Spectacle Lake Recreation Area

Chequamegon-Nicolet
National Forest

This rustic campground is spread out in a beautiful conifer and hardwood forest on the northwest shore of Spectacle Lake (166 acres). The lake has crystal clear waters and sandy shallows fronting the entire camping area, perfect for wading and swimming. The day-use area features a large fishing pier with several benches to relax and enjoy the views. Popular activities include canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, pontoon boating (slow, no-wake), swimming and hiking. Overall, Spectacle Lake offers a fantastic ‘get-away-from-it-all’ camping experience.

CAMPGROUND BROCHURE RESERVE A CAMPSITE

There are 34 non-electric campsites with plenty of shade. 8 sites are waterfront with beach access. Every site has a picnic table, fire ring, tent area, and a parking spur. 33 sites can accommodate tents and an RV/trailer(length varies, see list below) and one site is walk-in tent only. The updated campground facilities include drinking water and vault toilets. 17 campsites are reservable and 17 are first-come, first-served. Garbage and recycling are in the day-use area parking lot.

Balsam Fir surround the lakeside campsites, while a canopy of oak, maple, birch and occasional pines shade sites away from the lake. All lakeside sites have access to the shoreline and most have at least partial views of the water. The sites are spaced comfortably apart from each other and offer moderate levels of privacy (lack of underbrush). The campsite parking spurs are flat and level.

Lakeside Campsites with Lake Access
1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, & 13

The public boat landing is near the campground entrance and features a gravel ramp, boat pier, turn-around and a large trailer-parking area.

CAMPGROUND BROCHURE RESERVE A CAMPSITE
campground photo campground photo campground photo campground photo campground photo
Trails & Places

The Spectacle–Kentuck Lake Hiking Trail is a 2.5-mile (one-way) out-&-back trail that connects the two National Forest campgrounds. This is an easy, level hike through a mixed hardwood and pine forest with abundant wildlife. Part of the trail follows along the route of the old Thunder Lake Railroad Bed. The southern portion of the trail runs along the shore of Kentuck Lake.

Season

The campground is open from May through 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: 46.010806, -89.010542

Campground Stats
  • Total Number of Campsites: 34
  • RV & Tent Campsites: 33
  • Tent Only Campsites: 1
  • Group Campsites: 0
  • Reservable Campsites: 17
Campground Amenities
  • Contact station kiosk
  • Drinking water (hand pump)
  • Accessible vault toilets
  • Swimming beach
  • Garbage & recycling
Campsite Amenities
  • All sites are non-electric
  • Fire ring
  • Picnic table
  • Tent area
  • Parking spur
  • Campsite Capacity: 8 people per site
  • All sites offer at least partial shade
RV & Camping Trailer Info
  • Campground Roads: Paved
  • Campsite Spurs: Gravel
  • All sites are non-electric
  • Fire ring
  • Picnic table
  • Tent area
  • Parking spur
  • Campsite Capacity: 8 people per site
  • All sites offer at least partial shade
  • Generators Allowed: Yes (6:00am to 10:00pm)
  • Generator noise must not disturb other campground guests!
  • RV/Trailer Dump Station: No
  • Nearby Dump Station: 45.952918, -89.007159
    Forest Pond Campground ($ fee), 6.2 miles away
  • Nearby Dump Station: 45.916668, -89.256441
    Eagle River Waste Water Treatment ($ fee), 17.1 miles away
Recreation Area Amenities
  • Fishing pier
  • Boat landing
  • Drinking water (hand pump)
  •  
  • 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
  • Picnicking
  • Hiking
  • Spectacle Lake (166 acres, max depth: 35 feet)
  • Swimming
  • Boating (motorized)
  • Canoeing & kayaking
  • Paddleboarding
  • Fishing
  • ⥾ Panfish (common)
  • ⥾ Largemouth Bass (common)
  • ⥾ Smallmouth Bass (common)
  • ⥾ Trout (common)
  • ⥾ Walleye (present)
  • Spectacle Lake contour map
  • Lake Bottom: 60% sand, 20% gravel, 20% rock
Managing Agency
  • Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
  • Eagle River-Florence Ranger District
  • 1247 E. Wall St.
  • Eagle River, WI 54521
Local Gas & Services
  • Land O Lakes is 18 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services)
  • Eagle River is 19 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat)
  • Iron River, MI is 27 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat)
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  • Distances are from the campground entrance.
    An asterisk* indicates an external link.