Headwaters Wilderness
The largest of Wisconsin's Wildernesses is characterized by generally flat terrain with forested swamps and muskeg, and bog lowlands overlooked by a few hardwood ridges. The headwaters of Pine River, a...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Wisconsin |
| Size | 22,047 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 45.8125, -88.9473 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 10) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 7 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
2 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 2 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Giant Pine | 1.8 | |
| Scott Lake | 0.6 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas, refreshed September 18, 2026. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedWatersmeet Admin Rx
33 mi from the center point
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 4.9 miMiller, Marshall D., Boathouse ↗Three Lakes, WI
- 5.1 miJollywood ↗Three Lakes, WI
- 5.2 miTrunck, Joseph and Augusta, Boathouse ↗Three Lakes, WI
- 5.3 miReay Boathouse ↗Three Lakes, WI
- 6.1 miAnvil Lake Campground Shelter ↗Eagle River, WI
- 6.4 miIndianapolis Outing Club ↗Three Lakes, WI
- 7.7 miMayer, George P., Boathouse ↗Town of Three Lakes, WI
- 10.1 miJabodon ↗Washington, WI
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Headwaters Wilderness?
22,047 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Headwaters Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Headwaters Wilderness in?
Wisconsin.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Headwaters Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Headwaters Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Luna White Deer Campground, 0.4 miles out. 7 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Headwaters Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 45.813, -88.947. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Headwaters Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-18, the nearest Watersmeet Admin Rx at 33 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Headwaters Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 10 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Headwaters Wilderness?
14 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Miller, Marshall D., Boathouse and Jollywood.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.