U.S. Forest Service · Chequamegon-Nicolet NF · Hayward, WI

Moose Lake

Moose Lake Campground sits along its namesake lake in the Chequamegon National Forest of northern Wisconsin. The serene lake and surrounding forest offer a spectacular location for families to enjoy nature.

Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

More like this: first-come in Wisconsin · reservable in Wisconsin · big rigs in Wisconsin · pets allowed in Wisconsin

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Moose Lake Boat Landing ViewMoose Lake Boat Landing ViewSite 9 SummerSite #4
Photos courtesy of USDA Forest Service · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups15
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

15 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
001GravelPartial8 / 2Yes
002Back-in25GravelPartialLakefront8 / 3Yes
003Back-inGravelPartial8 / 2Yes
004Back-in40GravelPartialLakefront8 / 3Yes
005GravelPartial8 / 2Yes
006Back-in30GravelPartial8 / 4Yes
007Back-in35GravelPartial8 / 4Yes
008Back-inGravelPartial8 / 2Yes
009Back-in30GravelPartial8 / 4Yes
010Back-in30GravelPartial8 / 4Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length40 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

This small and semi-secluded campground offers about 15 single-family campsites for tent and RV camping. Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided. Roads into the campground are not paved and the parking aprons are grass and gravel.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMay 2 to October 31
ForestChequamegon-Nicolet NF
FeesIndividual campsite fee is $15/night, payable at the fee envelope tube at the site. Camping fees are $7.50 with use of Interagency Senior or Access Pass. Pass discounts apply only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder.
RulesCampsite Capacity Maximum of 8 people and 4 vehicles at each camp site.

Chequamegon-Nicolet NF recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Moose Lake10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.99 inches of precipitationFebruary: 0.94 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.91 inches of precipitationApril: 3.12 inches of precipitationMay: 4.08 inches of precipitationJune: 4.19 inches of precipitationJuly: 3.96 inches of precipitationAugust: 4.27 inches of precipitationSeptember: 3.64 inches of precipitationOctober: 3.37 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.01 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.44 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 10.1°F averageFebruary: 12.9°F averageMarch: 24.6°F averageApril: 38.3°F averageMay: 51.7°F averageJune: 61.9°F averageJuly: 66.2°F averageAugust: 64.1°F averageSeptember: 56.3°F averageOctober: 43.1°F averageNovember: 29.5°F averageDecember: 16.6°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Clam Lake 4W, 11 miles from the campground at 1,498 feet, station USC00471604 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 34 inches a year. The shaded span is the published season, May 2 to October 31.

Getting there

From Hayward, Wisconsin, drive east on State Highway 77 about 28 miles. Turn right onto Forest Service Road 174 and continue about a mile, then turn right onto Forest Service Road 176. After about 5 miles turn right again and drive less than 2 miles to the campground.

Nearest townHayward, Wisconsin
Coordinates46.0161° N, 91.0203° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Redhouse

    30 mi from the campground · 22 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearOutdoor Ventures ↗22.3 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗34.4 mi
RV sales & serviceWisco RV & Marine ↗59.7 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Moose Lake Campground Tour, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Rustic Road

  • 3.7 mi
    Little Moose River Hwt ↗
    6.2 mi trail · hiking
  • 4.5 mi
    Little Moos River Hwt
    0.7 mi trail · hiking
  • 4.7 mi
    Black Lake
    3.9 mi trail · hiking
  • 4.9 mi
    Snowmobile Trail 3 & 5
    1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 9 more

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Chequamegon National Forest offers 845,000 acres dotted with countless lakes, rivers and streams. Pine, spruce, maple, aspen, and balsam forests, as well as extensive jack pine plantations, make up the lush landscape. Moose Lake is a 1,670-acre body of water that is popular for fishing, boating and swimming. Elk, eagles, loons and other wildlife are often viewed in and near the campground.

Recreation

The location provides access to a variety of activities, including miles of off-road vehicle, hiking and mountain biking trails. Anglers will find an abundance of musky, walleye, bass and pan fish in the lake, and the clear water is ideal for kayaking, canoeing and swimming. A sandy beach and a boat ramp provide convenient lake access.

Guidebooks for Wisconsin

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Wisconsin
    Kevin Revolinski and Johnny Molloy, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Hikes Madison, Wisconsin
    Johnny Molloy, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Rail-trails Michigan & Wisconsin
    Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Moose Lake?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Moose Lake?

Individual campsite fee is $15/night, payable at the fee envelope tube at the site. Camping fees are $7.50 with use of Interagency Senior or Access Pass. Pass discounts apply only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Moose Lake?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Moose Lake open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 2 to October 31.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Moose Lake have?

15 sites, including 15 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Moose Lake?

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Moose Lake?

Yes, pets are allowed at Moose Lake. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Moose Lake?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Campsite Capacity Maximum of 8 people and 4 vehicles at each camp site.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Moose Lake?

The location provides access to a variety of activities, including miles of off-road vehicle, hiking and mountain biking trails. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Moose Lake?

Hayward, Wisconsin.

Source: Getting there

What if Moose Lake is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Black Lake (4.7 mi, partly first-come), Day Lake (12.3 mi, partly first-come), and East Twin (14.4 mi, partly first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby