Chippewa Moraine Backcountry Sites Permit
Chippewa Moraine SRA (WI) · Wisconsin
Three backcountry sites along the Ice Age Trail.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Chippewa Moraine were gone within 5 minutes.
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
No permit needed to start
Chippewa Moraine Quick Facts
Chippewa Moraine Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Chippewa Moraine in Chippewa Moraine SRA (WI), Wisconsin requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Chippewa Moraine is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- Cancelled Chippewa Moraine permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Permit Details
What to Expect
Highlights
- •DNR: "Three outpost campsites provide a peaceful experience for those who enjoy primitive camping."
- •They are not equivalent. DNR: "Two of the sites are within a half-mile of the interpretive center. The third campsite is a canoe-in site about 5 miles away from the park headquarters."
- •"Each site has a fire ring and an open-air toilet." DNR makes no statement about water at the sites either way — plan to carry it.
- •The Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs through the property and connects the interpretive centre, the loop trails and all three campsites.
- •"The trails are for foot travel only and motorized vehicles, horses or mountain bikes are not allowed in the Chippewa Moraine."
Best Time to Visit
DNR publishes no season for the outpost sites and no seasonal recommendation for the property; it is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, and DNR lists hiking, snowshoeing, backpack camping, fishing and bird watching as what people come for. Interpretive centre hours vary.
Hazards & Considerations
- !The canoe-in site is about five miles out and DNR names no water source on the way.
- !Ice, if you are here in winter. DNR: "Ice fishing is available. Staff members do not monitor ice conditions on the area lakes."
- !Wisconsin state park water systems are weather-dependent and may be off from roughly Oct. 1 through May 15.
How to Get This Permit
Create a Wisconsin DNR (GoingToCamp) account
Sign up at Wisconsin DNR (GoingToCamp) if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
About This Permit
Wisconsin DNR: "Situated along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, the Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area offers unspoiled beauty with kettle lakes and many glacial features. Hiking, snowshoeing, backpack camping, fishing and bird watching are popular activities. The David R. Obey Ice Age Interpretive Center houses first-class glacial, cultural and natural history displays." (dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/chipmoraine, read 2026-08-09.)
The Experience
Why It Matters
The Chippewa Moraine is a piece of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve, and the trail through it follows the edge of the last continental glacier in Wisconsin. DNR: "Hike or snowshoe the trails to see glacial kettle lakes, hummocks, ice-walled lake plains and wildlife." Three sites means the whole 23-mile trail network has three legal places to sleep.
The Feeling
Kettle lakes in every hollow and hummocks between them, on foot only — no bikes, no horses, no engines. Two of the sites are close enough to walk in after work; the third takes a boat and most of an afternoon.
Rules & Regulations
- •"Camping reservations are required and can be made for the same day of your arrival or up to 11 months in advance of your planned date of occupancy. Campers must make a reservation before setting up on any site."
- •Check-in is 3 p.m., checkout is 1 p.m.
- •No more than 14 days of camping in any 21 days.
- •The property is closed to non-campers between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- •Firewood must be certified or come from within 10 miles.
- •Fires in the fire ring only; carry out all rubbish.
- •Pets on a leash 8 feet or shorter and under control at all times near the visitor centre.
- •Vehicle admission stickers are required at the North and South Shattuck boat landings and at the County Highway M trailhead.
- •Certain federal entrance passes are honoured here — the property is part of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve — but DNR is explicit that "camping fees are not affected."
Gear Checklist
Required
- Water for the stay; DNR publishes no supply at the sites
- A boat for the third site, which is canoe-in about 5 miles from headquarters
- Rubbish bags
Recommended
- Snowshoes in winter — DNR lists snowshoeing as a main activity here
- A map of the Ice Age Trail segment; 23 miles of it are marked across the property
Plan Your Trip
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Chippewa Moraine
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttlesGuide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
Browse all guidesSome links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Key Landmarks
David R. Obey Ice Age Interpretive Center
On County Highway M, 7 miles east of New Auburn. DNR: it "houses first-class glacial, cultural and natural history displays." Two of the three campsites are within half a mile of it.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
23 miles of well-marked trail across the property. DNR: "The entire trail is over 1,000 miles long and follows the edge of the last continental glacier in Wisconsin."
Adam Cahow Trail
A 4.7-mile loop, the longest of the property's three mapped loops.
Shattuck, Jeanstow and Horseshoe lakes
Among the kettle lakes DNR names for boating, canoeing and kayaking; the canoe-in campsite is out among them.
Chippewa Moraine FAQ
How do I get a Chippewa Moraine permit?
Chippewa Moraine permits use a reservation system. PermitSnag sends lottery open, deadline, and results reminders; you can also enable cancellation alerts if spots open later.
When is the best time to visit Chippewa Moraine?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Chippewa Moraine permit?
This permit has a demand score of 7/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and using PermitSnag's cancellation alerts.
What if I can't get a Chippewa Moraine permit?
Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Chippewa Moraine.
Trip Reports
Write ReportCan't Get a Chippewa Moraine Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Kettle Moraine North Backpack Sites
Similar ExperienceSix roofed shelters on another 31 miles of the Ice Age Trail, across the state.
Tradeoffs
A roof, a pit toilet and water within a short distance of each site — but a four-hour drive from here.
Chippewa Flowage Boat-In Campsites
Same AreaEleven island sites an hour north, if the canoe-in site is what you were after.
Tradeoffs
Bigger water and more choice, but a May 1 to Nov. 30 reservation season and DNR names bears that swim to the islands.
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Chippewa Moraine trip
A small favor
One tick helps us more than you’d think
Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Takes less than a minute.