Buffalo Lake Campground is in a beautiful setting among tall pines and hardwoods on rolling terrain on the east shore of Buffalo Lake (105 acres). Most of the lake is surrounded by forest with a few cabins and homes on the south shore. The lake is great for paddling and anglers will find Panfish, Walleye and Bass. A lakeshore trail starts at the campground and circles around the north shore offering scenic views of the lake.
This is a popular family campground that features a well-maintained swimming beach with sandy, shallow waters. The boat landing has a paved ramp, trailer parking area (4 stalls), turnaround and boat pier.
The campground has 52 non-electric campsites. 47 sites are available for tent and RV/trailer camping (back-in only) and 5 are walk-in tent only. Site #2038 is the campground host. Mature white pines provide a pleasant amount of shade for many of the campsites. Each site has a tent area, fire ring, picnic table and parking spur. Campground amenities include drinking water (hand pump), accessible vault toilets and a firewood bin ($ fee). All 47 sites are reservable.
Lakeside Campsites with Lake Access
Waterfront sites 2019, 2020, & 2021-2022 (double site) offer the best views of the lake. Sites 2013, 2014-2015 (double site), 2017 2039, 2041, have partial views of the lake through the foliage and have direct access to the lake shore trail. Walk-in tent sites 2042 & 2043 are in a fantastic waterfront setting with lakeshore access and plenty of shade.
Trails & Places
The Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest offers abundant recreation opportunities for silent sports enthusiasts. These include hiking trails, nature trails, paddle trails, mountain bike trail systems, and over 52 miles of paved bicycle paths. Visit the NH-AL website for more info. The campground makes an excellent basecamp for enjoying everything the area has to offer. The communities of Minocqua and Woodruff are only minutes away by car, offering groceries, sporting goods, souvenir shops, restaurants, and pubs.
There are hundreds of scenic lakes to paddle, boat or fish within an hour’s drive of the campground.
- Clear Lake Bicycle Path* | Bicycling
- Raven Trails* | Mountain Biking
- Bearskin State Trail | Bicycling
- Heart of Vilas Bicycle Path* | Bicycling
- North Trout Lake Nature Trail* | Hiking
- Escanaba Trail System* | Hiking, lake paddling, canoe camping
- Star Lake Nature Trail* | Hiking
- Fallison Lake Nature Trail* | Hiking
- Three Eagle Trail* | Bicycling
- WinMan Trails* | Mountain Biking
- Manitowish River | Paddling, river camping
Season
The campground is open from the last weekend in April through mid-October.
Registration
Campsite reservations are required before occupying a site. Campsites may be reserved on the day of your arrival, or up to 11 months in advance, online or by phone (1.888.947.2757). Campers must be finished setting up by 11:00 pm. A Wisconsin State Park & Forest Vehicle Admission Sticker is required (daily or annual).
Campground Stats
- Total Number of Campsites: 52
- RV & Tent Campsites: 47
- Tent Only Campsites: 5
- Group Campsites: 3 (double)
- Reservable Campsites: 52
- Campground Manager Site: #2038
Campground Amenities
- Campground Manager
- Drinking water (hand pump)
- Accessible vault toilets
- Firewood ($ fee)
- Swimming beach
- Boat landing
- Canoe launch
- Garbage & recycling
- Pets Allowed? Yes
- Wisconsin State Forest Pet Policies*
Campsite Amenities
- All sites are non-electric
- Fire ring
- Picnic table
- Tent area
- Parking spur
- Campsite Capacity: 6 people per site
- Double Site Capacity: 12 people
- All sites offer at least partial shade
RV & Camping Trailer Info
- Campground Roads: Paved
- Campsite Spurs: Gravel
- All sites are back-in
- Campsite RV/Trailer Lengths: Wisconsin State Park Reservation website*
- Generators Allowed: Yes (10:00am to 5:00pm)
- Generator noise must not disturb other campground guests!
- RV/Trailer Dump Station: No
- Nearby Dump Station: 45.86545155, -89.6501545
Clear Lake Campground (Free for NH-AL campers), 7 miles away
- Visit sanidumps.com or rvdumps.com for more info.
Campground Activities
- Hiking
- Buffalo Lake (105 acres, max depth: 27 feet)
- Swimming
- Boating (motorized)
- Canoeing & kayaking
- Paddleboarding
- Fishing
- ⥾ Panfish (abundant)
- ⥾ Walleye (common)
- ⥾ Largemouth Bass (present)
- ⥾ Smallmouth Bass (present)
- Buffalo Lake contour map
- Lake Bottom: 60% sand, 25% gravel, 10% rock, 5% muck
Managing Agency
- Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest
- Clear Lake Visitor Station
- 8282 Woodruff Road
- Woodruff, WI 54568
- Phone: 715.356.3668
- Official Website: NH-AL Rustic Campgrounds
Local Gas & Services
- St Germain is 5 miles away
(restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services) - Minocqua-Woodruff is 7 miles away
(restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat) - Lake Tomahawk is 7 miles away
(restaurants, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat) - Eagle River is 16 miles away
(restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat) - Rhinelander is 24 miles away
(restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat) - Distances are from the campground entrance.
An asterisk* indicates an external link.