Firefly Lake Campground

Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest

This is another popular campground for familes and couples, set on the north shore of Firefly Lake (27 acres). Like its neighbor across County Highway N (Crystal Lake), Firefly Lake features crystal-clear waters, long stretches of white sand beaches with inviting shallow waters surrounded by a beautiful, undeveloped shoreline covered in tall pines, birch, and hardwoods. The lake provides a great atmosphere for swimming, paddleboarding, tubing and leisure paddling. A scenic hiking trail circles the lake.

This is a great campground for RV’s and camping trailers even though there are no electric hookups. Most of the sites are spacious with flat, level spurs and plenty of shade. An RV dump station is across the highway at the Crystal Lake Campground. The dump station offers potable water and is free for all registered campers at any Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest campground.

The campground is laid out in three loops. The east loop (sites #201 - #225) lies in a stand of red pines on flat terrain where pine needles carpet the ground. Many of the campsites are spacious and level with plenty of room for an RV or trailer and a large tent. All are shaded. Some of the best lakeside campsites in northern Wisconsin can be found here. These include sites #207, #209, #211, and #213. Sites #205 and #214 are set back from the lake but still offer partial views of the water and shoreline access.

None of the sites in the middle loop (sites #226 - #246, & #271) are waterfront, however, most are spacious, level, spaced comfortably apart from each other and offer plenty of shade. The campground’s picnic area and swimming beach are in this loop. The picnic area is spread out along the lakeshore in a stand of pines and birch behind the swimming beach. Several tables and benches offer scenic views of the lake.

The west loop (sites #248 - #270) sits among immature birch, oak, and pines. These sites tend to be a little less spacious but will offer more privacy than those in the other two loops. The waterfront sites, #259, #261, #263, #265, and #270 have shoreline access and partial views of the water through foliage and tree trunks. The double site, #267 & #268 is a great waterfront campsite for small groups, it’s directly on the lake, has two fire-pits, and tall pines provide plenty of shade.

CAMPGROUND BROCHURE RESERVE A CAMPSITE

Firefly Lake Campground has 71 campsites available for tent and RV/trailer camping (back-in only, max length varies). 5 are double sites. Every site has a parking spur, picnic table, fire ring, and tent area. The campground manager site is next to site #271. Campground amenities include a shower building with heated showers and accessible restrooms with running water and flush toilets. An electric well with drinking water is next to the shower building. Vault toilets and drinking water wells (hand pump) are located throughout the campground. The facilities are clean and well-maintained.

Firefly Lake is a Loon nesting site.

CAMPGROUND BROCHURE RESERVE A CAMPSITE
Trails & Places

There is an abundance of recreation in the local area. The Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail passes the campground entrance and features over 52 miles of paved trails for bicycling. The Corner Store, a popular ice cream shoppe, is three miles west of the campground on the bicycle path. The trailhead for the scenic Fallison Lake Nature Trail is just across County Highway N. A paved path leads from the campground to the trailhead where there is a bike rail to secure your bicycle while you hike.

Aside from Crystal Lake and neighboring Muskellunge Lake, there are hundreds of scenic northwoods lakes to paddle, boat or fish within an hour’s drive.

The tourism communities of Minocqua-Woodruff, Sayner, St Germain, Boulder Junction, and Eagle River are all just minutes away by car.

Season

The campground is open or closed depending on snow conditions (not plowed).

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: 71
  • RV & Tent Campsites: 71
  • Tent Only Campsites: 0
  • Group Campsites: 5 (double)
  • Reservable Campsites: 71
Campground Amenities
  • Drinking water (electric well & hand pump)
  • Accessible flush toilets
  • Accessible vault toilets
  • Accessible heated showers
  • Picnic area (tables, grills, shade)
  • 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 are shaded
RV & Camping Trailer Info
  • Generators Allowed: Yes (10:00am to 5:00pm)
  • Generator noise must not disturb other campground guests!
  • RV/Trailer Dump Station: No
  • Nearby Dump Station: 46.002054, -89.621313
    Crystal Lake Campground (Free for NH-AL campers), 0.3 miles away
Campground Activities
  • Picnicking
  • Hiking
  • Firefly Lake (27 acres, max depth: 46 feet)
  • Swimming
  • Boating (non-motorized only)
  • Canoeing & kayaking
  • Paddleboarding
  • Fishing
  • ⥾ Panfish (common)
  • ⥾ Trout (common)
  • ⥾ Smallmouth Bass (present)
  • Firefly Lake contour map
  • Lake Bottom: 90% sand, 10% gravel
Managing Agency
  • Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest
  • Crystal Lake Visitor Station
  • 3237 Crystal Lake Road
  • Boulder Junction, WI 54512
Local Gas & Services
  • Sayner is 5 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas)
  •  
  • Boulder Junction is 9 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat)
  •  
  • Minocqua-Woodruff is 10 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat)
  •  
  • St Germain is 12 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat)
  •  
  • Manitowish Waters is 16 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services)
  •  
  • Eagle River is 23 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat)
  •  
  • Distances are from the campground entrance.
    An asterisk* indicates an external link.