Sandy Beach Campground
Park Falls, Wisconsin · on Sandy Beach Lake · Northern Highland State Forest
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $16/night
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Sandy Beach Campground
Sandy Beach Lake Campground is a Wisconsin DNR campground within the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, sited on the southeast shore of the 110-acre, sand-bottomed Sandy Beach Lake near Powell and Manitowish Waters. A designated swimming beach and picnic area sit adjacent to the campground's 33 rustic sites, separate from the boat landing, giving campers a ready-made swimming hole and an easy lake to swim in.
The campground occupies the southeast corner of Sandy Beach Lake, a roughly 110-acre lake in Iron County with a lakebed described as almost entirely sand and gravel (no rock or muck) and a maximum depth around 13 feet. The DNR site map shows a loop of rustic, grass campsites (including walk-to/tent-only sites) set back from a separate beach and picnic area at the lake's edge, with a boat landing near the campground entrance off Sandy Beach Road, close to Powell Road.
Swimming at Sandy Beach Campground
Swimming is centered on a large sand beach adjacent to the campground, described by outdoor-recreation sources as a 'designated swimming area' with clear water and a sandy bottom, consistent with the lake's mapped sand/gravel bottom composition. No official water-quality or depth-at-beach specifics were found beyond the lake's overall shallow, sandy-bottomed character, which suits families and casual swimmers rather than deep-water or cliff-jumping use.
How to get to this swimming hole
The campground address is 3400 N Sandy Beach Road, Park Falls, WI 54552, in the northwest portion of Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest; the DNR map shows access via Sandy Beach Road connecting to Powell Road, with the boat landing just before the campground entrance and the beach/picnic area a short walk from the site loop.
Parking: A parking area is shown on the official DNR campground map near the beach/picnic area and near sites 1912-1913; a separate boat landing area is located just before the campground entrance.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up campground beach: the DNR site map shows the designated beach/picnic area directly adjacent to the campsite loop and its parking area, reachable by a short walk from the car, no trail or hike is required. Exact walk distance from the lot to the sand was not stated in any source found.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Designated sand-bottom swimming beach and picnic area sit apart from the boat landing (per official DNR site map), giving swimmers separation from launched watercraft. rvparx describes the lake/campground as 'a favorite for families who enjoy swimming and paddling,' consistent with the shallow, sand/gravel lakebed (no rock or muck) documented for Sandy Beach Lake. No lifeguard is mentioned in any source found, so supervision is on visitors.
Parking
Paid, No separate parking fee, but a Wisconsin State Parks/Forest vehicle admission sticker is required year-round: $28/year resident, $13/year resident senior (65+), $38/year non-resident (per official DNR brochure).
Designated parking area shown on the official DNR campground map near the beach/picnic area and campsites 1912-1913; a separate boat-landing parking/turnaround is located just before the campground entrance.
Restrooms
Yes
Vault/pit toilets serving the campground (official DNR brochure calls them vault toilets; rvparx calls them pit toilets, same rustic facility type), plus a hand-pump for drinking water. No showers, flush toilets, electric, or sewer hookups anywhere on site.
Water clarity
Clear
Visitors describe 'clear water and sandy bottom' at the designated swim area, consistent with the lake's documented lakebed composition (roughly 98% sand and 2% gravel, with no rock or muck). No independent first-hand visitor account was found to corroborate this.
Hours
No posted swim-beach-specific hours were found. Campground is closed to non-registered visitors 11 p.m.-6 a.m.; an on-site manager is present May-October (per hipcamp listing), suggesting that window as the staffed operating season, though the beach and boat landing themselves appear open forest-wide without a stated seasonal gate.
On the water
Restrictions: Unconfirmed at the lake-specific level. The Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest's official water-activities page states motor restrictions (no-motor or electric-motor-only) apply on 'many' lakes within the forest, but does not list which lakes, and no source found states whether Sandy Beach Lake itself is restricted or open to gas motors. The presence of an official 'boat landing' (distinct from a carry-in canoe landing) suggests trailerable/motorized boat access is permitted, but this is an inference, not a confirmed rule.
rvparx describes the destination as good for 'swimming and paddling,' and the DNR brochure/site map confirms a boat landing near the campground entrance, separate from the swim beach. The 110-acre size and rustic, forest-interior character make it a plausible candidate for a no-wake or horsepower-limited lake, but this was not directly documented.
Sandy Beach Campground: FAQ
Does Sandy Beach Campground charge a fee?
DNR camping fees: $16/night resident, $21/night non-resident (per official campground brochure). A State Parks and Forest Admission Sticker is required year-round on vehicles in the campground: $28/annual resident, $13/annual resident senior (65+), $38/annual non-resident.
Is Sandy Beach Campground kid friendly?
Designated sand-bottom swimming beach and picnic area sit apart from the boat landing (per official DNR site map), giving swimmers separation from launched watercraft. rvparx describes the lake/campground as 'a favorite for families who enjoy swimming and paddling,' consistent with the shallow, sand/gravel lakebed (no rock or muck) documented for Sandy Beach Lake. No lifeguard is mentioned in any source found, so supervision is on visitors.
Do I need to hike to reach Sandy Beach Campground?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Sandy Beach Campground?
Designated parking area shown on the official DNR campground map near the beach/picnic area and campsites 1912-1913; a separate boat-landing parking/turnaround is located just before the campground entrance.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Sandy Beach Campground?
rvparx describes the destination as good for 'swimming and paddling,' and the DNR brochure/site map confirms a boat landing near the campground entrance, separate from the swim beach. The 110-acre size and rustic, forest-interior character make it a plausible candidate for a no-wake or horsepower-limited lake, but this was not directly documented.
What are the rules at Sandy Beach Campground?
Per the official DNR campground brochure: reservations required before setting up on any site (via wisconsin.goingtocamp.com or 1-888-947-2757); checkout by 3 p.m.; campground closed to non-registered visitors 11 p.m.-6 a.m.; pets must be leashed and not left unattended; generators permitted only 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; non-family camping groups capped at six people; admission sticker required; full rules under Wis. Admin. Code NR 45.
What water body is Sandy Beach Campground on?
Sandy Beach Campground is on Sandy Beach Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
