If you are looking for a base camp to explore area trails or enjoy a variety of water activities with the family, try Spectacle Lake Recreation Area off Highway 70 east of Eagle River.
The Spectacle Lake Recreation Area on the Eagle River District consists of a convenient campground with 34 campsites equipped with fire rings, grills, picnic tables, accessible vault toilets and drinking water.
Day use site include a 174-acre lake that is extremely clear, and its 500-foot beach provides a great swimming area great for enjoying a refreshing dip in Spectacle Lake. There is a boat landing, year round fishing and a variety of water activities enjoyed at Spectacle Lake Recreation Area. Take a pleasant hike on the two and one-half mile trail that connects with Kentuck Lake Campground. Keep your eyes open and listen carefully! You are likely to see and hear lots of wildlife while you're here!
Did you forget something? Don’t sweat it! The small town of Eagle River can meet your camping supply needs ranging from groceries to firewood, as well as a souvenir or two.
So, If you like to swim. Boat, fish, hike, picnic or enjoy viewing scenery and wildlife, then the Spectacle Lake Recreation Area is the place for you, conveniently located 15 minutes east of Eagle River. Spectacle Lake Recreation Area is dog friendly; See our restrictions below for more information.
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.
Area Amenities:
Accessible,Boat ramp,Tent camping,Camping trailer,Picnic tables,Toilets,Drinking water
Fees
Individual campsite fee is $18/night for lakeshore family sites; $15/night for off-lake family sites.
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.
Usage:
Heavy
Busiest Season:
Memorial Day - Labor Day
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.
The USDA Forest Service honors all four Interagency Recreation Passes that may be applied at National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife sites charging recreation use fees. Visit http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/rec-fee.shtml to decide which pass is right for you.
From Eagle River travel 7.6 miles to FR 2178 (Military Road). Turn left (north) and continue 2.9 miles to Kentuck lake Road (FR 2465). Turn right (northeast) on FR 2465 and continue 1.7 miles to FR 2196. Turn left (north) and continue 2.2 miles to Spectacle Lake Road (FR 2572. Turn right (east) and travel 1.2 miles to the campground.
With a 500-foot swim beach and the crystal clear lake, Spectacle Lake Campground is a family favorite. The campground offers 34 single family campsites, available for tent or RV camping. The campground offers both first-come, first-served campsites as well as sites which can be reserved in advance. Sites are equipped with tables and fire rings with grills. Vault toilets and drinking water are available throughout the campground.
Pavement Type of Parking
Paved roads.
Fire Information
Sites are equipped with picnic tables and fire rings with grills.
No. of Sites
34
Size Restrictions
Maximum RV/ Trailer Length of Campsites at Spectacle Lake Campground:
(Back-in sites unless indicated below)
25 Foot: 28
30 Foot: 22,23
35 Foot: 19,27,29,31,32,34
40 Foot: 1-12,14-18,20,21,24-26,30-33
Tent: 13
Reservation Info
Reservable Sites at Spectacle Lake Campground:
2-4,6,9,12,14,15,18-22,27-30
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.
Campground Camping
With a 500-foot swim beach and the crystal clear lake, Spectacle Lake Campground is a family favorite. The campground offers 34 single family campsites, available for tent or RV camping. The campground offers both first-come, first-served campsites as well as sites which can be reserved in advance. Sites are equipped with tables and fire rings with grills. Vault toilets and drinking water are available throughout the campground.
No. of Sites
34
Fishing
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Ice Fishing
Once the lake freezes over, anglers can expect to catch largemouth and smallmouth bass, rock bass, perch, pumpkinseed and bluegill.
Lake and Pond Fishing
Anglers can expect to catch largemouth and smallmouth bass, rock bass, perch, pumpkinseed and bluegill There is a boat launch and a fishing pier for you to enjoy.
Hiking
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Day Hiking
Cooks Run Trail Head consists of several miles of trails that take you through aspen, hardwood and conifer stands. The majority of the trail is flat with some small slopes to walk up. The trails go on for many miles with the option to loop back around to the main gate. Motorized vehicles of any kind are prohibited. Click here for more information.
Enjoy hiking the Spectacle – Kentuck Lake Trail, this trail is a good option for anyone staying at either recreation sites. It's a one-way trail so you'll return over the same route. You can imagine you've stepped back in time as you walk parts of this trail which follow the old Thunder Lake Railroad bed, used in the early 1900's to haul hardwood logs to the sawmill. Click here for more information.
Hunting
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Game Bird/Waterfowl
The Cooks Run Trail Head consists of several miles of trails that take you through aspen, hardwood and conifer stands. The majority of the trail is flat with some small slopes to walk up. The trails go on for many miles with the option to loop back around to the main gate. In the fall, hunters and their dogs take advantage of bird hunting, but all are welcome to come and enjoy the beauty of Cooks Run Hunter Walking Trail. Motorized vehicles of any kind are prohibited. Click here for more information.
Nature Viewing
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Viewing Scenery
Enjoy all that the forest has to offer, be ready to be surrounded by beautiful scenery all around the recreation area.
Viewing Plants
Look around and you are sure to find a variety of plants during your time at Spectacle Lake Recreation Area.
Viewing Wildlife
A variety of wildlife make its home in the area and visitors are encouraged to keep watch.
Other Activities
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Geocaching & Letterboxing
Geocaching has become a popular recreation activity and continues to rise in popularity. Here are guidelines when geocaching on the Chequamegon-Nicolet:
A permit or any other type of authorization is NOT needed to hide a geocache on the Forest. It is considered a dispersed recreation activity similar to hunting, berry picking, or fishing where no Forest permit is required.
Geocachers should not be digging holes for hiding their geocaches.
We recommend all geocachers follow the guidelines set out by the "Wisconsin Geocaching Association". This information is located at their web site http://www.wi-geocaching.com/ See the "General Cache Hiding Rules and Tips" under the "Hiding a Cache" link.
Picnicking
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Picnicking
Come and enjoy the picnic area near the swimming beach at Spectacle Lake Recreation Area.
Scenic Driving
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Scenic Driving
The Natural History Auto Tour was created to highlight the variety of scenic and historic points of interest in the Eagle River Ranger District area. You'll experience a varied, forested landscape and a number of historic spots with informational signs along the way. Click here for more information.
Water Activities
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Windsurfing
Kayaking, canoeing, wind surfing and paddling are some of the popular non-motorized water activities at Spectacle Lake.
Waterskiing
Waterskiing and tubing are a few of the popular motorized water activities on Spectacle Lake.
Tubing
Waterskiing and tubing are a few of the popular motorized water activities on Spectacle Lake.
Swimming
There is 500 foot crystal clear swim beach for you to enjoy with the family on a hot summer day.
Boating - Non-Motorized
Spectacle Lake is near quiet and moving water.
Kayaking, canoeing, wind surfing and paddling are some of the popular non-motorized water activities at Spectacle Lake.
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