Whisker Lake Wilderness
Located on the Michigan-Wisconsin border, this area takes its name from the large trees near the shoreline of Whisker Lake. These old pines were called "chin whiskers" by locals. Surprisingly, they were unscathed by logging and wildfires, both of which ravaged the region in the early 1900s. Here, you'll find rolling uplands falling away to wetlands flooded by beaver activity. Six small lakes and three major streams provide trout fishing that can be worth the effort, most notably Riley Lake, Edith Lake (which is split by the eastern boundary), Wakefield Creek, and the Brule River. The Brule forms the northern boundary and separates Nicolet National Forest from Michigan.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Wisconsin |
| Size | 7,270 acres |
| Designated | 1978, by Congress |
| Center point | 45.95° N, 88.45° 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 2 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
5 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 14 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Whisker Lake Wilderness ↗ | 9.5 | |
| Perch Lake | 2.2 | |
| Whisker Lake A | 1 | |
| Whisker Lake Ab | 0.8 | |
| Whisker Lake Aa | 0.3 |
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.
Fire nearby
- WildfireCraig Lake 1
49 mi from the center point · 606 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 4.8 miFirst National Bank Building ↗Alpha, MI
- 4.8 mi
- 6.3 miFern School ↗Florence, WI
- 7.7 miChicagon Mine Road--Chicagon Creek Bridge ↗Bates Township, MI
- 8 miUs 2--Iron River Bridge ↗Iron River, MI
- 8.3 miFlorence Town Hall ↗Florence, WI
- 8.5 miFlorence County Courthouse and Jail ↗Florence, WI
- 8.6 miHuse, Frank C., House ↗Crystal Falls, MI
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 Whisker Lake Wilderness?
7,270 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Whisker Lake Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Whisker Lake Wilderness in?
Wisconsin.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Whisker Lake Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1978.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Whisker Lake 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 Whisker Lake Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 45.950° N, 88.452° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Whisker Lake Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Craig Lake 1 at 49 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Whisker Lake Wilderness?
The National Register has 68 listings within 15 miles, including First National Bank Building and Alpha Public Buildings Historic Complex.
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.