Horseshoe Lake
Horseshoe Lake Trail is a 9.6-mile trail in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Wisconsin. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to hiking.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 46.6457° N, 91.2138° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 46.6457° N, 91.2138° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start.
The trail
| Length | 9.6 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| Trail numbers | 525 |
| Forest | Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (unit 0913) |
| States | Wisconsin |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed 05/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Trailheads
The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record. The forest's recreation pages list the trailheads it does publish.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx-West Church Windrows
21 mi from the trail midpoint · 81 acres
- WildfireRedhouse
38 mi from the trail midpoint · 22 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Guidebooks for Wisconsin
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Explorer's Guide 50 Hikes on and Around the North Country Trail - Michigan and WisconsinThomas Funke, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Horseshoe Lake Trail?
The Forest Service records 9.6 miles under this name in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, the sum of 1 segment.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Horseshoe Lake Trail?
Hiking is allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Horseshoe Lake Trail start?
The line begins at 46.6457° N, 91.2138° W and ends at 46.6457° N, 91.2138° W. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Horseshoe Lake Trail in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Horseshoe Lake Trail?
Birch Grove (4.9 mi) is within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists it with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Horseshoe Lake Trail?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Horseshoe Lake Trail?
The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Horseshoe Lake Trail?
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Forest Service unit 0913. The trail is in Wisconsin.
Is there a fire near the Horseshoe Lake Trail?
The interagency feed shows 2 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx-West Church Windrows at 21 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 1 segment named Horseshoe Lake in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0913. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.