Rustic Campgrounds
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest
Many people have come to associate the NHAL with smaller, quieter, traditional rustic-style campgrounds. Typically, these campgrounds range from about 20 to 70 campsites, usually having a wider spacing than modern campgrounds. They have only minimal facilities including hand-pumped water, vault toilets and no electricity. The NHAL has 14 rustic campgrounds totaling 505 campsites. All campsites in the rustic campgrounds are reservable as of the 2022 season.
Reservations
Camping reservations are required and can be made for the same day of your arrival or up to 11 months in advance of your planned date of occupancy. Campers must make a reservation before setting up on any site.
Reserve a campsite online or by calling 1-888-947-2757.
Big Lake Campground
The Big Lake Campground, sites 1801-1870, is located in the northern portion of the forest on the northwest corner of Big Lake. This 835-acre lake is known for excellent fishing of walleyes, muskies and smallmouth bass. There are four vault toilet buildings, three hand pumps and separate trash and recycling dumpsters. There is a boat launch within the campground.
This campground is open April 1-Dec. 1 (snow conditions permitting).
Get Directions - Big Lake Campground
Big Lake GPS coordinates: N46° 09.971’, W89° 47.284’
Buffalo Lake Campground
Buffalo Lake Campground, sites 2001-2052, is located in the southern portion of the forest and is on the southeast corner of Buffalo Lake. The 104-acre lake is known for panfishing and has an excellent beach. There are three vault toilet buildings, three hand pumps and separate trash and recycling dumpsters. There is a boat launch within the campground. Buffalo Lake Campground is on Highway J which has bike lanes that go to St Germain and Woodruff.
Sites 2014-2015, 2021-2022 and 2023-2024 are double campsites. They accommodate up to 12 people and two-wheeled camping units.
Sites 2042 – 2045 are walk-to, tent-only sites where campers must hike a short distance from their cars to the campsite. Site 2050 is designated for tents only.
This campground is open April 30-Columbus Day.
Get Directions - Buffalo Lake Campground
Buffalo Lake GPS coordinates: N45° 52.581’, W89° 33.738’
Carrol Lake Campground
Carrol Lake Campground, sites 101-119, is located in the southern portion of the forest on the south-central part of Carrol Lake. This campground is well used because of the generally good fishing for both panfish and game fish on this 352-acre lake. There are two vault toilet buildings, two hand pumps for drinking water and separate trash and recycling dumpsters. Additionally, there is an ADA-accessible fishing pier, boat launch and picnic area with an adjacent parking lot. There is a small swimming area inside the campground and a large sandy beach for swimming can be found across the road at the Clear Lake Picnic area.
Site 106-107 is a double campsite. It can accommodate up to 12 people and two-wheeled camping units. Campers choosing a double site are charged for both halves and a usable camping unit must be set up on-site by 11:00 p.m. on check-in day.
Sites 101-103, 110-111 and 118-119 are walk-to, tent-only sites where campers must walk a short distance from their cars to the campsite.
This campground is open April 1-Dec. 1 (snow conditions permitting).
Get Directions - Carrol Lake Campground
Carrol Lake GPS coordinates: N45° 53.305’, W89° 38.054’
Cunard Lake Campground
Cunard Lake Campground, sites 1101-1133, is a small, quiet facility located in the southern portion of the forest on the southwest corner of Cunard Lake. This 43-acre lake is an electric-motors-only, slow-no-wake, speed lake. Cunard Lake and the creek from Cunard Lake into Sweeney Lake are ideal for canoe exploration. The campground has two vault toilet buildings and two hand pumps for drinking water. There are also separate trash and recycling dumpsters at the campground entrance and a nearby boat launch with a parking area located adjacent to the campground entrance.
Cunard Lake Campground is a designated quiet zone. Generators and other noise-producing devices are not allowed in the campground.
Site 1110-1111 is a double campsite. It can accommodate up to 12 people and two-wheeled camping units.
Site 1101 and 1120-1123 are walk-to, tent-only sites where campers must walk a short distance from their cars to the campsite.
This campground is open the Thursday before Memorial Day-Labor Day.
Get Directions - Cunard Lake Campground
Cunard Lake GPS coordinates: N45° 50.822’, W89° 35.015’
East Star Lake Campground
East Star Lake Campground, sites 1601-1630, is located in the central portion of the state forest on the southeast corner of Star Lake. The 1,206-acre lake is well known for excellent fishing and swimming. The campground has two vault toilet buildings, two hand pumps for drinking water and a large area to access the water. There are separate trash and recycling dumpsters near the campground entrance. The boat landing is adjacent to the main camping loop with a vault toilet building, a hand pump for water and a parking area. Two of the vault toilet buildings in this campground are ADA-accessible.
Sites 1614-1615 and 1619-1620 are double campsites. They accommodate up to 12 people and two-wheeled camping units.
Sites 1627-1630 are walk-to, tent-only sites where campers must hike a short distance from their cars to the campsite.
This campground is open the Thursday before Memorial Day-Columbus Day.
Get Directions - East Star Lake Campground
East Star Lake GPS coordinates N46° 01.528’, W89° 27.914’
Indian Mounds Campground
Indian Mounds Campground, sites 1-39, is located in the southern portion of the forest on the northeast corner of Lake Tomahawk. Lake Tomahawk is part of the Minocqua Chain of Lakes and offers excellent fishing and boating. The campground has three vault toilet buildings, three hand pumps for drinking water, separate trash and recycling dumpsters and access to the water. There is also an adjacent boat launch with a vault toilet building. Three of the four vault toilet buildings are designated ADA-accessible.
Sites 9-10 and 17-18 are double campsites. They accommodate up to 12 people and two-wheeled camping units.
Sites 24-27 and 29-31 are walk-to, tent-only sites where campers must walk a short distance from their cars to the campsite.
This campground is open April 1-Dec. 1 (snow conditions permitting).
Get Directions - Indian Mounds Campground
Indian Mounds GPS coordinates: N45° 49.542’, W89° 38.126’
North Trout Lake Campground
North Trout Lake Campground, sites 1401-1448, is located in the central portion of the forest on the northeast corner of Trout Lake. The 3,816-acre lake provides good swimming and excellent fishing and boating. This campground has three vault toilet buildings - all ADA accessible, three hand pumps for drinking water, a sanitary dump station, separate trash and recycling dumpsters, a large area to access the water and a boat launch with parking. Also available is access to a nature trail and the hard-surface bike trail that runs from North Trout Campground to nearby Boulder Junction, Sayner, St. Germain and Crystal Lake Campground.
Sites 1403-1404, 1407-1408, 1435-1436 and 1437-1438 are double campsites. They accommodate up to 12 people and two-wheeled camping units.
Sites 1415-1419 and 1446-1448 are walk-to, tent-only sites where campers must walk a short distance from their cars to the campsite.
This campground is open April 1-Dec. 1 (snow conditions permitting).
Get Directions - North Trout Lake Campground
North Trout Lake GPS coordinates N45° 03.920’, W89° 38.780’
Plum Lake Campground
Plum Lake Campground, sites 1201-1218, is located in the central portion of the forest on the southwest corner of Plum Lake. The 1,108-acre lake offers good boating, swimming and fishing. The campground has one vault toilet building, one hand pump for drinking water and separate trash and recycling dumpsters. A fishing pier and access to the water are located adjacent to the campground.
Sites 1215-1217 is a double campsite. It can accommodate up to 12 people and two-wheeled camping units.
Sites 1208-1209 are walk-to, tent-only sites where campers must hike a short distance from their cars to the campsite.
This campground is open the Thursday before Memorial Day-Labor Day.
Get Directions - Plum Lake Campground
Plum Lake GPS coordinates N45° 59.586’, W89° 33.316’
Razorback Lake Campground
Razorback Lake Campground, sites 2101-2154, is located in the central portion of the forest on the southwest corner of Razorback Lake. This popular campground is great for swimming, boating and fishing. The campground has three vault toilet buildings which are all ADA accessible, three hand pumps for drinking water, separate trash and recycling dumpsters, a large area to access the water and a boat launch.
Sites 2125-2126 and 2132-2136 are walk-to, tent-only sites where campers must hike a short distance from their cars to the campsite.
This campground is open April 1-Dec. 1 (snow conditions permitting).
Get Directions - Razorback Lake Campground
Razorback Lake GPS coordinates: N46° 01.445’, W89° 31.914’
Sandy Beach Lake Campground
Sandy Beach Lake Campground, sites 1901-1933, is located in the northwest portion of the forest on the southeast corner of Sandy Beach Lake. The campground has three vault toilet buildings, three hand pumps for drinking water, separate trash and recycling dumpsters and a large picnic and beach area with parking. A boat launch is located near the campground entrance.
Sites 1914-1916 are walk-to, tent-only sites where campers must hike a short distance from their cars to the campsite.
This campground is open the Thursday before Memorial Day-Columbus Day.
Get Directions - Sandy Beach Lake Campground
Sandy Beach Lake GPS coordinates N46° 06.106’, W89° 58.085’
South Trout Campground
South Trout Lake Campground, sites 1001-1023, is located in the central portion of the forest on the southeast corner of Trout Lake. This 3,816-acre lake is very deep and offers excellent boating and fishing. Swimming is limited because of the stony beach. The campground has one vault toilet building, one hand pump for drinking water, separate trash and recycling dumpsters, a boat launch and access to the hard-surface bike trail which goes to Crystal Lake and St. Germain in one direction and Boulder Junction in the other. A sanitary dump station is available at the North Trout Lake Campground.
Sites 1003-1004 and 1006-1007 are double campsites. They accommodate up to 12 people and two-wheeled camping units.
Sites 1013-1016 are walk-to, tent-only sites where campers must walk a short distance from their cars to the campsite.
This campground is open the Thursday before Memorial Day-Labor Day.
Get Directions - South Trout Lake Campground
South Trout Lake Campground GPS Coordinates: N46° 01.367’, W89° 39.299’
Starrett Lake Campground
Starrett Lake Campground, sites 1301-1344, is located in the central portion of the forest on the southeast corner of Starrett Lake. This 66-acre lake allows electric motors only with slow-no-wake speed. Swimming is good with fair fishing for bass, panfish, northern pike and even walleye were taken occasionally. This campground has four vault toilet buildings, three hand pumps for drinking water, separate trash and recycling dumpsters and a boat launch.
Starrett Lake Campground is a designated quiet zone. Generators and other noise-producing devices are not allowed in the campground.
Sites 1309-1311 and 1326–1328 are walk-to, tent-only sites where campers must hike a short distance from their cars to the campsite.
This campground is open April 30-Columbus Day.
Get Directions - Starrett Lake Campground
Starrett Lake GPS coordinates: N46° 01.440’, W89° 34.524’
Upper Gresham Lake Campground
Upper Gresham Lake Campground, sites 1501-1525, is located in the central portion of the forest on the northeast corner of Upper Gresham Lake. This lake is better known for good fishing and boating than swimming, however, there is an area within the campground to access the water. There is also an ADA-designated fishing pier located adjacent to the boat launch area as well as parking and a hand pump for drinking water. Within the campground, there is one vault toilet building that is ADA accessible, two hand pumps for drinking water and separate trash and recycling dumpsters.
Site 1508-1509 is a double campsite. It can accommodate up to 12 people and two-wheeled camping units.
Sites 1519–1521 are walk-to, tent-only sites where campers must walk a short distance from their cars to the campsite.
This campground is open April 30-Columbus Day.
Upper Gresham Lake Campground map
Get Directions - Upper Gresham Lake Campground
Upper Gresham Lake GPS coordinates N46° 04.593’, W89° 43.646’
West Star Lake Campground
West Star Lake Campground, sites 1701-1718, is located in the central portion of the forest on the northeast corner of Star Lake. The lake provides excellent swimming and there is a large area to access the water within the campground. Star Lake is also known for its quality fishing and boating experiences. The campground has two ADA-accessible vault toilet buildings, two hand pumps for drinking water, separate trash and recycling dumpsters, a boat launch and a nearby nature trail.
Site 1708-1709 is a double campsite. It can accommodate up to 12 people and two-wheeled camping units.
This campground is open from April 1-Dec. 1 (snow conditions permitting).
Get Directions - West Star Lake Campground
West Star Lake GPS coordinates N46° 02.003’, W89° 26.254’