Cedar Lake Access
- 0.5 mi
- round trip
- 122 ft
- climb
- 1,610 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Cedar Lake Access open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. It doesn't name Cedar Lake Access, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Trail work and picnic area improvements at Morgan Falls/St. Peter's Dome Recreation Area this fall
Agency closure covering Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest · USFS · Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Forest Order 09-13-25-02 General Occupancy and Use Restrictions
Agency closure covering Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest · Order 09-13-25-02 · USFS · Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Cedar Lake Access is a short, easy out-and-back hike in the Medford-Park Falls Ranger District of Wisconsin's Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The route is about 0.9 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 11 feet, so it's a gentle walk that fits easily into a day spent exploring the surrounding lakes and trails. The trail rises from a low point of 1,587 feet to a high of 1,610 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 0.36 miles in, where the grade reaches 6 percent. The climb is minimal, and the route is rated easy. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Rest Lake weather station show July highs around 78°F with lows near 54°F, while winter brings highs in the 20s and regular snow days from December through February. Emily Lake campground sits about 0.7 miles away, and Tucker Lake Trail is about 3 miles off. Twin Lakes campground and the Tucker Lake Portage are both roughly 3.7 miles away.
- Emily LakeCamping0.7 mi
- Tucker Lake TrailHiking3 mi
- Round Lake Loop 173Hiking3.5 mi
- Twin LakesCamping3.7 mi
Tucker Lake PortageHikingPhoto: usfs_Eastern_Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)3.7 mi
Twin Lakes (wi)CampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain3.7 mi- Round Lake Loop IHiking3.8 mi
- Flambeau LakeLake fishing4 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Tucker Lake PortageHiking · ~6 min drivePhoto: usfs_Eastern_Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Round Lake Loop IHiking · ~6 min drive
- River SaddleHiking · ~15 min drive
- Round Lake Loop CHiking · ~7 min drivePhoto: usfs_Eastern_Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Round Lake Loop DHiking · ~7 min drive
- Round Lake Loop 173Hiking · ~6 min drive
- Round Lake Loop FHiking · ~8 min drive
- Round Lake Loop AHiking · ~7 min drive
- Schmuland HwtHiking · ~26 min drive
- Round Lake Loop EHiking · ~7 min drive
Best time to visit Cedar Lake Access
Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
20° / 0°
10 wet · 8 snow
Feb
25° / 3°
8 wet · 6 snow
Mar
37° / 13°
8 wet · 5 snow
Apr
50° / 27°
9 wet · 2 snow
May
65° / 41°
11 wet
Jun
74° / 51°
11 wet
Jul
78° / 54°
11 wet
Aug
76° / 53°
10 wet
Sep
67° / 45°
11 wet
Oct
53° / 33°
12 wet · 1 snow
Nov
37° / 21°
10 wet · 5 snow
Dec
25° / 9°
10 wet · 8 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rest Lake, WI, 12 mi away at 1,612 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
