Franklin Lake Recreation Area
The numbers that decide it
- Longest rig
- 40 ft
- Sites
- 77
- Electric hookups
- Yes
- Pull-through sites
- Yes
- Paved access
- No
- Accessible sites
- Not published
- Driveway grade
- Slight
- Bear boxes
- Not published
- Campfires
- Yes
- Shade
- Yes
- Group sites
- Not published
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero. See it on Recreation.gov
Franklin Lake Recreation Area
If you are looking for one of the most popular camping spots within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest of northern Wisconsin, try Franklin Lake Recreation Area off Highway 70 east of Eagle River. Its unique structures, including historic stone and log buildings, land it on the National Register of Historic Places. The Franklin Lake Recreation Area on the Eagle River-Florence District has two camping loops with a total of 77 campsites. The campground features campsites available for tent and RV camping. Sites are equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible flush and vault toilets, as well as drinking water, are provided throughout the campground. There are also two historic log picnic pavilions with picnic tables that can accommodate larger groups. Day use facilities include an 892 acre clear blue water lake and boasts a beautiful sandy beach. The lake provides visitors with ample opportunities for boating, swimming and year round fishing. Anglers can expect a catch of walleye, northern pike, large and smallmouth bass, rock bass, perch, bluegill and trout, among others. The lake is open to all types of boating, motorized and non-motorized. The popular Franklin Nature Trail is an excellent way to get a sampling of nature in the Northwoods. The trail will lead you through northern hardwood, pine, and hemlock forests where some trees are over 400 years old. You can stop off at Butternut Lake and view the beautiful lake from under huge hemlock trees. The boardwalk across the bog offers a chance to see many varieties of bog plants up close. If you visit in the spring, bring along your field guide to identify the numerous wildflowers in bloom. A short loop at the beginning of this trail is accessible to persons using wheelchairs. The campground is in a beautiful setting, among tall pines and hemlocks, perched on the edge of the clear blue waters of Franklin Lake. In addition to its scenic landscape, the campground offers access to educational programs and numerous trails in the area, with some beginning within the campground, including a 6-mile hike to nearby Anvil Lake. So, if you like to swim, boat, fish, hike picnic or enjoy being close to town, the Franklin Lake recreation area is the place for you, conveniently located just 15 minutes east of Eagle River. Franklin Lake Recreation Area is pet friendly; see our restrictions for more information. Franklin Lake Campground now offers electric hook-up at reservable sites 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, & 28-40, as well as first come-first serve sites 1 & 12-15. Maps and Brochures • Franklin Nature Trail Map (pdf)
Before you go
Season
May 2 – October 15
Reservations
First-come, first-served
Fees
Camping • Lakeside Single Site: $18/night • Non-Lakeside Single Site: $15/night Day Use - Picnic Area • Day: $5 • Annual: $30 Pass Information • Campers do not need a day use pass for the picnic area. • Pass information can be found on the Passes and Permits page of the website. • There is a 50% discount for camping for anyone with an Interagency Access or Senior Pass. • Interagency passes cover the full day use fees, excluding busses. • The interagency pass applies only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder, not to any additional fees or campsite(s) occupied by members of the pass holder’s party.
Restrictions
Restrictions for all National Forest System lands can be found by visiting Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations 261 by clicking here. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest specific restrictions can be found in the Occupancy and Use Restrictions for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest . Campsite Capacity • Maximum of 8 people and 4 vehicles at each camp site. • Vehicle capacity limit includes vehicles, wheeled camping units and trailers. Pets and Animals • Pets must always be restrained or on a leash while in developed recreation areas. • Pets (except guide dogs) are not allowed in swimming areas. • Saddle or pack animals are allowed in recreation sites only where authorized by posted instructions. Firewood Closure Order • Our firewood closure order prohibits the possession, storage, or transport of any firewood that originates from more than 25 miles from your campsite. Firewood certified by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Transportation and Consumer Protection can originate from more than 25 miles from National Forest destination. • Both certified firewood and Kiln-dried, untreated/unpainted/unstained/construction/dimensional lumber that is free of any metal or foreign substance is approved. Pallet boards are not approved. Operation of all ATVs & UTVs are prohibited in campground.
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.