Chapter NR 45

NR 45.10(2m)(a)2. 2. For northern forests:

NR 45.10(2m)(a)2.a. a. 7 days on outdoor group sites.

NR 45.10(2m)(a)2.b. b. 14 days for backpack camping areas as authorized by a special camp registration permit.

NR 45.10(2m)(a)2.c. c. 14 days for standard boat-in campsites, except for Lakeshore state park which has a 4 day maximum.

NR 45.10(2m)(a)2.d. d. 1 day for stopover boat-in campsites.

NR 45.10(2m)(am) (am) After a site is occupied, in person or by a camping unit, for the maximum period authorized, the camping unit and camping party shall be removed from the property for at least 7 days before being eligible to return.

NR 45.10(2m)(b) (b) Juvenile groups shall be accompanied by at least one adult for each 10 members of the group.

NR 45.10(2m)(c) (c) No more than 10 persons may be permitted at each designated backpack campsite in the Kettle Moraine state forest. A party may not camp for more than one consecutive night at each designated backpack campsite in the Kettle Moraine state forest.

NR 45.10(2m)(d) (d) No more than one camping party is permitted at a backpack campsite in state parks, recreation areas, other state forests offering these backpack campsites and boat-in campsites. Except as provided in par. (c), no camping party consisting of a non-family group may exceed 6 persons on a backpack campsite and no family group may exceed a family and two guests.

NR 45.10(2m)(e) (e) All backpack and boat-in campers shall pack out refuse generated while camping.

NR 45.10(2m)(f) (f) No more than one camping party may occupy a single group campsite and no camping party may exceed 15 persons on the Willow Flowage scenic waters area or the Turtle-Flambeau scenic waters area.

NR 45.10(3) (3) Standard, outdoor group, backpack, and boat in campsite reservations. The department may grant reservations for standard, outdoor group, backpack, and boat-in campsites and shall upon request provide a list of parks and forests where reservations are accepted. Reservations for standard, outdoor group, backpack, and boat-in campsites may be granted under the following conditions:

NR 45.10(3)(a) (a) Reservation applications may be accepted for camping up to 11 months before the date of occupancy. The following minimum stays shall apply:

NR 45.10(3)(a)1. 1. Standard campsites including standard boat-in campsites, 1 night except:

NR 45.10(3)(a)1.a. a. A minimum of 2 nights for camping reservations with an arrival date between May 15 and October 31 each year when the reservation is created prior to May 15 of that year.

NR 45.10(3)(a)1.b. b. On Labor Day and Memorial Day weekends, the stay shall include Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights when reserved before the day of arrival.

NR 45.10(3)(a)1.c. c. When the Fourth of July is on a Friday, the stay shall include Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights of that weekend when reserved before the day of arrival.

NR 45.10(3)(a)1.d. d. When the Fourth of July is on a Monday, the stay shall include Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights of that weekend when reserved before the day of arrival.

NR 45.10(3)(a)2. 2. Outdoor group sites: 1 day.

NR 45.10(3)(a)3. 3. Stopover boat-in campsites: 1 day.

NR 45.10(3)(a)4. 4. Backpack sites: 1 day.

NR 45.10 Note Note: Maximum stays are listed in sub. (2m).

NR 45.10(3)(b) (b) Camping nights purchased as part of a minimum stay requirement are not eligible for refund for early departure or shortened stays.

NR 45.10(3)(c) (c) Reservations may be made for all available sites until all sites have been reserved for that date.

NR 45.10(3)(d) (d) A vendor reservation fee plus full payment of camping fees shall be included with each application.

NR 45.10(3)(e) (e) The department may waive minimum stay requirements under this paragraph.

NR 45.10(4) (4) Indoor group camping and reservations. The department may grant reservations and establish minimum and maximum group sizes for indoor group camps. Upon request, the department shall provide a list of parks and forests where reservations are accepted and the minimum and maximum group sizes for indoor group camps. The department may grant reservations for indoor group camps under the following conditions:

NR 45.10(4)(a) (a) Group camp reservations for Wyalusing state park and the Black River state forest shall be accepted only for a minimum of 2 days on weekends, to include Friday and Saturday nights.

NR 45.10(4)(b) (b) Reservations may be accepted up to 11 months before the date of occupancy.

NR 45.10(4)(d) (d) Juvenile groups shall be accompanied by at least one adult for each 10 members of the group.

NR 45.10(4)(e) (e) Unless waived by the department, no group may camp for a period greater than 7 days in any 4-week period in the indoor group camp in the property of registration.

NR 45.10(5) (5) Equestrian campgrounds. Registered campers shall be accompanied by an equine or part of a camping party that is accompanied by an equine and intend to use equestrian-related amenities at a campground. A campsite may be registered by a camping party not accompanied by an equine if that camping party is camping with another camping party with equine which are being used by both camping parties. The property manager has the authority to allow any registered campers to stay in the equestrian campground if there is no other family camping available.

NR 45.10(6) (6) Cancellations and modifications. The department may allow cancellations and modifications of reservations. Cancellations and modifications may be subject to the following conditions:

NR 45.10(6)(a) (a) Reservation cancellation and modification penalties established by the department may include any of the following:

NR 45.10(6)(a)1. 1. Cancellations and modifications shall incur a transaction fee.

NR 45.10(6)(a)2. 2. Cancellation of reserved nights may result in whole or partial refund of campsite fees in accordance with department policies. Refunds may be determined based on factors such as transaction date, reservation creation date, arrival date, length of stay, and number of nights canceled.

NR 45.10(6)(a)3. 3. Transaction fees applied during reservation creation are non-refundable.

NR 45.10(6)(b) (b) After the date a campsite reservation is created, it may not be cancelled or modified more than 10 months prior to the arrival date.

NR 45.10(6)(c) (c) The department may establish additional cancellation and modification policies pertaining to reservations made for the maximum allowable period.

NR 45.10(6)(d) (d) The department may limit the number of times a party may cancel and rebook a campsite within a calendar year.

NR 45.10 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1983, No. 336, eff. 1-1-84; am. (1) (a), (2) (b), (d) and (e), (3) (a) (intro.) and 4., (4) (a) 2., r. (4) (b) 3. g., cr. (4) (b) 4. k. to m., Register, December, 1987, No. 384, eff. 1-1-88; r. and recr. (3) (a) (intro.), am. (3) (a) 1., (5) (a) (intro.), 6. and 7., Register, March, 1992, No. 435, eff. 4-1-92; am. (1) (a) and (g), (2) (a), (d), (3) (b) (intro.) and 1., r. and recr. (1) (h) and (4), cr. (1) (k), r. (5), Register, December, 1993, No. 456, eff. 1-1-94; am. (1) (a) and (k), (2) (a), (b) and (d), (4) (a) 2. and 3., (6) 2. and (c) 1., cr (1) (L) and (m), r. (2) (e), (3) (b), (4) (a) 5., (b) 4. and (c) 4., renum. (4) (c) 5. to 7. to be 4. to 6. and am. 5., Register, November, 1995, No. 479, eff. 12-1-95; am. (1) (a), (k), (L) and (4) (intro.), r. and recr. (2) (c), r. (3) (a) 3., renum. (3) (a) 4. to be (3) (a) 3., and am., Register, December, 1997, No. 504, eff. 1-1-98; cr. (2m), r. and recr. (3) and (4), am. (1) (a), (k) and (L), Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00; CR 01-011: am. (1) (k) and (4) (a), cr. (1) (n) and (2m) (f) Register April 2002 No. 556, eff. 5-1-02; CR 03-035: am. (1) (k) and (n), cr. (4) (am), Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04; CR 04-092: r. and recr. (1) and (3) (a), am. (2) (b), (c), (2m) (a), (d), (3) (intro.) and (b) Register April 2005 No. 592, eff. 8-1-05, except (1) (a) to (i), (k), and (m) to (q) are eff. 5-1-05; CR 07-026: am. (1) (m), r. and recr. (3) (a) 1. Register December 2007 No. 624, eff. 1-1-08; CR 10-042: cr. (1) (a) 6., am. (1) (m), (n), (2m) (f) Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11; CR 10-118: am. (1) (a) 5., (m) and (n), cr. (1) (a) 6. Register May 2011 No. 665, eff. 6-1-11; renum. (1) (a) 6. to be 7., under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register August 2011 No. 668; CR 16-001: am. (1) (n), cr. (1) (r), (5) Register July 2017 No. 739, eff. 8-1-17; CR 23-060: am. (1) (b) to (i), r. and recr. (1) (j), am. (1) (k), r. (1) (m), am. (1) (n), (o), r. (1) (r), cr. (1) (s), (t), am. (2) (title), (a), (b), (d), (2m) (title), (a) (intro.), cr. (2m) (a) 1. c., d., am. (2m) (a) 2. c., cr. (2m) (a) 2. d., am. (2m) (c) to (e), (3) (title), (intro.), r. and recr. (3) (a) to (e), am. (4) (a), r. (4) (am), r. and recr. (4) (b), r. (4) (c), cr. (6) Register July 2024 No. 823, eff. 8-1-24; correction in (2m) (title) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register July 2024 No. 823.

NR 45.11 NR 45.11 Boats.

NR 45.11(1) (1) No person may operate a boat within a water area marked by buoys or other approved regulatory devices as a swimming beach; or operate a boat in a restricted use area contrary to regulatory notice marked on buoys or other approved regulatory devices. This subsection does not apply in the case of emergency, or to patrol or rescue craft.

NR 45.11(2) (2) 

NR 45.11(2)(a) (a) No person may moor, anchor or leave unattended any boat or aircraft in any state park, recreation area, state natural area or at any campground or picnic area in any state forest, except in areas designated for that purpose.

NR 45.11(2)(b) (b) No boat or aircraft may be left on shore, moored or anchored overnight in the waters of any state park, state natural area, recreation area or forest recreational area except in areas designated for that purpose or on state-owned islands designated for camping.

NR 45.11(2)(c) (c) No person may remain overnight in any boat, watercraft or aircraft anchored, moored or docked at any department-controlled dock, wharf, boat landing or marina, or other mooring area except at the marina at High Cliff state park, the marina at Lakeshore state park, at the sand delta at Kinnickinnic state park, at Eagle island (Horseshoe island) and Nicolet bay (Shanty bay) in the Peninsula state park, at the campground in Merrick state park, and at Rock Island state park.

NR 45.11(3) (3) No person may leave any boat or watercraft on any state property contrary to posted notice except as provided in s. NR 45.11 (2) (a) and (b).

NR 45.11(4) (4) No person may operate a motorboat of any kind in any manner on the following specified waters, except as provided in sub. (5):

NR 45.11(4)(a) (a) Lakes of the Dalles in Interstate park, section 31, T34N, R18W, and section 36, T34N, R19W, town of St. Croix Falls, Polk county.

NR 45.11(4)(aa) (aa) Bass lake, section 18, T38N, R2W, town of Flambeau, Price county.

NR 45.11(4)(b) (b) Interfalls lake in Pattison state park, sections 21, 22, 27 and 28, T47N, R14W, town of Superior, Douglas county.

NR 45.11(4)(bm) (bm) All waters of the Meadow Valley wildlife area in Jackson, Juneau and Monroe counties.

NR 45.11(4)(d) (d) The following waters in the Northern Highland and American Legion state forests:

NR 45.11(4)(d)1. 1. Crystal lake, sections 27 and 28, T41N, R7E, towns of Plum Lake and Boulder Junction, Vilas county.

NR 45.11(4)(d)2. 2. Wildwood lake, section 33, T41N, R7E, town of Boulder Junction, Vilas county.

NR 45.11(4)(d)3. 3. Firefly lake, sections 28 and 33, T41N, R7E, town of Boulder Junction, Vilas county.

NR 45.11(4)(d)4. 4. Little John, Jr. lake, sections 28 and 29, T41N, R7E, town of Boulder Junction, Vilas county.

NR 45.11(4)(d)5. 5. Little Bass lake, sections 15, 16, 21 and 22, T39N, R7E, town of Woodruff, Oneida county.

NR 45.11(4)(d)6. 6. Maple lake, sections 3 and 10, T42N, R6E, town of Boulder Junction, Vilas county.

NR 45.11(4)(d)7. 7. Nichols lake, section 24, T42N, R6E, town of Boulder Junction, Vilas county.

NR 45.11(4)(d)8. 8. Alva lake, sections 27 and 28, T42N, R8E, town of Plum Lake, Vilas county.

NR 45.11(4)(d)9. 9. Salsick lake, sections 11, 12, 13 and 14, T41N, R8E, town of Plum Lake, Vilas county.

NR 45.11(4)(d)11. 11. Allequash springs, section 14, T41N, R7E, town of Plum Lake, Vilas county.

NR 45.11(4)(d)12. 12. Stevenson springs, sections 3 and 4, T41N, R7E, towns of Plum Lake and Boulder Junction, Vilas county.

NR 45.11(4)(d)13. 13. Bear springs, sections 7 and 18, T41N, R8E, town of Plum Lake, Vilas county.

NR 45.11(4)(dm) (dm) All waters of the Wood county public hunting grounds in Wood county.

NR 45.11(4)(e) (e) All waters in Spring Creek wildlife area, Price county.

NR 45.11(4)(fm) (fm) All waters in Pershing wildlife area, Taylor county.

NR 45.11(4)(gm) (gm) All waters in Muddy Creek wildlife area, Dunn county.

NR 45.11(4)(i) (i) All state-owned lands and waters within the boundaries of the Germania wildlife area, Marquette county.

NR 45.11(4)(k) (k) On all ditches, streams and flowages, except the Little Eau Pleine river, within the boundaries of the Mead wildlife area, in the counties of Marathon, Portage and Wood.

NR 45.11(4)(km) (km) Mud lake in the Goose Lake wildlife area, section 2, T7N, R12E, Dane county.

NR 45.11(4)(L) (L) On the waters of MacKenzie lake in sections 11, 12, 13 and 14, T36N, R16W, town of Bone Lake, Polk county.

NR 45.11(4)(Lm) (Lm) All waters of the Sandhill wildlife area in Wood county.

NR 45.11(4)(m) (m) All waters in Theresa Marsh wildlife area, Dodge and Washington counties during the open season on migratory waterfowl.

NR 45.11(4)(mm) (mm) All waters in Gov. Tommy G. Thompson Centennial state park, sections 13-15, 17, 22-24, T33N, R18E, town of Stephenson, Marinette county.

NR 45.11(4)(n) (n) All waters in Eldorado wildlife area, Fond du Lac county.

NR 45.11(4)(p) (p) All waters in Collins Marsh wildlife area, Manitowoc county.

NR 45.11(4)(q) (q) On the waters of Little Falls lake in Willow River state park in sections 4, 8 and 9, T29N, R19W, town of St. Joseph, and sections 8 and 9, T29N, R19W, town of Hudson, St. Croix county.

NR 45.11(4)(s) (s) All waters of the Grand River wildlife area in Green Lake and Marquette counties.

NR 45.11(4)(u) (u) All waters of the McMillan Marsh wildlife area in Marathon county.

NR 45.11(4)(w) (w) On all the waters of Jersey Valley lake, section 13, T14N, R4W, town of Christiana, Vernon county.

NR 45.11(4)(x) (x) On all the waters of Sidie Hollow lake, section 10, T12N, R5W, town of Franklin, Vernon county.

NR 45.11(4)(y) (y) All waters within the boundaries of the Powell Marsh wildlife area in the counties of Iron and Vilas, except Little Trout, Ike Walton and Sherman lakes.

NR 45.11(4)(z) (z) All waters in the Augusta wildlife area in Eau Claire county.

NR 45.11(4)(zb) (zb) On Straight Lake or Rainbow Lake in Straight Lake state park.

NR 45.11(4)(zc) (zc) Puckett’s Pond, Harrington Beach state park, Section 24, T12N, R22E, NE 1/4, SW 1/4, Town of Belgium, Ozaukee County.

NR 45.11(5) (5) Any person possessing a physician’s statement indicating that the person is not capable of rowing or paddling a boat or canoe may operate a battery-operated electric motor on waters specified in sub. (4), at a slow-no-wake speed and in no case may this speed exceed 5 miles per hour.