State Forest · Wisconsin
Bittersweet Wild Lakes Boat-in Campsites
State Forest · Wisconsin, United States · in Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest
- Sites
- 5
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,660 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Phone
- 715-356-3668
About
There are five sites on four different lakes, Prong Lake, Smith Lake, Oberlin Lake and Bittersweet Lake, which are referred to as the "Bittersweet Wild Lakes Area." The lakes are found northeast of Minocqua, north of Highway 70. Use caution, the road to the boat launch parking lot is rough and a four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended.
The "Sunken Rowboat" site is on Prong Lake. The "Big Rock" and "Trapper's Cabin" sites are on Bittersweet Lake. The "Loon Song" site is on Smith Lake, and the "Sunset Point" site is on Oberlin Lake. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. An open-air toilet is located nearby.
5 reservable boat-in campsites, reached by water only. In Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest.
Fees
Nightly rates vary by site and season and are shown when you pick a site on the reservation system; campers from outside Wisconsin pay $15 a night more; $9.30 reservation fee per booking. A vehicle admission pass is required: $13 a day ($16 with out-of-state plates) or $28 for 12 months ($50 out-of-state).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19° | 4° | -24° | 40° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 23° | 8° | -19° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 36° | 21° | -4° | 62° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 47° | 31° | 12° | 73° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 65° | 45° | 30° | 80° | 1 of 11 |
| June | 71° | 55° | 44° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 78° | 62° | 53° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 74° | 60° | 54° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 70° | 55° | 35° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 52° | 39° | 26° | 70° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 35° | 27° | 6° | 59° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 26° | 13° | -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
- Carrol Lake Campground · State Forest · 3 mi · 19 sites
- Buffalo Lake Campground · State Forest · 3 mi · 51 sites
- Clear Lake Campground · State Forest · 4 mi · 101 sites
- Cunard Lake Campground · State Forest · 5 mi · 32 sites
- Plum Lake Campground · State Forest · 6 mi · 18 sites
All public campgrounds in Wisconsin · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-09-17. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.