Getting Around Lake Link and the Wisconsin Driftless Trail Network
If you are trying to navigate the Lake Link area of north central Wisconsin, you are dealing with a mix of sand barrens, pine ridges, and old logging roads that most mapping apps handle poorly. I spent a weekend last October trying to get from the town of Tomahawk out toward the Link Lake trail corridor, and my phone lost signal before I even passed the gravel service road. That is normal here. The reason most people get confused about Lake Link is that the area does not sit on a single coordinated trail system like a state park would. It is a patchwork of private timberland, DNR managed sections, and county maintenance roads. Google Maps will tell you to drive down a logged road that becomes impassable after rain. Garmin or handheld GPS units with the Topo maps loaded will show you trails that have been overgrown since 2019. I learned this the hard way when I followed a dashed blue line on my GPS into a private property sign and a locked gate near the northern shore of Link Lake. The workaround is simple but takes effort upfront. Download the Wisconsin DNR recreational map for Lincoln County before you leave home. Print the relevant section. Keep a paper copy in the truck. You will need it.
Unraveling The Mystique Of Lake Link Wisconsin A Glimpse Into Its Unspoiled Natural Beauty
The thing about Link Lake is that nobody really markets it, and that is exactly why the water quality is still decent compared to the heavily fished lakes nearby. It sits at about 1,800 feet elevation, which means the shoreline is rugged with rocky shoals and the access points are limited. Most of the surrounding land is held by paper companies, so there is no development pressure like you see around Minocqua or Wausau. When I first came here to fish, I expected to find a typical northern Wisconsin walleye lake with a marina and a bait shop. Instead I found maybe six usable boat accesses, none of them maintained, and the water was clear enough to see down three feet from the rocky shore. The fish were there, just smaller and slower to bite because the lake never gets stocked at the volume of the commercial lakes.
What You Actually Need to Know Before Going
Access: There is no public campground on Link Lake itself. The closest established public land is the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest area to the north, about fifteen minutes up Highway 45. If you want to be close, there are a few private rentals listed on the usual platforms, but they fill up fast in July and August. Go earlier in the season if you can, or commit weeks ahead. Trails and hiking: The terrain around Link Lake is part of the larger Northwoods drumlin field, which means the ground is uneven, sometimes wet even in late summer, and covered in pine duff that hides root systems. Wear boots with solid tread. Sneakers will slide on the wet granite boulders near the waterline. I have seen two people twist ankles on that same stretch near the southeast cove in a single weekend. Fishing regulations: Link Lake is classified as a trout lake by the DNR, which means cold-water species protection rules apply. Check the current Wisconsin fishing regulations booklet for the exact slot limits before you pack gear. The lake supports smallmouth bass, northern pike, and panfish, but the walleye population is thin and the rules change occasionally depending on survey results. I tried fishing for walleye here once and spent three hours catching nothing until I moved to a nearby connected water body where the regulation allowed it.
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The Real Problem Nobody Talks About
The worst part about visiting Link Lake is the lack of cell coverage combined with the fact that most people approach it unprepared. I have watched at least four separate groups try to drive ATVs or UTVs down trails that are officially closed due to wet ground and erosion. The DNR posts the closures, but they are easy to miss if you are only looking at a phone screen. My advice, written after watching this happen repeatedly: register your vehicle if you plan off-road travel, stay on established roads during dry periods, and do not assume a road on a GPS map is open. I once followed a private logging road that a friend said was accessible and got stuck in mud for two hours waiting for a tow. The tow company charged $180 because I was on restricted land and they had to get special permission to enter. That mistake cost me more than a better map would have prevented.
What Makes This Area Different
Most visitors to northern Wisconsin end up at places like Lake Wissota or Lake Menomin because they are easy to find and fully serviced. Link Lake sits off that main circuit. The forests here are older growth in places, with white pine and red oak mix that you do not see around the heavily logged areas. The wildlife is ordinary deer, moose, and occasional black bear, nothing unusual, but the bear activity is real enough that you should store food properly if you are camping nearby. The lake itself is small, maybe four hundred acres, and fairly deep for its size. That depth stabilizes the temperature, which is why the water stays clear. You will not find algal blooms here the way you do on the shallower agricultural runoff lakes to the south. If you bring a kayak, launch from the rocky shore near the middle of the west side and paddle clockwise. You will pass three small coves and a couple of submerged rocky outcrops that hold nice structure for fish.
Bottom Line
Link Lake is not a destination if you want amenities. It is a place to go if you want to be somewhere most other tourists do not find. The navigation is harder than it looks. The roads are questionable. The regulations change. Bring paper maps, check DNR alerts, respect private property signs, and do not expect a well-trodden experience. People who come here knowing what they are getting usually leave satisfied. People who treat it like a casual weekend stop often end up frustrated or lost.
