USDA Forest Service · Wisconsin
Anvil Lake Campground
USDA Forest Service · Wisconsin, United States
- Sites
- 19
- Hookups
- 17 no hookups
- Season
- April 30 to October 13
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,739 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- ANVIL LAKE CAMPGROUND (NFSR 2197) · asphalt · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Chequamegon-Nicolet NF
- Nearest town
- EAGLE RIVER
- Address
- U S D A FOREST SERVICE, EAGLE RIVER, WI, 54521
- Phone
- 715.479.2827
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, Swimming Site, Wildlife Viewing
18 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
If you are looking for a campground with a family atmosphere or a base camp to explore area trails, try Anvil Lake Campground off State Highway 70, just minutes east of Eagle River, within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The campground is in a beautiful setting, among tall maples, pines and hemlocks, perched above Anvil Lake. In addition to its scenic landscape, the campground offers access to a variety of hiking and biking trails.
Recreation
The lake provides visitors with ample opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. Anglers can expect a catch of walleye, northern pike, bass, and pan fish. The lake is open to all types of boating, motorized and non-motorized. Numerous trails exist in the area, with Anvil National Recreation Trail leaving from the campground itself. From the Anvil National Recreation Trail, visitors are able to connect to the Nicolet North Trail, Hidden Lakes Trail, Franklin Lake Interpretive Trail, and the Luna White Deer Trail system. In total, this campground is connected to approximately 40 miles of hiking trail, most of which is open to mountain biking. Although the campground is not open during the winter months, the Anvil National Recreation Trail is groomed as both a classic and skate cross country ski trail. It is well known among the ski community as it was once the site of USA Olympic training. A variety of wildlife make its home in the area and visitors are encouraged to keep watch.
So, if you like to swim, boat, fish, hike, picnic or enjoy being close to town, then the Anvil Lake Recreation Area is the place for you, conveniently located just 10 minutes east of Eagle River.
Facilities
The campground offers 18 single family campsites, available for tent or RV camping. The campground offers both first-come, first-served campsites (8 sites) as well as sites which can be reserved in advance (10 sites). Sites are equipped with picnic tables and fire rings with grills. Accessible vault toilets as well as drinking water are provided at the campground.
Natural Features
The campground is situated in a stand of large sugar maple, hemlock and white pine trees, at an elevation of 1,740 feet. A historic stone and log picnic shelter, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, is located at the picnic area. The adjacent 377-acre Anvil Lake is crystal clear and is a popular swimming site as the campground boasts a large sandy beach area.
Nearby Attractions
The City of Eagle River is located about 9 miles west of the campground. A varitey of services are offered there.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19° | 5° | -24° | 40° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 23° | 7° | -17° | 46° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 35° | 20° | -3° | 62° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 46° | 30° | 10° | 73° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 64° | 44° | 30° | 79° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 71° | 54° | 42° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 78° | 61° | 51° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 74° | 59° | 53° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 69° | 54° | 37° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 52° | 39° | 25° | 70° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 35° | 27° | 6° | 59° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 26° | 14° | -13° | 51° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Franklin Lake · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 77 sites
- Sevenmile Lake · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Luna White Deer · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Kentuck Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 31 sites
- Spectacle Lake Campground (Wisconsin) · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 34 sites
All public campgrounds in Wisconsin · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.