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- Campgrounds & RV Parks in County Highway M
- North Trout Lake campground
North Trout Lake campground Introduce
Welcome to North Trout Lake Campground, located at 4525-4599 Co Hwy M, Boulder Junction, WI 54512. As a part of the Campgrounds & RV Parks category, we offer a gorgeous rustic camping experience nestled among massive red pines, with direct access to Trout Lake.
Based on customer reviews, North Trout Lake Campground is highly regarded for its clean and large campsites. The lake features a hard sand bottom, making it ideal for swimming. The campground also provides excellent access to first-rate bike trails, allowing visitors to explore the surrounding areas, including St. Germain and Manitowish Waters, via paved trails.
One of the unique features of this campground is its first-come, first-served policy, which, as of 2020, allowed for spontaneous camping trips. This policy is set to change in 2022, moving to a reservation system. The campground is also known for its extended season, remaining open late into the fall and reopening early in the spring, making it a valuable option for those seeking off-season camping.
The campground offers several walk-in sites, providing some seclusion and beautiful lake views. Facilities include vault toilets, and firewood is available for purchase. However, visitors are advised that there is ample fallen wood for burning, so bringing a saw is recommended.
While the campground is generally peaceful, it's important to note that there is a shooting range nearby, which may produce noise during operating hours. Additionally, the campground is located close to a county highway, which can create some ambient noise, though it is generally not disruptive, especially overnight.
The campground is managed by the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest staff, who maintain the site and facilities to a high standard. The area is open, high, windy, and dry, resulting in fewer bugs compared to other nearby campgrounds.
Here's a summary of what North Trout Lake Campground offers:
- Clean and large campsites.
- Direct access to Trout Lake with a hard sand bottom for swimming.
- First-rate bike trail access.
- Walk-in sites with lake views and seclusion.
- Vault toilets and firewood for sale.
- Extended camping season (open late fall and early spring).
- First-come, first-served policy (changing in 2022).
- Potential noise from a nearby shooting range and county highway.
- Managed by the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest staff.
- Fewer bugs due to open, windy, and dry environment.
For inquiries or information, please contact North Trout Lake Campground at (815) 307-9164 or +1 815-307-9164.
Location
WisconsinVilas CountyBoulder JunctionCounty Highway M
Customer Reviews
Very nice camp ground, clean sites and large. Do not bother bringing wood or buying any, there was fallen trees everywhere to burn. Save your money and bring a saw. I wouldn't hesitate to come back. A few negatives are a shooting range close by so you will listen to that until it closes and it is close to a county highway, not terribly annoying or loud just something to be aware of. They have many walk in sites, fire wood for sale and vault toilets. A nice walking trail.
A gorgeous rustic campground nestled in a stand of massive red pines offering first-rate bike trail access. Trout Lake has a hard sand bottom here, making it great for swimming. Several campsites have direct access to the beach. You can start here and bike as far as St. Germain or Manitowish Waters without leaving paved trails. A number of walk-in sites within the property offer some seclusion from neighboring campers while providing gorgeous lake views. You can hear noise of the county highway throughout most of the campground, but it isn’t bad overnight and can be gotten used to. The grounds are open, high, windy and dry enough that the area seems to have fewer bugs than many nearby campgrounds. The Northern Highland American Legion State Forest staff does a stellar job managing the site and maintaining facilities. As of summer 2020 this is one of the last remaining first-come first-served campgrounds operated by the Wisconsin DNR. The lack of reservable sites helps maintain the unique experience found here. You can find an open site at this campground almost any weekend, even in the middle of summer. Enjoy it while it lasts; this and other remaining non-reservable campgrounds in the NHAL are moving onto the reservation system in 2022. North Trout is also one of few campgrounds in its region that’s open late into the fall and reopens early in spring. An all-around gem.
If you're looking for a place that's out in the woods but without having to fight through a trail and be an hour away from supplies this is the right campground for you. It will give you the feeling of being in the woods but with all the comforts you would want for an easy relaxing trip. There are power sites as well and firewood for sale on site. The sites themselves are pretty open so if you're looking for privacy I would suggest the walk in sites. I do not suggest the north trout lake boat launch, extremely shallow. Use the south but be very careful there are a lot of bars and humps that come out of no where. Additionally the fishing is very hard on this lake. The fish won't be where you expect them and they are extremely spot specific. Too far to any side of structure and you won't get anything. Walleye and small mouth are your best bet. Highly suggest a guide. Outstanding views over all and very peaceful minus the sound of traffic during the day. But that goes away at night.
Very clean and well kept sites, beach, rest rooms and grounds.. Beach is very nice and tons of room. Highway noice is loud ro very loud at times. It was logged recently and they didn't clean up the typical logging mess. I can see it out in the forest but not in a Camp Ground. The back looked like a tornado went through. Rest rooms rooms were very clean and didn't smell. Only strike it had was to allow logging in the camp, and or clean up the mess it made! Otherwise it would have received a 5!!!
Nice campground on the lake. There was more traffic noise from Road M than I expected, but still was peaceful. Terrific access to the trail system and we also found great hiking on the forest roads. There was a camper parked in the host site, but no one was there during the 5 days we visited. Our fire pit has not been cleaned before we arrived. At $20/night plus Wisconsin forest pass, it was pricey for no electricity, but we still would return if we are ever in the area again.
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