Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
be out of luck. Show up on a weekend in summer and you have a 50/50 shot (you'll prob-
ably have to resort to a primitive or hike-in site). Mid-week you'll likely find no problems
getting a space.
A handful of primitive hike-in sites are found in the wilder regions of the wilderness
areas.Lessambitious“walk-in”sitesarealsofoundatFannyLakeintheLakewoodDistrict
and Perch and Lauterman Lakes in the Florence District. Wilderness and walk-in sites are
$5 a day or $20 a year, and no water is available. That said, wilderness areas are open year-
round. Common sense and zero-impact camping rules must prevail. Whatever you do, con-
tact the local ranger station if you plan to crash through the underbrush.
Fees
In addition to campsite fees, a $5 parking fee is necessary for boat landings, beaches, trail-
heads, and some remote campsites.
Information
The Nicolet National Forest section is parceled into two districts: Lakewood/Laona, and
Florence/Eagle River. Florence has a
visitors center
(500 Hanson Lake Rd., 715/
362-1300), with the main headquarters in Rhinelander. Other offices are in Eagle River,
Glidden, Hayward, and Medford.
Lakewood is considered the heart of this district, perhaps because within a short radius of
Lakewood are more than 60 prime fishing lakes. The only highlight besides the auto tour
is a restored 1881 logging camp at McCauslin Brook Golf Club. Apparently, the camp is
one of the oldest of its kind in the United States, though I suspect one in Minnesota may be
older. Two miles south of Lakewood are a number of gingerbread houses, special for their
country architecture, built from local wood and stone.
Recreation
Eight trails are scattered throughout the southernmost ofNicolet's districts; they are merely
highlights are here. The 1.25-mile
Quartz Hill Trail,
south of Carter via WIS 32, takes
hikers along somewhat steep McCaslin Mountain and passes a marker describing the
quartz-quarrying operations of early Ojibwa and one of the few remaining fire-spotting
towers left in the forest.
FortheThoreauinallofus,thewondrous
Jones Spring Area
isahands-off,motors-off
wildareaaccessiblemosteasilyfromHighwayT,westofLakewood,toFannyLake.These
