Namekagon
Namekagon campground is a family-friendly campground that runs alongside its namesake lake, at the headwaters of the Namekagon River. 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. With its close proximity to mountain bike trails and the North Country hiking trail, Namekagon campground is an ideal location for making a base camp.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: electric hookups in Wisconsin · first-come in Wisconsin · reservable in Wisconsin · big rigs in Wisconsin · pets allowed in Wisconsin · group sites in Wisconsin
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 23 |
| Standard, no hookups | 11 |
| group shelter nonelectric | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 55 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
35 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group Pavilion | Group Shelter Nonelectric | Back-in | Paved | Partial | No | No / No | Lakefront | 50 / 5 | Yes | ||
| 001 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||||
| 002 | Standard | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | Partial | No | 8 / 3 | Yes | |||
| 003 | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Partial | No | 8 / 4 | Yes | |||
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||||
| 005 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | No | 8 / 4 | Yes | |||
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | Partial | No | 8 / 4 | Yes | |||
| 007 | Standard | Pull-through | 45 | Gravel | Partial | No | 8 / 4 | Yes | |||
| 008 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | No | 8 / 4 | Yes | |||
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 06:00 AM, checkout 10:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 55 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| 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. |
| Accessibility | Sites 012, 033 are listed accessible |
The campground offers a couple dozen single-family campsites for tent or RV camping. Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible vault toilets, drinking water, trash collection and recycling bins are also provided. A day-use picnic area is equipped with multiple tables, picnic shelters, a basketball court, beach, boat ramp and fishing piers.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May 2 to October 31 |
| Forest | Chequamegon-Nicolet NF |
| 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. |
| Rules | Campsite Capacity Maximum of 8 people and 4 vehicles at each camp site. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Cable, Wisconsin, take County Highway M east for 11 miles. Turn left on County Highway D and proceed about 6 miles to Forest Service Road 209. Turn left at the campground sign and drive less than a mile to the campground entrance.
| Nearest town | Hayward, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 46.3503° N, 90.9236° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireRedhouse
18 mi from the campground · 22 acres
- WildfireBlack River
47 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- WildfireBlack River
47 mi from the campground · 382 acres · 60% contained
- WildfireBog
48 mi from the campground · 94 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Solstice Outdoors ↗ | 16.1 mi |
| Dump station | Madeline Island Sanitary Dump Station ↗ | 31.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Kayak Camping the St Croix National Scenic Riverway - The Namekagon pt.5
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miMorgan Falls ↗0.7 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 0.3 miSt Peter'S Dome1.3 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 2.9 miSnowmobile Route 25 ↗37.1 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 3.4 miNorth Country National 202-383 ↗3.8 mi trail · hiking · national_scenic_or_historic
- 3.4 miNorth Country National 383-187 ↗6 mi trail · hiking · national_scenic_or_historic
- 3.8 miNorth Country National 187-188 ↗3.5 mi trail · hiking · national_scenic_or_historic
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
This campground sits inside Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
- inChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,005,629 acres
- 9.6 miPorcupine Lake Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 4,074 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Mellen City HallBuilding · Ashland · 12.7 mi
Natural features
The campground is situated on the 3,227-acre Namekagon Lake that is famous for its fishing potential. It is surrounded by a hardwood and hemlock forest in northwestern Wisconsin.
Recreation
Namekagon Lake offers excellent fishing, and anglers will find musky, pike, walleye and bass, among other fish varieties, available in abundance. The campground is conveniently located near off-highway vehicle, hiking and mountain bike trails. The North Country National Scenic Trail is also nearby. The Namekagon Nature Trail is a one mile interpretive trail which traverses the immediate area and begins in the campground.
Guidebooks for Wisconsin
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Namekagon?
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 Namekagon?
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.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Namekagon?
Check-in 06:00 AM, checkout 10:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Namekagon 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 Namekagon have?
35 sites, including 23 standard sites with power, 11 standard sites without power, and 1 group shelter nonelectric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Namekagon?
The longest site here provides 55 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
Does Namekagon have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Namekagon?
Yes, pets are allowed at Namekagon. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Namekagon?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires 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
Are there accessible sites at Namekagon?
Sites 012 and 033 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Namekagon?
Namekagon Lake offers excellent fishing, and anglers will find musky, pike, walleye and bass, among other fish varieties, available in abundance. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Namekagon?
Hayward, Wisconsin.
Source: Getting there