Minocqua Canoeing & Kayaking

Being the home of 2,300 bodies of freshwater and the North Highland-American Legion State Forest, the Minocqua area is a is a heaven for paddlers. The NH-AL is the largest state forest in Wisconsin with 225,00 acres, 18 family campgrounds, 130 canoe and remote campsites, and 68 lakes designated as “Wilderness”, “Wild” or “Scenic”.

WILDERNESS LAKES

The Wilderness Lake shorelines are primarily forested, the forest composition varying with the site characteristics and the area’s management history. Each lake has an undeveloped shoreline, with no structures, except primitive campsites, within 1⁄4 mile. The lake and its shoreline within 1⁄4 mile, or to the visual horizon if it is further, are passively managed. Public motor vehicle use for lake access and all recreational uses are not allowed. 
Wilderness Lakes

WILD LAKES

Thirty-three lakes are designated as Wild Lakes.  On Wild Lakes, human influence on the lake or its surrounding lands is not conspicuous. The shore-lands are primarily forested, the composition varying with the site characteristics and the area’s management history. The lakes and their shorelines, within 400 feet or to the visual horizon from the lake if that is further, are natural appearing without signs of management. There is only non-motorized use of these lakes.

Wild Lakes

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SCENIC LAKES

Due to a statewide policy change that tightened the criteria for allowable uses on designated wilderness and wild lakes, several NH-AL lakes that were designated under the 1982 plan no longer qualify for designation without changing their long-established pattern of use. Under the revised forest plan they will be assigned a classification that fits their current conditions; thus, allowing all of the present uses and similar management objectives to continue.

Sixteen of these lakes fall within Native Community Management Areas that will have limited or no forest management in order to protect the natural scenic values of the lakeshore.

To continue the high level of shoreline protection, the shoreline of the remaining 29 lakes will be classified as scenic lake zones. A 400-foot scenic management zone, similar to the wild lake management zone, will surround each lake. 

Scenic Lakes

The Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest offers canoeists the opportunity to camp along rivers and lakes at designated canoe campsites. There are currently over 70 sites on the State Forest. All campsites have a picnic table and fire ring. Sites are numbered and marked with yellow signs displaying a tepee. Portages are designated by yellow signs with crossed paddles.

NH-AL State Forest Canoe Route Map 

Non-motorized lakes

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