Two Lakes Campground
Drummond, Wisconsin · on Lake Owen · Chequamegon National Forest
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $21
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Two Lakes Campground
Two Lakes Campground is a 94-site U.S. Forest Service campground in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest near Drummond, Wisconsin, situated on a strip of land between Lake Owen and Bass Lake. The campground has two designated swimming beaches, one of them on Lake Owen, giving campers an official swimming hole and a lake to swim in right at camp, and it is a popular base for lake swimming, fishing, and paddling.
The campground occupies a peninsula/isthmus between two Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest lakes -- Lake Owen, a larger lake open to motorboats, and Bass Lake, a smaller no-motor lake described by campers as serene and gorgeous -- with pine and mixed hardwood forest shading most of the 94 campsites, many of which have lake views or direct lake access.
Swimming at Two Lakes Campground
Swimming happens off two designated sandy beaches within the campground, one per lake, both used for casual lake swimming by campers and day visitors alongside fishing off a shared pier; Lake Owen is large enough for motorized boating and water skiing near the swim area, while the adjacent Bass Lake beach is calmer with no motorized boat traffic.
How to get to this swimming hole
Parking: No dedicated day-use swimming-beach parking is described separately; beach access is integrated within the campground, with most of the 94 campsites offering lake access or views and space for multiple vehicles per site.
The hike in
No hike is needed to swim -- the two beaches are inside the campground, reached by a short walk (a few campsite-lengths) from parking/campsites. Separately, the campground has its own half-mile interpretive trail and an access point to the North Country National Scenic Trail, but neither is required to reach the swim beaches.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Two sandy designated swim beaches (one on Lake Owen, one on Bass Lake) sit within the campground; camper reviews call it a 'great family campsite' with a fishing pier that's popular with kids. Lake Owen allows motorboats/water-skiing near the beach, so supervise kids away from the boat lanes; Bass Lake's beach has no motor traffic and is calmer.
Parking
Paid
No dedicated day-use beach parking lot is described; beach access is via paths from individual campsites (campers note some sites have 'a path down to the lake' or you can 'walk down to the water right from our site'). Access is effectively bundled with the camping fee -- a separate day-use parking fee was not found.
Restrooms
Yes
Vault toilets throughout the campground (per official Recreation.gov listing); no separate day-use restroom building described.
On the water
Restrictions: Lake Owen (the beach covered by this listing) permits motorboating, water-skiing, and sailing in addition to paddling. Bayfield County ordinance requires aquatic-invasive-species (AIS) decontamination of boats before launching at the Two Lakes or North Outlet landings; the campground provides a bleach-solution station and a hot-water wash option. (Note: the adjacent Bass Lake, on the other side of the campground, is no-motor per prior research -- that restriction applies to Bass Lake, not to Lake Owen itself.)
Two boat ramps serve the campground.
Rentals nearby
Canoes, paddle boats, and kayaks rented directly at the campground
Prices: Camper-reported as roughly $20+ for a half day, which the reviewer described as 'extremely high'; no official price sheet found
At Two Lakes Campground, on Lake Owen, Drummond, WI
What regulars say
Visitor reports from campers: tap water from the campground pumps has a noticeable iron/rust taste; mosquitoes are common, especially mid-June; loons are heard at night; summer weekends fill fast so campers advise arriving early, while spring and fall are quieter; on-site canoe, kayak, and paddle-boat rentals exist but at least one camper found the rental price (around $20+ per half day) steep; sites directly on the lake let you walk straight down to the water.
Two Lakes Campground: FAQ
Does Two Lakes Campground charge a fee?
Camper-reported nightly camping fees of roughly $21-$30 per site (with senior discount) via Recreation.gov reservations; no separate beach entry fee mentioned.
Is Two Lakes Campground kid friendly?
Two sandy designated swim beaches (one on Lake Owen, one on Bass Lake) sit within the campground; camper reviews call it a 'great family campsite' with a fishing pier that's popular with kids. Lake Owen allows motorboats/water-skiing near the beach, so supervise kids away from the boat lanes; Bass Lake's beach has no motor traffic and is calmer.
Do I need to hike to reach Two Lakes Campground?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Two Lakes Campground?
No dedicated day-use beach parking lot is described; beach access is via paths from individual campsites (campers note some sites have 'a path down to the lake' or you can 'walk down to the water right from our site'). Access is effectively bundled with the camping fee -- a separate day-use parking fee was not found.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Two Lakes Campground?
Two boat ramps serve the campground.
When is the best time to visit Two Lakes Campground?
Summer weekends are busy and fill quickly; camper reviews note spring and fall offer a quieter experience with fewer crowds.
What are the rules at Two Lakes Campground?
Bayfield County ordinance requires aquatic invasive species (AIS) decontamination of boats before launching at the Two Lakes or North Outlet landings; the campground provides a bleach-solution sanitizing station and a hot-water wash option at North Outlet. Firewood brought from outside the area is prohibited to prevent spread of invasive tree pests. Reserved sites must be occupied by noon checkout the day after the reservation start or the site is forfeited.
What water body is Two Lakes Campground on?
Two Lakes Campground is on Lake Owen, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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