North Trout Lake Campground

Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest

Tall red and white pines shade this scenic campground spread out on hilly terrain on the northeast shore of Trout Lake (3,864 acres). North Trout Lake provides an excellent camping experience for smaller RV/trailers and tent campers, several walk-in sites are in beautiful lakeside settings.

Trout Lake has crystal-clear waters and is essentially two lakes connected by a narrow channel in the middle. Boating and fishing are popular activities and there are six NH-AL State Forest canoe campsites scattered on the west shore.

CAMPGROUND BROCHURE RESERVE A CAMPSITE

North Trout Lake has 48 non-electric campsites. 40 sites are available for tent and RV/trailer camping (back-in only, length varies) and 8 are walk-in tent only. Four pairs of sites may be combined for small groups of up to 12 people. Site #1401 is the Campground Manager. Campground amenities include drinking water (hand pump), vault toilets, firewood bin ($ fee), and a dump station. All 48 sites are reservable.

Lakeside Campsites with Lake Access
The following campsites are lakefront with excellent views of the lake and shoreline access: #1402, #1403, #1404, #1415, #1417, #1418, #1446, #1447, and #1448. Several other hillside campsites overlook the lake with partial views of the water through the trunks of tall pines: #1406, #1407, #1408, #1410, #1412, and #1414. At the north end of the campground, walk-in tent site #1418 is in an especially scenic setting on the lakeshore next to a small, seasonal creek.

A small picnic area and sandy swimming beach are at the south end of the campground, next to the public boat landing. The landing offers a paved ramp, launch pier, turnaround, and a large, paved parking lot.

CAMPGROUND BROCHURE RESERVE A CAMPSITE
Trails & Places

The campground makes an excellent base camp for enjoying the abundant recreation in the area. A short spur between sites #1420 and #1432 connects with the North Trout Lake Nature Trail, a one-mile hike that features two boardwalks through spruce-tamarack bog and scenic views of Trout Lake. The Heart of Vilas Bicycle Path passes the campground with some of the best scenery of the trail system just south of the campground at Cathedral Point and a 1.5 mile stretch on Lake Shore Drive.

Other area recreation includes Escanaba Lake and Trails (hiking, canoeing, canoe camping, mountain biking), WinMan Trails (Mountain Biking), The North Lakeland Discovery Center (nature center, programs, hiking), Manitowish River (paddling, canoe camping), and hundreds of lakes to explore by boat, canoe, kayak or paddle board.

Drive or ride your bike 3.5 miles north to Boulder Junction. A small tourism community that features gift shops, galleries, restaurants, bars, groceries, an ice cream shoppe and weekly events during the summer.

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: 48
  • RV & Tent Campsites: 40
  • Tent Only Campsites: 8
  • Group Campsites: 4 (double)
  • Reservable Campsites: 48
Campground Amenities
  • Contact station kiosk
  • Drinking water (hand pump)
  • Accessible vault toilets
  • Firewood ($ fee)
  • Picnic area (tables, partial shade)
  • Swimming beach
  • Boat landing (ramp, launch pier, turnaround, trailer parking)
  • Garbage & recycling
  • Dump station
  •  
  • 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 per site
  • All sites offer at least partial shade
RV & Camping Trailer Info
  • Campground Roads: Paved
  • Campsite Spurs: Gravel
  • All sites are back-in
  • Information on individual campsite RV lengths can be found at the Wisconsin State Park Reservation System website, see the ‘Reserve a Campsite’ link below (2022).
  • Generators Allowed: Yes (10:00am to 5:00pm)
  • Generator noise must not disturb other campground guests!
  • RV/Trailer Dump Station: Yes
Campground Activities
  • Picnicking
  • Hiking
  • Bicycling (paved path)
  • Trout Lake (3,864 acres, max depth: 117 feet)
  • Swimming
  • Boating (motorized)
  • Canoeing & kayaking
  • Fishing
  • ⥾ Panfish (common)
  • ⥾ Musky (common)
  • ⥾ Smallmouth Bass (common)
  • ⥾ Northern Pike (common)
  • ⥾ Trout (common)
  • ⥾ Walleye (common)
  • ⥾ Largemouth Bass (present)
  • Trout Lake contour map
  • Lake Bottom: 30% sand, 40% gravel, 20% rock, 10% muck
Managing Agency
  • Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest
  • Crystal Lake Visitor Station
  • 3237 Crystal Lake Road
  • Boulder Junction, WI 54512
Local Gas & Services
  • Boulder Junction is 3 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat)
  •  
  • Sayner is 11 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas)
  •  
  • Minocqua-Woodruff is 13 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat)
  •  
  • Manitowish Waters is 15 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services)
  •  
  • St Germain is 18 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat)
  •  
  • Distances are from the campground entrance.
    An asterisk* indicates an external link.