Blackjack Springs Wilderness

Blackjack Springs Wilderness is a protected area in Vilas County comprising forests, wetlands, and open water features spread across roughly 5,800 acres. The landscape centers on four major springs feeding Blackjack Creek and includes Whispering Lake as a focal water body.

The area received protection in 1978 under the Wisconsin Wilderness Act, marking its transition from working forest to preserved land. This designation emerged from broader conservation efforts during the late 20th century to protect natural regions in the upper Midwest.

The land holds traces of late 19th-century logging operations, with remnants of old roads and railroad tracks visible throughout the protected zone.

Access is on foot only, using designated trails that guide visitors through the landscape. Advance permits are required for camping, and visitors should plan for primitive conditions without developed infrastructure.

The terrain displays glacial features including moraines and lakes carved by ice sheets roughly 10,000 years ago. This geological legacy makes the land a window into how the region looked during and after the last ice age.

Location: Vilas County

Part of: Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

GPS coordinates: 45.97560,-89.08780

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:40