Cunard Lake Campground

Cunard Lake Campground Introduce

Welcome to Cunard Lake Campground, a hidden gem nestled within the serene Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, near Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin. For us Wisconsinites, the allure of the Northwoods is undeniable, a place where the air is fresh, the lakes are clear, and the sounds of nature prevail. Cunard Lake Campground offers a truly unique and highly sought-after experience: it's one of just a handful of designated generator-free campgrounds across our state forests. This means a quieter, more authentic outdoor adventure, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of Wisconsin's wilderness without the hum of modern machinery. It's the perfect destination for those seeking genuine peace and a profound connection with nature, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Our commitment at Cunard Lake Campground is to preserve the pristine natural environment and provide a deeply relaxing atmosphere for all our guests. We understand that many of us crave a true escape, where the only sounds are the rustle of leaves, the call of a loon, or the crackle of a campfire. That's precisely what you'll find here. Every aspect of the campground, from its secluded sites to its clear lake waters, is designed to foster a sense of calm and rejuvenation. While it offers a rustic charm, the essentials are well-maintained, ensuring a comfortable stay. If your idea of a perfect getaway involves unplugging, unwinding, and rediscovering the simple joys of the outdoors, then Cunard Lake Campground is your ideal Northwoods sanctuary.

Cunard Lake Campground is precisely located at 7868-7956 Lake Cunard Campgrove Rd, Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539, USA. This placement within the expansive Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest positions it perfectly for local Wisconsinites seeking an authentic Northwoods experience. While the Google directions might lead you slightly past the entrance, the campground is very easy to find, with clear signage guiding you directly to your quiet retreat. Lake Tomahawk, a charming Northwoods community, is just a short drive away, offering convenient access to local amenities and supplies should you need them.

Being part of a state forest system means Cunard Lake Campground benefits from excellent accessibility while maintaining its natural integrity. It’s a manageable drive from many of Wisconsin’s larger cities, making it an ideal destination for weekend trips or longer, immersive stays. This blend of accessibility and serene seclusion is paramount for locals who want to maximize their time in nature without extensive travel. The relatively undeveloped surroundings ensure that the journey to the campground is as much a part of the adventure as the stay itself, with scenic drives through dense forests. Its location makes it a perfect base camp for exploring the vast recreational opportunities available throughout the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest.

Cunard Lake Campground, being a rustic state forest campground, focuses on providing essential services that facilitate a back-to-nature experience while ensuring basic comfort. Based on public information and visitor reviews, these services typically include:

Generator-Free Environment: A core distinguishing feature, ensuring a consistently quiet and peaceful camping experience without the noise of generators. This is a key draw for many visitors.
Non-Electric Campsites: All 33 campsites are non-electric, catering to campers who prefer a more traditional and rustic experience. This aligns with the quiet nature of the campground.
Vault Toilets: Well-maintained and regularly cleaned vault toilets are available, providing essential sanitation facilities.
Hand Pumps for Drinking Water: Potable drinking water is accessible via hand pumps, offering a true outdoor experience.
Trash and Recycling Stations: Designated areas for waste disposal and recycling, promoting environmental responsibility and keeping the campground clean.
On-Site Campground Host: During the peak season (Memorial Day through Labor Day), a campground host is on-site, available to assist campers and ensure rules are followed.
Designated Swimming Area: A very nice, clear swimming area with a sandy bottom beach, perfect for cooling off and enjoying the lake.
Boat Landing and Parking: An adjacent boat landing and parking area for electric-motors-only boats, canoes, and kayaks, providing easy access to Cunard Lake.
Reservable Sites: All sites at Cunard Lake Campground are reservable, ensuring you can plan your trip well in advance. Reservations can be made up to 11 months ahead.
Pet-Friendly Policy: Pets are allowed, though they must be on a leash at all times and not left unattended, allowing the whole family to enjoy the outdoors.

Cunard Lake Campground stands out for its unique blend of rustic charm and specific features that enhance the Northwoods camping experience. Key highlights include:

Quiet Campground Designation: As one of only a few generator-free campgrounds in Wisconsin's state forests, it guarantees an exceptionally peaceful atmosphere, ideal for relaxation and connecting with nature. "No means none" for noise-producing devices, allowing for truly quiet enjoyment.
Clear, Sandy Lake for Swimming: Cunard Lake itself is a 43-acre electric-motors-only lake with exceptionally clear water and a sandy bottom, making the designated swimming area a popular and refreshing spot.
Secluded "Camping in the Woods" Sites: Several off-lake sites offer significant privacy, both from the campground road and neighboring sites, providing a deep "camping in the woods" feel.
Popular Walk-in Sites: The walk-in sites are highly recommended and very popular, often offering secluded spots with level ground and views of the lake through the trees, perfect for hammock camping. Site 23 is particularly praised.
Lake Views from Sites: While more open, sites on the lake side offer beautiful views of Cunard Lake, enhancing the scenic appeal of your stay.
Electric-Motors-Only Lake: The lake's restriction to electric motors only ensures quiet boating and paddling, maintaining the serene environment. It also adjoins a creek that empties into Sweeney Lake, offering more exploration opportunities for canoers and kayakers.
Abundant Nature Sounds: Guests can truly relax with the abundant sounds of nature, including the distinctive calls of loons, which are known to nest on Cunard Lake.
Short Season: While a shortcoming for some, the short season (closing immediately after Labor Day) ensures the campground is experienced during prime Wisconsin summer conditions, providing a focused, high-quality experience.
Close to Trail Systems: Located within the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, the campground serves as an excellent basecamp for exploring numerous hiking, nature, paddle, and mountain bike trails.

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit to Cunard Lake Campground, planning and reservations are highly recommended. As part of the Wisconsin State Forest system, reservations for all sites are required and can be made up to 11 months in advance of your planned date of occupancy, or even for the same day of your arrival. You can make online camping reservations by visiting the CAMIS system at:

wisconsin.goingtocamp.com

or by calling their reservation line at 1-888-947-2757. While there isn't a direct phone number for the specific campground host, these central reservation methods will provide all the necessary information. The physical address for the campground is 7868-7956 Lake Cunard Campgrove Rd, Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539, USA. Remember that a State Parks and Forest Admission Sticker is required year-round on vehicles in the campgrounds.

Cunard Lake Campground is an ideal destination for local Wisconsinites seeking a truly quiet and immersive outdoor experience. Its designation as a generator-free campground sets it apart, providing a rare opportunity to fully disconnect and appreciate the natural soundscape of the Northwoods. For those who value peace, solitude, and the genuine sounds of nature—the loons on the lake, the gentle breeze through the pines—this campground is a dream come true. The clear, sandy-bottomed lake offers fantastic swimming, and the secluded walk-in sites provide unparalleled privacy, making it perfect for both individual retreats and intimate family trips.

For Wisconsin residents, Cunard Lake offers the quintessential Northwoods camping adventure without extensive travel, providing a beloved local escape. Its short season means that every visit is during the best of summer, ensuring vibrant natural experiences. If you're looking to create lasting memories in a truly peaceful and beautiful setting, supporting our state's natural resources, Cunard Lake Campground is highly recommended as your next unforgettable Wisconsin camping destination.

Cunard Lake Campground Photos

Cunard Lake Campground Location

Wisconsin Oneida County Lake Tomahawk Lake Cunard Campgrove Road

7868-7956 Lake Cunard Campgrove Rd, Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539, USA

Cunard Lake Campground Reviews

Cunard Lake is one of just several generator-free campgrounds across the state forests in Wisconsin. Here and Starrett Lake are the only two such places offered on this particular state forest.The swimming area is very nice, lake water is clear, lake bottom is sand.The one shortcoming of this campground is that it has a very short season, closing for the year immediately after Labor Day.A couple of the off-lake sites provide a very secluded “camping in the woods” experience with privacy both from the campground road and neighboring sites.Sites on the lake have a nice view but are much more open to the campground road.The walk-in sites are very nice and are quite popular among visitors.
Nov 12, 2022 · Greg Krueger
FYI the google directions take you a little down the road from the actually campground but it is really easy to find and there is clear signage when you get to the campground. We stayed at the walk-in site 23 which I highly recommend. You can see the lake through the trees, it was very even ground, and if you bring hammocks it would be the perfect spot for you. The campground is generally quite and the hosts were very friendly, vault toilets kept clean. We took advantage of the little swimming beach too.
Jul 04, 2021 · Joyce Kempf
The snails at this campground are downright unhinged. Ever since I found a ceramic snail sculpture (missing its eyes) in the woods on July 7th, 2022, the real snails have been following me EVERYWHERE. They seem to have developed the intelligence required to worship the sculpture that I saw, and that is a danger to our society. If you come here, do NOT get close to a snail if you see one. It's for your own safety. Nice beach tho
Feb 22, 2023 · ornag
This is hands down my most favorite campground. Such a beautiful campground and the campsites are amazing. There's small ones and large ones, walk ins, and there's beautiful campsites overlooking the lake. The lake by the way has HUGE bass and blue gills.
Aug 21, 2022 · Jessa Zimmermann
Campground is nice. The hostess for the 2020 season walks into campsites telling campers radios are not allowed but that isn't true. I had 2 other campers ask me about the hostess and her rude tactics. One camper, who was here for 2 weeks said the hostess goes around taking wood left for the next campers for herself and the other camper shared her displeasure about being told she couldn't listen to a baseball game with the volume on low because the hostess told her she couldn't. No campers made complaints to the hostess. The hostess takes her hostessing job way too seriously and takes the fun out of camping there. I was threatened by the hostess to have the ranger called on me. I told her I would wait for the ranger but no one ever showed up and she has since left us alone to where we can actually enjoy our stay now. Heads up, radios are allowed so long as they are not turned up loud, so don't let her ruin your family camping trip. #worstcamphostess. Don't let her bully you. Use up all your wood. Also, the campsite had pee toilet paper and garbage laying around the site when we arrived. Snapped pictures before setting up our tents. Not sure if it's the hostess's job to make sure sites are clean and ready for the next camper but I would assume it is.
Aug 18, 2020 · Deb Ismyfriend