Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest covers over 1.5 million acres across northern Wisconsin, created by the merger of the Chequamegon and Nicolet national forests in 1998. This vast woodland stretches from the shores of Lake Superior through the heart of Wisconsin’s Northwoods, encompassing thousands of lakes, hundreds of miles of trout streams, and some of the most extensive hardwood and conifer forests in the Upper Midwest.
The forest provides outstanding four-season recreation. Summer brings canoeing on the Namekagon River, a National Wild and Scenic River, swimming in clear glacial lakes, and hiking on over 850 miles of trails. Fall transforms the forest into one of the Midwest’s premier leaf-peeping destinations, with sugar maples, birch, and aspen creating brilliant displays through late September and October.
Winter turns the forest into a Nordic paradise. The American Birkebeiner cross-country ski race, the largest in North America, follows a course through the Chequamegon section from Cable to Hayward. Hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails connect small towns across the forest. Ice fishing on the forest’s many lakes is a way of life during the long northern winter.
Wildlife watching opportunities include black bears, timber wolves, bald eagles, and loons. The forest contains several wilderness areas, including the Rainbow Lake Wilderness and the Headwaters Wilderness, which protect old-growth timber and pristine watersheds. Developed campgrounds and dispersed camping options are abundant throughout the forest.
Explore Nearby
- Smith Rapids Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in Wisconsin
- Lake Gogebic State Park — State Park in Michigan
- Copper Falls State Park — State Park in Wisconsin
- Eagle River Recreation Management Area — Public Land
- Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light — Lighthouse in Wisconsin
