Bear Lake Campground, Wabeno, WI

Welcome to Bear Lake Campground, a hidden gem nestled within the breathtaking Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin. For locals and visitors alike, this campground offers a truly authentic outdoor experience, emphasizing tranquility and connection with nature. If you're seeking a break from the hustle and bustle, a place where the sounds of the wilderness replace city noise, then Bear Lake Campground is an ideal destination. It's a place where serene waters meet lush forests, inviting you to unwind and create lasting memories with family and friends. Unlike larger, more commercialized campgrounds, Bear Lake maintains a rustic charm, offering a genuine taste of Wisconsin's stunning natural landscape.

Bear Lake Campground is situated at Forest Rd 3770, Wabeno, WI 54566, USA. This prime location places it deep within the expansive Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, offering a truly immersive wilderness experience. For those coming from surrounding Wisconsin communities, accessing the campground is straightforward. From Wabeno, you’ll drive north approximately 5.5 miles, or if approaching from Laona, it’s about 3 miles to County Road T. Turning east onto County Road T, you’ll continue for 3 miles until you reach County Road H. A right turn (north) onto County Road H for 0.75 miles will lead you to Goodman Park Road (FR2136). Finally, a right turn (east) onto FR3770 for 4.1 miles will bring you directly to the peaceful entrance of Bear Lake Campground. The roads leading to the campground are paved with blacktop, ensuring relatively easy access for both cars and RVs. While remote, the connectivity to nearby towns like Wabeno and Laona means that essentials like fuel, fishing supplies, firewood, ice, and restaurants are conveniently within a 10-mile radius, allowing for a comfortable balance between rustic camping and necessary conveniences.

Services Offered

Campsites: Bear Lake Campground features 27 non-electric campsites, accommodating both tents and RVs (back-in only). There are also five secluded walk-in tent sites located on a small peninsula, offering enhanced privacy and proximity to the water.
Vault Toilets: The campground provides well-maintained and exceptionally clean vault toilets, as noted by numerous satisfied campers, ensuring a comfortable stay despite the rustic setting.
Drinking Water: Potable drinking water is available via hand pumps, providing a reliable source for campers.
Picnic Tables: Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, perfect for outdoor meals and gatherings.
Fire Rings: Every site includes a fire ring and grill, allowing for enjoyable campfires and outdoor cooking.
Swimming Beach: A sandy swimming beach is located at the north end of the campground, backed by a grassy lawn with tables and a grill, offering a perfect spot for a refreshing dip on warm Wisconsin days.
Boat Landing: A public boat landing with a gravel ramp and a small trailer parking area is available, providing easy access to Bear Lake for boating enthusiasts.
Trash Collection & Recycling: The campground offers designated areas for trash collection and recycling, promoting a clean and responsible camping environment.
Campground Host: A campground host is typically on-site during the camping season, offering assistance and ensuring a pleasant experience for all visitors.

Features / Highlights

Tranquil Lake Environment: Bear Lake, a 68-acre lake, is restricted to electric motors only, ensuring a quiet and peaceful environment ideal for canoeing, kayaking, paddling, and fishing. The still waters and minimal motor noise contribute significantly to the campground's serene atmosphere.
Excellent Fishing Opportunities: The lake is known for excellent northern pike fishing, and also hosts a variety of panfish and largemouth bass. For trout fishing enthusiasts, the nearby Peshtigo and Rat Rivers offer additional opportunities.
Secluded Campsites: Many of the campsites are spaced well apart and are shaded by a canopy of hardwoods like maples, balsam fir, cedar, pine, and hemlocks, offering pleasant levels of seclusion and privacy. Lakeside sites provide partial views and shoreline access to Bear Lake.
Rat River Recreational Trail: Directly across from the campground, campers can access the Rat River Recreational Trail, an old logging railroad path that stretches for several miles. This trail is perfect for walking, biking, and is particularly popular with grouse hunters and fall color enthusiasts, offering beautiful views of the Rat River.
Wildlife Viewing: The surrounding Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is rich in wildlife. Campers might spot deer, wild turkeys, coyotes, various bird species, and even the occasional black bear in their natural habitat, offering fantastic opportunities for nature observation.
Beautiful Scenery: The campground sits on a wooded rise overlooking scenic Bear Lake, with large beds of trillium scattered throughout, creating impressive blooms in early summer. The natural, irregular banks of Bear Lake, dense with vegetation, make it perfect for exploring by canoe or kayak.
No Showers: It's important to note for planning purposes that Bear Lake Campground does not have showers. This contributes to its rustic charm and requires campers to plan accordingly.

Promotions or Special Offers

While Bear Lake Campground, as a U.S. Forest Service facility, typically operates with standard pricing, there are opportunities for discounted rates. Individual campsite fees are generally around $15 per night. However, holders of an Interagency Pass (Access or Senior) can enjoy a reduced fee of $7.50 per night. This pass applies to the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder. Additionally, there is a $5 day-use pass for the boat landing beach, though this fee is waived for registered campers. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest also offers an annual pass for $30, which can provide savings for frequent visitors to various recreation areas within the forest. For detailed information on passes and permits, it is always recommended to check the official U.S. Forest Service website or contact the campground directly.

Contact Information

For reservations, inquiries, or more detailed information about Bear Lake Campground, you can reach them through the following contact details:

Address: Forest Rd 3770, Wabeno, WI 54566, USA

Phone: (715) 674-4481

Mobile Phone: +1 715-674-4481

Reservations for some sites can also be made online through the national campground reservation system (Recreation.gov), which is often recommended, especially during peak seasons.

Bear Lake Campground is an exceptional choice for Wisconsin locals seeking a genuine escape into nature. Its rustic charm, combined with the tranquil beauty of Bear Lake and the surrounding Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, makes it a prime destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're looking to cast a line for northern pike, paddle quietly across the lake, explore the scenic Rat River Trail on foot or bike, or simply relax by a campfire under a starlit sky, this campground offers it all. The serene atmosphere, enhanced by the electric-motors-only restriction on the lake, ensures a peaceful retreat from daily stresses. Positive customer reviews consistently highlight the clean facilities, helpful hosts, and the overall beauty of the location, underscoring its suitability for a refreshing wilderness experience. For families, individuals, or groups looking to reconnect with the natural world without venturing too far from home, Bear Lake Campground provides an accessible and unforgettable camping adventure right here in northern Wisconsin.