An entirely first-come, first-served 13 site national forest campground offering stellar scenery and great hiking. The Ice Age Trail crosses the entrance driveway; hikers need not drive elsewhere to enjoy a substantial trail system.

This is a smaller campground than neighboring Spearhead Point, which seems to be the area’s flagship campground. By contrast, Spearhead has a dozen more sites - some reservable, and a shelter building.

There is no swimming beach here or at any of the four campgrounds on the Mondeaux Flowage. Those who can stand swimming amongst some sticks and stumps may be comfortable swimming directly from the waterfront at West Point, but you’ll find a developed beach at the Mondeaux Dam Lodge on the north end of the flowage. It’s not more than a five minute drive down the road, or a half hour hike north on the Ice Age Trail.

A nearby attraction is the glacial spring just northwest of Spearhead Point. You can fill your water containers there if you’re here in the early season and the campground’s own water pump isn’t in service yet.

West Point is a great option for campers not wanting to deal with the federal campsite reservation system and/or those seeking a spur-of-the-moment getaway. If you find the campground full, you can try Eastwood just across the flowage. It appears to be the least popular in the area, as the forest service plans to decommission a number of its campsites. All of the campgrounds on this flowage are in a great setting and surrounded by numerous recreational offerings.

Beautiful area, great beach. Bright lights on the front of vault toilet buildings shine outward in all directions and completely ruin the dark of night for tent campers in many of the nicest sites here. The lighting is completely out of character for a rustic national forest campground. Fortunately I’ve not seen these sorts of lights installed at other campgrounds on the Chequamegon Nicolet. Otherwise a very nice campground worth a visit.

The water pump by the lakeside campsites furthest into the loop was not working when we visited. Just one water spout was working at the campground entrance kiosk.

All sites here are first-come, first-served as of 2022, but at least some sites are slated to become reservable on the federal recreation website starting in 2023.

Beautiful area, great beach. Bright lights on the front of vault toilet buildings shine outward in all directions and completely ruin the dark of night for tent campers in many of the nicest sites here. The lighting is completely out of character for a rustic national forest campground. Fortunately I’ve not seen these sorts of lights installed at other campgrounds on the Chequamegon Nicolet. Otherwise a very nice campground worth a visit.

The water pump by the lakeside campsites furthest into the loop was not working when we visited. Just one water spout was working at the campground entrance kiosk.

All sites here are first-come, first-served as of 2022, but at least some sites are slated to become reservable on the federal recreation website starting in 2023.

Sites are spacious but many lack the vegetation and privacy between neighboring sites provided at other rustic campgrounds. Still, there is far more space and privacy here than at a typical RV park.

Campers can choose options ranging from sunny sites with little tree cover to deeply shaded sites that stay cool and dark even on hot summer days.

The lake bottom at the beach is in dire need of raking. What may once have been a nice swimming area has grown in with lake vegetation. The area is still swimmable if one doesn’t mind weeds and shallow water. You’ll need to walk or swim out far, far from shore to reach deep water in this part of Pine Lake.

The campground has one hand pump; its water was clear and good tasting.

On-site hosts were friendly and had a visible presence. Vault toilets were clean, common areas were mowed and well maintained - aside from the swimming area.

On a stormy, cold August weekend, seven of twelve sites were occupied. Hosts say the campground rarely fills to capacity. Everything here is first-come, first-served; no need to worry about reservations.

A quiet and scenic gem in the Nicolet that's well worth the drive. Luna-White Deer luckily avoided the axe as a number of nearby National Forest campgrounds closed due to budget cuts.

There is lots of nice hiking here, and trails are directly connected with the campground. Visitors can hike a full loop around both lakes and connect directly into the larger Hidden Lakes trail system. Those seeking a lengthy hike can trek as far as as Franklin Lake campground and the Anvil Lake trails.

Some sites on the property can be reserved on the federal recreation website during peak season, others remain first-come first-served.

The campground is nestled between two otherwise undeveloped lakes. Several of the lakeside campsites have spectacular views.

Swimming is available at a beach within the campground, and lake frontage is swimmable at some of the campsites. The spot is popular with fishermen. Drinking water is available from a solar well. Lots of nice road biking routes are also accessible from the location.

While you’re in the area, you can visit several once-thriving national forest campgrounds that are about to be dismantled and decommissioned as the forest cuts back on expenses. Sevenmile Lake and Windsor Dam are both within biking distance, and the former campground at Brule River is just a short drive northeast.

Laurel Lake Campground provides picturesque campsites and a boat landing on a major chain of lakes, all beneath a stand of towering pines. It fills to capacity on some holiday weekends, but typical weekends you'll find an open site without needing to reserve ahead.

The campground has a notable recent history. It would likely not be open today but for the wisdom of elected officials in the Town of Three Lakes. In 2015, the town stepped in to save this campground from being shuttered when the national forest published plans to close it and a dozen or so other campgrounds due to budget cuts. Most other campgrounds closed that year remain closed six years later. Laurel Lake Campground endures as a success story of collaboration benefiting visitors and the local economy alike.

On a chilly mid-August Friday night the campground had four campsites vacant; Saturday night just two sites went unoccupied. The property appears to have a healthy level of use. Onsite hosts were polite and helpful, facilities were clean. Fees are reasonable at $15/night for 2021.

The campground lacks a beach or swimmable lake frontage of any sort. A number of swimming spots can be found within a short drive or modest bike ride. Sevenmile and Franklin Lakes are good options. There's also a beach in downtown Three Lakes.

Though I'd typically choose a campground with swimmable shoreline, the scenery and solitude at Laurel make for a great experience regardless.