Lake Wissota State Park

Camping

Lake Wissota State Park sits on a high wooded flat on the west shore of Lake Wissota (6,148 acres). An expansive day-use area features multiple picnic grounds, two playgrounds for children, four shelters, a sandy swimming beach, a wide grass lawn for sunbathers and a beach house with changing rooms. A separate beach is available for dogs and their human companions. Other amenities include two fishing piers, a sand volleyball court, and a ball diamond. The park is well laid out and offers a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. This is a great destination for family vacations, especially on warm sunny weekends.

18 miles of hiking and nature trails offer a variety of scenery including a pine plantation, marshlands, prairie and open fields of cornflowers and wildflowers. 11 miles of the trails are open to mountain biking. The scenic Lake Trail runs on a low ridge overlooking the lake and features several panoramic viewpoints. Sunsets from the trail can be spectacular. Interpretive stations describe the geologic history of the lake and surrounding region. The Beaver Meadow Nature Trail (1-mile loop) at the south end of the park is an excellent interpretive trail for families with small children.

A staffed office is at the park’s entrance and offers passes, permits, souvenirs, ice, firewood, and canoe rentals. A nature center is located at the south end of the day-use area and features interpretive programs throughout the summer.

Camping

The family campground lies in a pine and hardwood forest and every campsite offers at least partial shade. There are 116 sites, of which 58 have electric hookup. Most sites are spaced well-apart, offering pleasant levels of seclusion. A few sites are more open, especially in the pine plantation in the south loop. All 116 sites are reservable and available for tent and RV/trailer camping. Five sites are pull-through, and the rest are back-in. Most can accommodate a trailer or RV up to 45 feet in length. Site numbers 14 and 91 are ADA accessible. Each site has a fire ring, picnic table and a tent area. None of the campsites are directly lakeside, but approximately 20 have lake views through a layer of foliage.

PARK MAP RESERVE A CAMPSITE

Campground amenities include two accessible, heated shower buildings with restrooms (flush toilets). Drinking water and vault toilets are scattered throughout the camping areas. A children’s playground and a shelter are in the middle of the campground. A recycling and garbage station is located at the campground entrance, and an RV/trailer dump station is at the park entrance.

A separate group campground is located at the south end of the park. There are two group sites for tent camping only, one site can accommodate up to 100 people and 15 vehicles, and the other can accommodate up to 80 people and 12 vehicles. Both group sites are reservable. Amenities include drinking water, vault toilets and a shelter. Showers are available in the family campground.

Lake Wissota is a 6,148-acre flowage at the confluence of the Yellow and Chippewa Rivers formed by a hydraulic dam at the lake’s southwest corner. The lake has a greater depth than most flowages in Wisconsin making it suitable for all motorized craft activities including general boating, fishing, water skiing, tubing, and personal watercraft. The State Park’s beach and developed boat landing are in a protected bay, making this area of the lake enjoyable for canoeing and kayaking.

The lake has a good reputation for fishing. A look at the lake’s contour map will reveal fish-crib locations and the deep channels and drop offs where the original riverbeds were. Walleye, Musky, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Catfish are all common. Massive Lake Sturgeon are occasionally pulled from the waters.

Overall, Lake Wissota State Park’s beautiful scenery, fun lake activities, abundance of trails, excellent day use areas, and its proximity to several bustling communities combine to make it one of Wisconsin’s more popular state parks.

PARK MAP RESERVE A CAMPSITE
Trails & Places

The Olde Abe State Trail is less than two miles from the park entrance. The trail is a paved, 37-mile-long bicycle path (rail-trail) that connects Brunet Island State Park (north trailhead) with the 31-mile long Chippewa River State Trail in Eau Claire. A long stretch of the Old Abe runs along the bank of the Chippewa River, providing beautiful scenery.

The Chippewa River south of Eau Claire, and the Eau Claire River are both excellent paddling rivers. The Eau Claire River should be navigable from its North Fork tributary at Channey Road (44.7455526, -91.0519807) but check with a local outfitter before you embark. The Eau Claire features high sandy banks and both rivers will have frequent sandbars during normal flows, generally from mid-summer and into fall.

Coon Fork County Park lies 36 miles to the southeast near Augusta. The park’s main feature is a beautiful 62-acre lake surrounded by pine forest. A 108-site campground sits on the east side of the lake, while a day-use area with a public swimming beach is on the west. There are lakeshore trails on both sides of the lake, but the highlight is the 2.6-mile (point-2-point) trail on the east shore (campground side). Across Highway CF from the County Park is the Coon Fork Barrens State Natural Area and a scenic, unmarked trail along Coon Fork Creek.

The communities of Chippewa Falls, Lake Hallie and Eau Claire are close by, there are numerous food markets, bait and tackle shops, sporting goods stores, bicycle shops, antique stores, souvenir shops and boutiques. Visitors will also find restaurants, breweries, distilleries, wineries, museums, and entertainment venues. Eau Claire is host to several popular music festivals in the summer and fall.

Season

Lake Wissota State Park is open year-round. Contact the park office for winter camping availability.

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: 118
  • RV & Tent Campsites: 116
  • Tent Only Campsites: 0
  • Group Campsites: 2
  • Reservable Campsites: 116
Campground Amenities
  • Drinking water (hand pump)
  • Accessible flush toilets
  • Accessible vault toilets
  • Accessible heated showers
  • Picnic area
  • Children’s play area
  • Garbage & recycling
Campsite Amenities
  • Electric Hookup: 58
  • Non-Electric: 58
  • Fire ring
  • Picnic table
  • Campsite Capacity: 6 people per site
  • Group Site Capacity: 80/100 people per site
  • All sites offer at least partial shade
RV & Camping Trailer Info
  • Campground Roads: Paved
  • Campsite Spurs: Gravel
  • 111 sites are back-in
  • 5 sites are pull-through
  • Most sites can accommodate up to 45' length
  • Electric Hookup: 30 to 50 amps (see online reservations)
  • RV/Trailer Dump Station: Yes (closed in winter)
State Park Amenities
  • Staffed Office
  • Nature center
  • Drinking water (hand pump)
  • Accessible flush toilets
  • Accessible vault toilets
  • Picnic areas (reservable shelters, tables, grills, shade)
  • Children’s playground
  • Swimming beach
  • Fishing pier (2)
  • Sand volleyball court
  • Ball diamond
  • Pet play area & beach
  • Firewood ($)
  • Boat landing
  • Canoe launch
  • Accessible trails
  • Garbage & recycling
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  • Pets Allowed? Yes
  • Wisconsin State Park Pet Policies*
Concessions & Rentals
  • Ice, firewood, souvenirs
  • Rentals (canoe)
State Park Recreation
  • Picnicking
  • Hiking
  • Bicycling
  • Mountain Biking
  • Nature center
  • Interpretive programs
  • Historic & Cultural Site
  • Lake Wissota (6,148 acres, max depth: 65 feet)
  • Swimming
  • Boating (motorized)
  • Canoeing & kayaking
  • SUP
  • Fishing
  • ⥾ Walleye (abundant)
  • ⥾ Panfish (common)
  • ⥾ Musky (common)
  • ⥾ Smallmouth Bass (common)
  • ⥾ Northern Pike (common)
  • ⥾ Catfish (common)
  • ⥾ Largemouth Bass (present)
  • ⥾ Sturgeon (present)
  • Fish cribs are present!
  • Lake Wissota contour map (large color file)
  • Lake Bottom: 85% sand, 5% gravel, 5% rock, 5% muck
Managing Agency
  • Lake Wissota State Park
  • 18127 County Highway O
  • Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
Local Gas & Services
  • Chippewa Falls is 7 miles away
    (restaurants, grocery, supplies, convenience store, gas & services, laundromat)
  •  
  • Eau Claire is 20 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.