The Boulder Lake unit

[j10asen]

There are a few places in Wisconsin where I feel more at home than others. Whenever I visit these places I immediately get the feeling I never really was away, part of me stayed behind. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Boulder Lake campground is one of those places.

I call it a successful camp out when you set-up camp in dry weather and tear-down dry. This weekend we had a very successful camp-out. Beginning 5/31/07 through 6/3/07 we camped at The Boulder Lake unit of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. This campground has 89 sites some reserveable and some not. Either you reserve ahead of time
of take your chances at getting one of the non-reserveable sites this campground offers. The Boulder Lake unit's campsite are all paved with some also containing tenting pads. The shower/restroom facilities are the best I have found in any park in Wisconsin.

For the Fisherman, there is a boat launch and place to beach and lock your boat. Within a

few miles lies the mighty Wolf River.
For the Hiker, there are nature trails.
For the rafter, there are plenty of river rafting outfitters loacated on the Wolf river.

Here is a great link for more information about which sites are reserveable and which

sites also have electricity.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/cnnf/rec/camping/nic_22.html


Firewood rules:
As of 2007 all firewood brought into Wisconsin campgrounds must originate no more than a 50 mile distance from the park. Boulder Lake does NOT have on site firewood available, you must venture out and find firewood from a private vendor or pick up deadwood from the forest floor.
This year was the first time in all my camping experiences that I bought firewood from a private vendor. Here is what I learned.
Do not buy firewood from a place that does not have a the wood protected from the rain.If the fire wood is bundled tap in on the ground or a rock to see if any ants drop out.
When I opened my bundle at the campsite it was loaded with ants!!!! All I could think was they are all over my car grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr but hey we didn't see one emerald ash borer.This little budle of wet firewood cost $6.00!!!! My brother-in-law has a wood shop and he saves all his cut-offs for me to use as kindling. It was a good thing I had a large box this weekend because without a large fire based on kindling my $6.00 firewood would have just smoldered the entire night.


typical Shower/Restroom building


On site #41 at the Boulder Lake Unit






Photos taken at the boat lauch area.

[pk]

This looks totally peaceful and a wonderful place to go. I checked it out on the map and it is an easy run from Kenosha.

I noticed that they have reserved sites. Do you reserve when you go? What is some of the nice sites to consider if we thought to reserve one?
We always like to be near a water hook up, close to the bathrooms if possible (2 kids), and shade. It would be nice to see the lake also, but it doesn't have to be right near it, but thats a plus. Hope that is not asking for to much! lol

So any recommendations?

Also, do you know if there is any small cabins in the area?

And again, thanks for sharing your great pics with us!

pk

[j10asen]

Originally Posted by pk

This looks totally peaceful and a wonderful place to go. I checked it out on the map and it is an easy run from Kenosha.

I noticed that they have reserved sites. Do you reserve when you go? What is some of the nice sites to consider if we thought to reserve one?
We always like to be near a water hook up, close to the bathrooms if possible (2 kids), and shade. It would be nice to see the lake also, but it doesn't have to be right near it, but thats a plus. Hope that is not asking for to much! lol

So any recommendations?

Also, do you know if there is any small cabins in the area?

And again, thanks for sharing your great pics with us!

pk

Thank you pk

Yes we reserve through reserveamerica.com there are some non-reservable site but the ranger told me that last year they would be filled by thurday night. The non-electric will be much easier to get and look on-line with that link I posted as they also have group camps set-up but without electricty. Still the group camps have the nice shower/restoom buildings.
We reserved this site in February and get this, last weeknd was the only weekend any reservable sites were available, the remainder of the camping season was filled all the way through fall!!!!!!!!! They have made the Boulder lake unit a premier park. WE picked #41 because of how close it is to the restrooms. Once you visit this place you will find yourself back there again and again.
I would do a search online at the Wisconsin.org or Wisconisn tourism there has to be plenty of cabins/resorts or somthing in this area.

There are a few lake side sites but they are also non-electric and tend to fill up very quickly as well.

good luck and please post your experience here.