Wanoka Lake Campground

I was looking for a place to park my camper for the night. I came across this place, And when I drove in I noticed the access road was plowed to the walk-in to the lake. So I parked along there. I was the only one and it was great. A snowy owl was hooting all night. And in the morning I woke up to fresh falling snow. There was also a few people parked on the very narrow plowed access road to go ice fishing. So it took some hassling to get my camper out. I will gladly be coming back here in the summer.

Large, beautiful, secluded sites. Less than five minutes off of US 2 to enter a wooded wonderland. We went in late September; the weather was beautiful. Lots of blackberry bushes around the site (not in season) and lobster, oyster, coral, and bolete mushrooms just off the trail. It was very relaxing and I will definitely be coming back for a longer stay.

Loved it here. First come first serve so that you can make the rounds and select a site that works for your rig. Almost every single site is large enough for any sized rig with a combination of back in and pull throughs. Sites are mostly flat with several loops at different elevations. Part of the campground is paved, perhaps to prevent erosion when it rains.

Very quiet mid week but may get busy with all of the off road trails in the area. We enjoyed the small little lake and walking the dog on the forest service road. Some highway noise could be heard.

The road to the campground is paved, FR 234 which parallels the highway with two entrances off the highway before heading to the campground. If coming from the west, your GPS might tell you to take the first entrance, which is a horrible section. Take the next entrance a mile down the road. There is a small forest service sign that says to take the eastern entrance, again only if coming from the west. For tall rigs you may have some soft branches touching your rig on FR 234 and in the campground.

Trash, old style pit toilets, fire ring and table.

My daughter and I were at wanoka the Tues and Wed before memorial weekend 2021. The weather was not great, 47 and 36° with fog and the possibility of rain. The old growth trees were amazing, unfortunately wind took out a couple campsites due to dangerous trees. So, plenty of fire wood...

I think campsites 3 and 13 were the nicest for tents and dog owners being just private enough. Be aware that the leash laws are thoroughly enforced.

Drinking water was good, not fishy or irony. The lake is beautiful and, as stated by another guy, the fish are plentiful.

The noise issues were not horrible. A group had gathered and we're having a good time but the sound traveled from their upper loop site to our lower level site. Traffic sounds were noticable also.

The five stars is for the state of the forest. White pines tower maybe 70’ or more in the air, some five feet or so in diameter, and wave their needled arms between cottonwoods and paper birch. It’s a site to behold on its own, but the small lake so full of fish you could probably catch one in your bare hands doesn’t hurt. There are sites large enough for any big rig, but many others that are set back from the campground road for maximum privacy, yet still oodles of sunshine falling between the leaves and needles.

Unlike the dastardly, way overpriced state forests and parks nearby, there were plenty of spots on a Friday evening at 6pm, though the place largely filled up throughout the evening.

Cell service was excellent, with Verizon anyway. I’d stay here for a few days if we didn’t have somewhere to be fast.

Bring an extra garbage bag and help clean up your site, as it seems that many campers here don’t. :(