Wanoka Campground

Our Take

What makes Wanoka Campground special

Set amongst a canopy of mature hardwoods and conifers with direct access to Wanoka Lake, Wanoka Campground is the kind of Wisconsin gem that rewards those willing to venture just a few miles off the beaten path. With 18 sites arranged beneath towering trees, the campground offers a genuine sense of seclusion and forest immersion that larger, busier parks simply cannot match. Wanoka Lake is small enough to feel intimate yet large enough to make a morning paddle worthwhile, and its calm, clear waters are ideal for fishing, swimming, or simply sitting on the shore and watching dragonflies trace patterns above the surface. The surrounding Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest provides miles of hiking and mountain biking trails that range from easy woodland strolls to more ambitious ridge routes with rewarding views. Birdsong is the dominant soundtrack here -- warblers, thrushes, and the occasional pileated woodpecker drumming in the distance -- and the absence of road noise makes every natural sound feel amplified. Evenings settle in gently, the forest darkening by degrees until the stars appear in force. Wanoka is a place for campers who value quiet, appreciate a well-kept forest, and understand that the best campgrounds are often the ones you have to look a little harder to find.