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Chippewa Flowage Boat-In Campsites permit area in Chippewa Flowage (WI) - backcountry hiking destination
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Chippewa Flowage Boat-In Campsites Permit

Chippewa Flowage (WI) · Wisconsin

Eleven primitive boat-in sites scattered around the flowage. Booked under the Wisconsin DNR "Boat-in" category.

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When it opens

11 months
First come, first served from 11 months before your start date, at 9 am CentralYou book on the agency's site.

Source: dnr.wisconsin.gov

70% of the openings our scanner caught on Chippewa Flowage were gone within 10 minutes.

How to get a Chippewa Flowage permit

As of September 2026, Chippewa Flowage in Chippewa Flowage (WI), Wisconsin requires a permit issued via reservation. Chippewa Flowage is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Chippewa Flowage permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens.

Type
Overnight
Location
Sawyer County Northwoods, WI

  1. Step 1: Create a Wisconsin DNR (GoingToCamp) account

    Sign up at Wisconsin DNR (GoingToCamp) if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.

  2. Step 2: Know the release schedule

    Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.

  3. Step 3: Be ready when permits drop

    Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.

  4. Step 4: Monitor for cancellations

    If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.

Book at Wisconsin DNR (GoingToCamp)
Learn more:
Best booking timesCancellation hunting

More on Chippewa Flowage: Live availability activityWhen Chippewa Flowage permits open up

The Chippewa Flowage hike

Chippewa Flowage landmarks

  1. 1Cedar Tops West

    The one DNR island campsite improved with accessible facilities.

  2. 2County Highway CC South Boat Landing

    The launch DNR recommends: boat access, overnight parking, potable water and the only landing with trash services.

  3. 3mino-giizhigad Trail

    A newer hiking trail on DNR land east of the CC North landing, through backland forest with views over the flowage.

  4. 4The islands

    About 200 of them, undeveloped, scattered across 15,300 acres, by DNR's count.

Eleven island campsites on Wisconsin's third-largest lake, reachable only by boat.

About this permit

Wisconsin DNR: "The Chippewa Flowage, a 15,300-acre impoundment, is located in central Sawyer County, 15 miles east of Hayward. Dotted with about 200 undeveloped islands, it is Wisconsin's third-largest lake and boasts a highly irregular, wooded and generally undeveloped 233-mile shoreline. Boat-in to camp at one of several primitive campsites or explore the seemingly endless maze of islands, points, bays, floating bogs and channels." (dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Lands/ChippewaFlow, read 2026-08-09.)

Why it matters

The "Big Chip" was filled in 1923 to hold water for downstream power and flood control, and what it left is a 15,300-acre lake with about 200 undeveloped islands and a 233-mile shoreline that is still mostly wooded. DNR: "The flowage offers a fishing experience generally found only on lakes farther north in Minnesota or Canada." Until 2025 the island sites were free and first-come. They now take reservations, so a cancellation alert can catch an opening.

The feeling

You pick an island. DNR's own description of what is out there: "the seemingly endless maze of islands, points, bays, floating bogs and channels." A sign, a fire ring, a picnic table and a box latrine is the whole camp, and the nearest tap is back at the landing.

Chippewa Flowage hike highlights

  1. DNR: "There are 11 primitive island campsites on DNR islands. One DNR campsite, Cedar Tops West, has been improved with accessible facilities."
  2. "All campsites are accessible by water only, and due to their remoteness, it is recommended that campers leave an itinerary with friends or relatives."
  3. "Each campsite is marked with a sign and has a fire ring, picnic table and open-air box latrine." DNR names no water at the sites.
  4. The launch to use: "Campers are encouraged to use the Cty. Hwy. CC South Boat Landing for boat access, overnight parking, potable water and trash services. Trash services are not offered at the other DNR boat landings."
  5. This changed recently. DNR: "Beginning in 2025, the 11 DNR island campsites in the Chippewa Flowage will require reservations and a camping fee to camp at these sites."
  6. For 2026, every Lac Courte Oreilles tribally-owned campsite is closed to the public for campsite rehabilitation and island restoration.

Trailhead information

County Highway CC South Boat Landing

Primary

The launch DNR recommends for campers, in the central part of the property.

  • No restrooms
  • Water on site

Before you rely on this water

DNR names potable water at this landing and at no other. Wisconsin water systems are weather-dependent and may be off from roughly Oct. 1 through May 15, which overlaps the tail of the May 1 to Nov. 30 camping season.

Parking

Overnight parking, and the only DNR landing on the flowage with trash services. No vehicle admission sticker is required.

Getting There

Off County Highway CC in the central portion of the property; reached from the south via State Highways 27 and 70, or from the north via County Highway B.

Nearest Services

Hayward, 15 miles west.

When to hike Chippewa Flowage

Best time to visit

The reservation season is May 1 through November 30, and DNR will not guarantee access outside it. For 2026, the Lac Courte Oreilles tribal sites are closed to the public entirely, so the 11 DNR island sites are the whole public inventory.

Chippewa Flowage rules, gear and safety

Gear checklist

Required
  • A boat: every site is water-access only
  • All drinking water; DNR names potable water at the CC South landing and none on the islands
  • Rubbish bags: everything comes back to a landing
  • A float plan left with someone, which DNR recommends outright

Recommended gear

  • A bear-resistant food container or a hang kit. DNR: "Bears are excellent swimmers who may travel to island sites searching for food"
  • A chart of the flowage; DNR describes "the seemingly endless maze of islands, points, bays, floating bogs and channels"
  • Wind-capable paddling gear for a 15,300-acre lake

Rules & regulations

  1. 01"DNR campsites on the Chippewa Flowage must be reserved for camping from May 1 through November 30. Outside the reservation season the department cannot guarantee campsite access or availability."
  2. 02Reservations run up to 11 months ahead, and you must reserve before setting up on any site.
  3. 03"Camping is allowed only at designated, signed island campsites. No new campsites may be established."
  4. 04"Sites must be occupied the same day that they are set up."
  5. 05"The camper's maximum stay is 10 days."
  6. 06"Chainsaws, generators and fireworks are prohibited."
  7. 07"All plastic, cans, glass and trash must be carried out and disposed of properly when leaving. Do not place in pit toilets. Trash receptacles are provided at public landings."
  8. 08"Burn only paper products and wood in fire pits and extinguish fires completely using water or clean soil."
  9. 09"Do not cut, carve or deface trees, tables or benches, or drive nails into trees. Please do not hang lanterns from trees."
  10. 10Firewood must come from within 10 miles and never from outside Wisconsin; removing driftwood from the property is prohibited by state law.
  11. 11No vehicle admission sticker is required at the Chippewa Flowage.

Hazards & considerations

  • Bears, on islands. DNR, on this property's camping page: "Bears can be present at this property." Its statewide guidance adds: "Bears are excellent swimmers who may travel to island sites searching for food. Coolers, blue 'bear barrels,' cookware and even vehicles are not bear resistant."
  • Remoteness: DNR recommends leaving an itinerary with friends or family precisely because help is not close.
  • Open water on Wisconsin's third-largest lake, with 233 miles of irregular shoreline to get turned around on.
  • No water on the islands; the nearest potable supply is the CC South landing.

Safety & planning

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Chippewa Flowage.

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.

Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Chippewa Flowage · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides

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Chippewa Flowage FAQ

How do I get a Chippewa Flowage permit?

PermitSnag alerts you the moment a Chippewa Flowage cancellation opens, so you can book it before anyone else. Chippewa Flowage permits use a reservation system.

When is the best time to visit Chippewa Flowage?

Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.

How competitive is the Chippewa Flowage permit?

This permit has a demand score of 8/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and using PermitSnag's cancellation alerts.

What if I can't get a Chippewa Flowage permit?

Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.

Chippewa Flowage trail conditions and trip reports

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Alternatives to a Chippewa Flowage permit

  • Same AreaPermit required

    Chippewa Moraine Backcountry Sites

    Three outpost sites an hour south on the Ice Age Trail, one of them canoe-in.

    Tradeoffs

    Two are a half-mile walk, so a boat becomes optional, but there are only three sites.

  • Similar ExperiencePermit required

    Rock Island Backpack Campsites

    Island camping in Lake Michigan instead, with a ferry doing the crossing for you.

    Tradeoffs

    No boat needed and drinking water on the island, but the ferry timetable is the whole season.

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