Sandy Beach Lake Campground

Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest

Shallow Sandy Beach Lake (110 acres) features a lakebed made up almost entirely of sand, surrounded by an undeveloped shoreline of pines, hardwoods, and spruce bog. Campers and visitors will enjoy swimming, tubing, paddling, and paddleboarding, especially on calm, sunny days.

The day use area at the north end of the campground has an open grass lawn with tables and grills behind a sandy swimming beach with clear waters and sandy shallows. A footpath near the walk-in campsites provides easy access for campers. A separate road leads to a parking lot for non-campers.

CAMPGROUND BROCHURE RESERVE A CAMPSITE

There are 32 shaded, non-electric campsites. 29 sites can accommodate a tent and a RV/trailer (back-in only, max length varies), and 3 are walk-in tent sites. Site #1919 is the campground manager. Each site has a parking spur, fire ring, picnic table and a tent area. All sites are reservable. Campground amenities include drinking water (hand pump) and accessible vault toilets.

Lakeside Campsites with Lake Access
The lakeside sites are in a fantastic setting, shaded by mature pines with partial to open views of the lake through a thin layer of tree trunks: 1915, 1916, 1917, 1921, 1923, 1925, 1928, & 1930. Each has lakeshore access. Site 1931 has a limited view of the water, but a short footpath to its own small area of sandy shoreline.

Campsites away from the lake are in a mixed forest of hardwoods and pines, and offer more seclusion, but not the lake views.

A public boat landing with a ramp, launch pier, and limited roadside parking is next to the campground entrance.

CAMPGROUND BROCHURE RESERVE A CAMPSITE
Season

The campground is open from late May through early 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).

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 Mercer, Lac Du Flambeau, Minocqua and Woodruff are only minutes away by car, offering groceries, sporting goods, souvenir shops, restaurants, and pubs.

Campground Stats
  • Total Number of Campsites: 33
  • RV & Tent Campsites: 30
  • Tent Only Campsites: 3
  • Group Campsites: 0
  • Reservable Campsites: 33
Campground Amenities
  • Drinking water (hand pump)
  • Accessible vault toilets
  • Picnic area (tables, grills, shade)
  • Swimming beach
  • Boat landing
  • 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
  • Group Site Capacity: 12 people
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: 45.88603190, -89.7318626
    Lakeland Sanitary District ($ fee), 23.4 miles away
  • Nearby Dump Station: 45.86545155, -89.6501545
    Clear Lake Campground (Free for NH-AL campers), 27.1 miles away
Campground Activities
  • Picnicking
  • Sandy Beach Lake (110 acres, max depth: 13 feet)
  • Swimming
  • Boating (motorized)
  • Canoeing & kayaking
  • Paddleboarding
  • Fishing
  • ⥾ Walleye (common)
  • ⥾ Musky (present)
  • ⥾ Panfish (present)
  • ⥾ Largemouth Bass (present)
  • ⥾ Northern Pike (present)
  • Sandy Beach Lake contour map
  • Lake Bottom: 98% sand, 2% gravel
Managing Agency
  • Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest
  • Clear Lake Visitor Station
  • 8282 Woodruff Road
  • Woodruff, WI 54568
Local Gas & Services
  • Mercer is 9.5 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat)
  •  
  • Lac du Flambeau is 11 miles away
    (grocery, convenience store, gas & services, casino)
  •  
  • Manitowish Waters is 12.7 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services)
  •  
  • Minocqua-Woodruff is 23 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat)
  •  
  • Distances are from the campground entrance.
    An asterisk* indicates an external link.