouth Bass (common)
- ⥾ Smallmouth Bass (present)
- ⥾ Northern Pike (present)
- ⥾ Walleye (present)
- Boulder Lake contour map
- Lake Bottom: 60% sand, 20% gravel, 3% rock, 17% muck
Managing Agency
- Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
- Lakewood-Laona Ranger District
- Lakewood Office
- 15085 State Highway 32
- Lakewood, WI 54138
- Phone: 715.276.6333
- Official website: Boulder Lake Recreation Area
Local Gas & Services
- Markton is 2 miles away
A convenience store with water, food, ice, firewood, ice cream and more is at the River Forest Campground - Langlade is 7.5 miles away
(restaurant, convenience store, gas & services) - Lakewood & Townsend are 20 miles away
(restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat) - Distances are from the campground entrance.
An asterisk* indicates an external link.