Namekagon Lake Recreation Area
The numbers that decide it
Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.
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.
Namekagon Lake Recreation Area
Namekagon Lake Recreation Area is a family-friendly campground that runs alongside its namesake lake at the headwaters of the Namekagon River. It is surrounded by a hardwood and hemlock forest. All campsites provide hardened parking area, picnic table, and fire ring. Recycling and trash dumpsters are provided. There is a day-use area with a picnic shelter, several picnic tables with pedestal grills, a basketball court, a sandy swimming beach, a boat landing, and a fishing pier. Potable water is available from an electric well. Vault toilets are provided throughout campground and day-use area. Namekagon Campground is an ideal location for a base camp with its close proximity to a number of hiking and biking trails. Famous for its great fishery, this 3,227-acre lake offers excellent fishing for musky, pike, walleye, bass, and other fish varieties. It is the perfect spot to kayak, canoe, jet ski, swim or take a boat ride to one of the many restaurants along the shoreline. Wildlife watching opportunities are abundant as elk, eagles, loons and other wildlife are often spotted in the area. The Namekagon Trail is located just across the road from the campground entrance. This one-mile trail loop is great for beginner hikers. The campground features a picnic shelter available for larger gatherings and a boat ramp. There is a $5 recreation use fee for the boat landing. This does not apply to registered campers. The campground is located near the Rock Lake National Recreation Trail, CAMBA Mountain Bike Trails, North Country National Scenic Trail and Porcupine Lake Wilderness Area. So, if you like to swim, boat, fish, hike, or picnic, then the Namekagon Lake Recreation Area is the place for you, located 20 minutes northeast of Hayward. Namekagon Lake Recreation Area is one of our dog friendly recreation areas.
Before you go
Season
May 2 – October 31
Reservations
First-come, first-served
Fees
Camping: Individual campsite fee is $18/night, payable at the fee envelope tube at the site. Camping fees are $9 with use of Interagency Senior or Access Pass. Pass discounts apply only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder. Boat Landing and Picnic: There is a $5 day use pass for use of the boat landing and picnic area. The Forest also has an annual pass available for $30. The USDA Forest Service honors all four Interagency Recreation Passes that may be applied at National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife sites charging recreation use fees.
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 please click here . 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. 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.