Kathryn Lake

Closed — Permanently closed. Kathryn Lake Campground was closed in 2019 as part of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Recreation Facility Strategy. Infrastructure has been removed and the area is reverting to general forest use.

About

Kathryn Lake Campground was a rustic recreation area in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, located approximately 4 miles north of Medford on State Highway 13, then 15 miles west on County Trunk Highway M. The campground was permanently closed in 2019 as part of the forest's Recreation Facility Strategy. The closure was one of seven developed campgrounds shut down due to declining National Forest Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness funding, which dropped from $500 million in 2002 to $250 million by 2019. The closures were designed to save the forest approximately $300,000 annually in operations and maintenance costs. Infrastructure including picnic tables, fire rings, water pumps, and vault toilets has been removed from the site. Following revegetation, the land remains open to the public as general national forest for activities such as dispersed camping, fishing, hunting, and hiking, but without any developed facilities or services. The area is accessible from Forest Road 121.

Directions

From Medford, travel north on State Highway 13 for 4 miles, then turn left west on County Trunk Highway M for 15 miles. Turn left south for 0.5 miles on Forest Road 121 to the former campground entrance.

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