Brule River State Forest is a state forest located in Douglas County, Wisconsin, U.S.A. that encompasses the Bois Brule River for most of its length from its headwaters to Lake Superior.
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Brule River State Forest is one of two locations in Wisconsin that the Wisconsin State Park System allows an individual to legally backpack and camp off the beaten path. This does require a permit, which is free.
The park staff was friendly and timely with getting me the permit before my actual trip. This allowed me to bypass the park headquarters and head right to where I wanted to start my backpacking trip. The park staff was also knowledgeable of areas and provided recommendations on the common and best places to probably conduct our backpacking trip.
Ultimately they recommended the southern area of their forest, which is where the NCT goes through. Many permit holders will hike along the trail and then camp off the trail over night. We wanted something a little different and decided to backpack up in the northern section of the Brule River State Forest.
Our experience was great and we did encounter a park ranger when we were resting along the shore of Lake Superior. He was friendly and helped us identify a hidden source of water near where our next camping spot would be.
When backpacking you do also have to be mindful and respectful of the numerous private lands that are intertwined within Brule River...
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I stayed at Bois Brule site 3- we could see into site 4, but it still felt fairly private to me considering it's car camping. We fit three small tents on our site, and it was a little tight. The site had a fire ring with an adjustable grill, a picnic table, and a bench. Well maintained, marked trails that connect to the North Country Trail (once you pass the fishery, the connector trail is on the right past the sign about the CCC). Vault toilets (with hand sanitizer) and water pump were open the first weekend in October, despite the lows being in the low twenties. No staff available via phone (likely due to covid) and no station at the campground. Bring cash to pay for a daily vehicle pass if you don't have an annual sticker, and bring certified firewood or buy some nearby. Google directions linked by the website had me miss the campground- look out for a big wooden sign when you get close. The mixture of pine and deciduous forest is very pretty, especially...
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The Brule River State Forest contains all 44 miles of the famous Bois Brule River, one of the best known rivers east of the Mississippi. For over one hundred years, it has been known as an exceptional trout stream. The Brule River contains resident brook, brown and rainbow trout. Lake brown and rainbow (steelhead) trout along with Coho and Chinook salmon migrate up the Brule annually from Lake Superior. The river itself has two distinct personalities. The upper river (the southern portion) flows through miles of coniferous bog and is fed by numerous springs. When the river crosses the Copper Range, it begins a fall of 328 feet in the eighteen miles to Lake Superior. Here, flashing cascades tumble over rocks and ledges and between steep river bluffs forested with aspen and balsam fir. Pets are welcome in Wisconsin State Parks but must be on a leash and under control...
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