East Twin Recreation Area

Area Status: Closed

East Twin Recreation Area is a family favorite nestled within a maple, birch and hemlock forest on 110-acre East Twin Lake just five miles north of Clam Lake.

The campground offers 9 campsites that can accommodate RV's up to 30 feet. A developed boat ramp, picnic area, drinking water, fishing pier, and vault toilets are available. Each campsite has a parking spur, fire ring, picnic table and tent pad. East Twin Lake and nearby West Twin Lake have a variety of fish including bass, musky, and panfish. Campsites can be reserved online through recreation.gov.

A spur trail and township roads open to ATVs link East Twin Recreation Area to the Dead Horse Run Motorized Trail. ATV/UTV use in the campground is prohibited.

So, if you like to camp, boat, fish, picnic and be close to ATV trails, then the East Twin recreation area is the place for you.

At a Glance

Reservations:	The reservation system provides visitors the opportunity to reserve their favorite spot during specific times, ensuring a place to stay, which will be beneficial to local users as well as users traveling from afar. Sites can be reserved at www.recreation.gov or by calling Reserve America at 1-877-444-6777 or TDD 1-877-833-6777. The campground will still have first come first served sites available for those who prefer a more spontaneous adventure.
Fees:	Individual campsite fee is $15/night, payable at the fee envelope tube at the site. Nightly fees are half of price shown with use of Interagency Senior or Access Pass. Interagency Pass discounts apply only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder.
Open Season:	May 2 - October 31
Usage:	Heavy
Busiest Season:	Camping: June - October
Restrictions:	Campsite Capacity Maximum of 8 people and 4 vehicles at each camp site. Vehicle capacity limit includes vehicles, wheeled camping units and trailers. Pets and Animals Pets must always be restrained or on a leash while in developed recreation areas. Pets (except guide dogs) are not allowed in swimming areas. Saddle or pack animals are allowed in recreation sites only where authorized by posted instructions. Firewood Closure Order Our firewood closure order prohibits the possession, storage, or transport of any firewood that originates from more than 25 miles from your campsite. Firewood certified by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Transportation and Consumer Protection can originate from more than 25 miles from National Forest destination. Both certified firewood and Kiln-dried, untreated/unpainted/unstained/construction/dimensional lumber that is free of any metal or foreign substance is approved. Pallet boards are not approved. Operation of all ATVs & UTVs are prohibited in campground.
Closest Towns:	Clam Lake, WI
Water:	Drinking water
Restroom:	Vault toilets
Operated By:	Forest Service Volunteer Campground Hosts help manage the area and can provide visitor information.
Information Center:	Campground hosts greet visitors as they arrive, inform them of the campground regulations and assist them with their campsite.

General Information

Directions:

From Mellen drive southwest on Highway GG 14.8 miles. Turn left (south) at the campground sign and drive 0.5 miles to the campground.

From Cable drive east on Highway M 19.5 miles to Highway GG. Turn left (north) on GG and drive 3.4 miles to the campground sign. Turn right (south) and drive 0.5 miles to the campground.

From Glidden drive north on Highway 13 three miles to Highway 77. Turn left (west) on 77 and drive 13.5 miles to Clam Lake. Turn right (northwest) on Highways GG and M and in 0.1 miles turn right (north) on GG and proceed 3.4 miles to the campground sign. Turn right (south) and drive 0.5 miles to the campground.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Mountain Biking

Riding a mountain bike off-road, over rough terrain that includes rocks, roots, ruts, sand or mud is a popular activity throughout the entire forest. There are plenty of backroads and old logging roads spread across the District.

Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) Trails – This local volunteer group has marked, mapped, and described over 300 miles of mountain bike trails. The CAMBA cluster maps have detailed maps of the trail system as well as easily followed narrative descriptions of the trails for those who do not read maps. Click here for more information. The nearest CAMBA trails to East Twin Lake Recreation Area are the trails just south of Lake Namekagon to the west.

Black Lake Trail – This four mile long trail located at Black lake Campground has an interpretive brochure that explains the logging history of the Black Lake area. Click here for more information. (area is unavailable)

Campground Camping

The campground offers 10 sites located in a maple, birch and hemlock forest. A developed boat ramp, picnic area, drinking water, fishing pier, and vault toilets are available. Each campsite has a parking spur, fire ring, picnic table, and tent pad. Campsites can be reserved online through a national reservation service.

No. of Sites

RV Camping

The campground offers 10 sites that can accommodate RV's up to 30 feet. A developed boat ramp, picnic area, drinking water, fishing pier, and vault toilets are available. Each campsite has a parking spur, fire ring, picnic table, and tent pad.

No. of Sites	10
Reservation Info	Sites can be reserved online through the national reservations service. Reservations are accepted from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Reservations: Toll Free 877-444-6777; recreation.gov
Size Restrictions	(Back-in sites unless indicated below): Tent only: 10 Back in 25 Foot: 4, 6, 7, 8 Pull thru 25 Foot: 3 Back in 30 Foot: 5, 9 Back in 40 Foot: 1, 2
Fire Information	There are accessible fire rings at each campsite.
Corrals	RV up to 30 Feet
Pavement Type of Parking	Asphalt

Lake and Pond Fishing

East Twin Lake and nearby West Twin Lake have a variety of fish including bass, musky, and panfish. It has a maximum depth of 15 feet with moderately clear water. A fishing pier is available, as well as a boat launch.

Fishing Mode	Fishing Pier
Fish Species	bass, musky, and panfish

Backpacking

Highlighted by its unique forest landscapes and abundant wetlands, the Chequamegon-Nicolet is a hiker's paradise. Whether it’s late spring through the first snowfall single-day or multi-day adventures can be found in the forest’s five wilderness areas or on over 800 miles of trails. Click here for more information.

North Country National Scenic Trail – Thirty one miles of the North Country Trail wind across the north end of the Great Divide Ranger District. It is easily accessed from Beaver Lake and Lake Three campgrounds and provides access to several of the most scenic views on the District. Click here for more information

Porcupine Lake Wilderness – This 4, 443 acre wilderness is locate southeast of Drummond. The area north of Porcupine Lake is fairly scenic. The North Country Trail traverses the wilderness from east to west. Click here for more information.

Viewing Wildlife

Extraordinary wildlife can be found nearby. East Twin Lake Recreation Area offers many opportunities to view bald eagles, deer, waterfowl, grouse and many more creatures.

Viewing Plants

Whether you are interested in plants, scenery, touring the trail with binoculars or camera can allow you to take advantage of fantastic viewing and photographic opportunities.

Viewing Scenery

Morgan Falls & St. Peter’s Dome – Closed until further notice due to storm damage. The 70 foot falls plunges in several drops to a pool at the end of an easy 0.6 mile trail. Take the fork to the east and hike a challenging 1.8 mile path to St. Peter’s Dome. From the top one can see Chequamegon Bay of lake Superior and you can see the Apostle Islands on a clear day. Click here for more information.

Penokee Overlook – This is a rock outcrop three miles west of Mellen that affords an excellent view of several hills. A stairway and platform provides easy access for viewing. Click here for more information.

Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized Areas - These areas provide solitude where one can get away from motorized sports and traffic.

Brunsweiler – This hilly area in the north end of the District has scenic areas along Spring Brook.

Marengo – The Marengo River (an excellent trout stream) flows through this scenic area. The Swedish Settlement, a point of interest along the North Country Trail, was an old homestead. Several rock outcrops with scenic overlooks can be accessed along this segment of the North Country Trail.

Rock Lake – A hilly area south of the Lake Namekagon forested with oak and white pine. Several small lakes are just a short hike from FR 207.

Whether you are interested in plants, scenery, touring the trail with binoculars or camera can allow you to take advantage of fantastic viewing and photographic opportunities.

Picnicking

There is a picnic area at nearby Day Lake Recreation Area, to the northeast at Potter Lake on County Road GG, to the east at Spillerberg Lake on FR 182 and to the south at BPW Wayside Park on County Road GG.

Scenic Driving

Fall Color Auto Tours – There are three self-guided fall color tours beginning in Cable and three beginning in Hayward. Each tour is between 40 to 70 miles long. Brochures are available at both the Cable and Hayward Chambers of Commerce that have maps of each tour as well as a narrative description of the route.