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| Home > Wisconsin > Washburn County |
Washburn County
Thursday, April 11, 2024
| Other Names | Wild River Trail Campground, Shell Lake, Spooner Lake, Elizabeth Lake, Rice Lake, Douglas County, Washburn County, Barron County, Namakagon River |
| Last Known Status | Temporarily Closed (closed for spring thaw) |
This trail system offers over 100+ miles of mostly hard packed gravel roads that heads north and east, eventually connecting into the Wild Rivers Trail. The terrain offers gentle elevation changes and has bridges that cross creeks and rivers. This trail system also features over 35 points of interest with numerous ATV friendly businesses, restaurants and rentals close by.
There are several staging areas but for those looking for camping with direct trail access should check out Wild Rivers ATV Campground, which has 10 RV sites and 5 tent sites, each with a BBQ grill and picnic table. Other amenities include a large outdoor pavilion, free WIFI, and clean restrooms with hot showers.
REGULATIONS
| Permit Required | Yes | WI ATV Trail Pass |
| Dates Open | Friday before Memorial Weekend through April 1 | |
| Other ATV Stickers Accepted | No | Wisconsin registration or a Nonresident Trail Pass required. |
| Spark Arrestor | Yes | A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles. |
| Noise Limit | ||
| Whip Flags | Not Required | |
| Maximum Vehicle Width | Yes (65 inches) | has entrance gate or posts |
 Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes | Prohibited | |
 ATVs | Permitted | |
 UTV & SXS | Permitted | (maximum width 65 inches) |
 SUVs & Jeeps (registered) | Prohibited | |
| Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered) | Prohibited | |
| 2 Stroke Engines | No Restriction | |
 Camping | Some Areas | (camp in developed sites only) |
 Campfires | Some Areas | (permitted in developed campsites only) |
| Night Riding | Unknown | |
| Trail Blazing | Prohibited | no trailblazing |
| Rule Enforcement |
TYPE OF AREA
| Area | Motorized Trails |
| Land | County Land |
FEES & PASSES
| Parking | (None) |
| Entry | (None) |
| Riding | (None) |
| Camping | Yes Tent: $10.00 RV: $30.00 Addtl. Vehicle: $0.00 Wild Rivers Campground Fee |
RATINGS
| Our Rating |  Good |
| Recommended Stay | 1-2 Days |
| Comments | (Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments) |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
| Nearest City | Shell Lake, WI | ||
| Address | US Hwy 63, Shell Lake, WI 54871 | ||
| From: Eau Claire, WI
1) Take US-53 North about 75 miles 2) Turn left (west) onto WI-253, continue 2.8 miles 3) Turn left (west) onto County Hwy B, continue 4 miles 4) Turn left (south) onto US Hwy 63, continue .3 miles 5) Staging area is on the left (east). For Wild River Trail Campground from Eau Claire, WI: 1) Take US-53 north about 100 miles 2) Take exit for US-53 BUS N, continue .3 miles 3) Turn right (east) onto S Limits Road, continue about 1 block 4) Turn left (north) onto Railroad Street, continue .2 miles 5) Campground entrance is on the right (east). |
OFFICIAL CONTACTS
| Contact Info | Washburn County Tourism Association 122 N River Street Spooner, WI 54801 (800) 367-3306 tourism@washburncounty.org www.washburncounty.org |
| Comment | Trail Hotline |
| Contact Info | Wild River Trail Campground 802 S. Railroad Street Minong, WI 54859 (715) 466-5000 info@minongtrails.com www.minongtrails.com |
| Contact Info | Wisconsin DNR P.O. Box 78701 Milwaukee, WI 53278-0701 (888) 936-7463 dnrfb@wisconsin.gov dnr.wisconsin.gov |
ADD PHOTOS
TERRAIN
| Approx Size | 127,000 acres (198 sq mi) | |
| Miles Of Trail | 100 | |
| Climate Type | Forest | |
| Elevation | 950 to 1100 ft. | |
| Trail Maintenance | Marked, Not Rated, Heavily Maintained | |
| Loose Dirt |  Little | |
| Hard Pack |  Mostly | |
| Sand |  None | |
| Mud |  Some | |
| Dust | Little | |
| Rocks | None | |
| Trees |  All | |
| Steep Hills | None | |
| Water Crossings | Some | |
| Small Jumps | None | |
| Large Jumps | None | |
| Berms | None | |
| Sand/Gravel Pits | None | |
| Single Track | None | |
| Roads | Some | |
| Shade |  Many | |
| Hazards |  Few | (hazards assumed marked but use caution) |
 Novice | All | |
 Amateur | None | |
 Expert | None |
KEY SERVICES
 Gasoline | 1-5 Miles (W) | Express Mart (715) 468-2200 |
| Diesel | 1-5 Miles (W) | Express Mart (715) 468-2200 |
 Water | 1-5 Miles (S) | Shell Lake Memorial Campground (715) 468-7846 |
 RV Hookup | 1-5 Miles (S) | Shell Lake Memorial Campground (715) 468-7846 |
 RV Disposal | 1-5 Miles (S) | Shell Lake Memorial Campground (715) 468-7846 |
| Campground | 1-5 Miles (S) | Shell Lake Memorial Campground (715) 468-7846 |
 Conv Store | 1-5 Miles (W) | Express Mart (715) 468-2200 |
RIDER COMMENTS & REVIEWS