Public lands in Wisconsin

17 units whose boundary reaches Wisconsin, 2.4 million acres counted whole even where a boundary crosses into another state. 9 national wildlife refuges, 7 wilderness areas, 1 national forest. Largest first within each type.

National wildlife refuges

All national wildlife refuges →
Refuge · USFWS
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
190,553 acres7 campgrounds near
Refuge · USFWS
Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
44,087 acresNational Wildlife Refuge
Refuge · USFWS
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge
21,942 acresNational Wildlife Refuge
Refuge · USFWS
Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge
6,950 acresNational Wildlife Refuge
Refuge · USFWS
Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge
1,798 acresAlso MI
Refuge · USFWS
Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge
1,201 acresAlso IL
Refuge · USFWS
Fox River National Wildlife Refuge
997 acresNational Wildlife Refuge
Refuge · USFWS
Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge
455 acres1 campground near
Refuge · USFWS
Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuge
125 acresNational Wildlife Refuge

Wilderness areas

All wilderness areas →
Wilderness · NPS
Gaylord Nelson Wilderness
33,500 acres1 campground near
Wilderness · USFS
Headwaters Wilderness
22,047 acres7 campgrounds near
Wilderness · USFS
Whisker Lake Wilderness
7,270 acres3 campgrounds near
Wilderness · USFS
Rainbow Lake Wilderness
7,135 acres3 campgrounds near
Wilderness · USFS
Blackjack Springs Wilderness
5,912 acres7 campgrounds near
Wilderness · USFS
Porcupine Lake Wilderness
4,074 acres4 campgrounds near
Wilderness · USFWS
Wisconsin Islands Wilderness
29 acresWilderness

National forests and grasslands

All national forests and grasslands →
Forest · USFS
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
2.0 million acres65 campgrounds near

Boundaries come from the agencies’ own layers. A unit is listed in every state its boundary reaches. Data refreshed September 18, 2026.