Headwaters Wilderness
The largest of Wisconsin's wildernesses is characterized by generally flat terrain with forested swamps and muskeg, and bog lowlands overlooked by a few hardwood ridges. The headwaters of Pine River, a legally protected Wild River, lie within the area. In the southern portion, you'll find the Giant Pine Grove and Shelp Lake, where some of the largest and oldest trees of Nicolet National Forest grow. The quiet waters of Shelp Lake, shadowed by towering pines on the southwest Wilderness boundary, are worth a peek. Deer hunting, bass fishing, hiking, and a chance for solitude lure people to Headwaters.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Wisconsin |
| Size | 22,047 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 45.81° N, 88.95° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 10) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 7 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
2 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 2 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Giant Pine | 1.8 | |
| Scott Lake | 0.6 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 4.9 miMiller, Marshall D., Boathouse ↗Three Lakes, WI
- 5.1 miJollywood ↗Three Lakes, WI
- 5.2 miTrunck, Joseph and Augusta, Boathouse ↗Three Lakes, WI
- 5.3 miReay Boathouse ↗Three Lakes, WI
- 6.1 miAnvil Lake Campground Shelter ↗Eagle River, WI
- 6.4 miIndianapolis Outing Club ↗Three Lakes, WI
- 7.7 miMayer, George P., Boathouse ↗Town of Three Lakes, WI
- 10.1 miJabodon ↗Washington, WI
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Wisconsin
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Explorer's Guide 50 Hikes on and Around the North Country Trail - Michigan and WisconsinThomas Funke, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Headwaters Wilderness?
22,047 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Headwaters Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Headwaters Wilderness in?
Wisconsin.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Headwaters Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Headwaters Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Headwaters Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 45.813° N, 88.947° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Headwaters Wilderness?
The National Register has 14 listings within 15 miles, including Miller, Marshall D., Boathouse and Jollywood.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.