BRULE RIVER

Closed — Permanently closed. The campground was closed in 2015 and the closure was made permanent in 2019. Infrastructure has been removed and the area is reverting to general forest use. Dispersed recreation is allowed but no developed facilities are available.

About

Brule River campground was a developed campground located along the Brule River in Forest County within the Eagle River-Florence District of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The campground was temporarily closed in 2015 as part of a cost-saving effort during a period of declining federal funding for national forest recreation facilities. In 2019, the U.S. Forest Service released a five-year Recreation Facility Strategy that made the closure permanent. The decision was based on factors including proximity to other recreation sites, maintenance costs, and anticipated user demand. The closure was part of a broader plan that permanently closed seven developed campgrounds across the forest, including Brule River, Kathryn Lake, Lake Three, Mineral Lake, North Twin Lake, Sevenmile Lake, and Windsor Dam. The Forest Service has removed or is removing infrastructure such as picnic tables, fire rings, water pumps, and vault toilets from the site. Barricades have been placed at entrances to prevent vehicle access while the area revegetates. Once fully restored to general forest, the land will remain open for dispersed recreation activities including hiking, fishing, hunting, and dispersed camping, but without any developed facilities or amenities.

Directions

Bois Brule Campground is located one mile south of Highway 2 on Ranger Road. Copper Range Campground is accessible by traveling 4.5 miles north of Highway 2 on County Highway H, then west on Park Road.

Nearby Campgrounds