Chippewa Flowage

The Chippewa Flowage, a 15,300-acre impoundment, is located in central Sawyer County, 15 miles east of Hayward.

First filled in 1924, the "Big Chip" was created as a means to augment downstream water flow for power generation and flood control. Dotted with approximately 200 undeveloped islands, it is Wisconsin's third-largest lake and boasts a highly irregular, wooded, and generally undeveloped 233-mile shoreline. Although Xcel Energy still owns and maintains the dam which creates the Chippewa Flowage, the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa operates an electrical power generation facility at the dam on the Chippewa River near Winter, Wisconsin.

For decades, the Flowage has been highly regarded throughout the Midwest for its spectacular natural scenery and high-quality recreation, especially fishing. Historically, the Chippewa Flowage has been considered a premier muskellunge lake and earned the reputation as the waters that produced the world record musky. It also provides some of the finest walleye fishing in Wisconsin.

The Flowage offers a fishing experience generally found only on lakes farther north in Minnesota or Canada. Its seemingly endless maze of islands, points, bays, floating bogs and channels offers visitors numerous opportunities for exploration, discovery and a feeling of wildness within the northern forest landscape. Camping at one of the primitive island campsites is an opportunity not common in Wisconsin. Visitors rate the natural scenery, undeveloped "wild" character, "uncrowded" atmosphere and the fine fishing as the Flowage's outstanding attributes.

The local topography is a mosaic of rolling hills, valleys, streams, and bogs that reflect the glacial origin of the landscape. The Flowage's shorelands are generally forested with a mixture of aspen, birch, pine, northern hardwoods, and oak. Mature aspen forests predominate but in many places longer-lived hardwoods and conifers are gradually replacing them. Almost all birds and animals that are indigenous to northern Wisconsin are found within the area and include bald eagle, osprey, and loon. Wildlife viewing opportunities enhance the attractiveness of the Flowage to visitors.

Maps and Directions

The Chippewa Flowage is located in central Sawyer County in northwestern Wisconsin. Access from the south is via either State Highway 27 and 70 and Sawyer County Highway CC or from the north via Sawyer County Highway B and CC. Access points are off County Highway CC in the central portion of the property, County Highway B on the north, or via County Highway G and Dam Road on the southeast side. The property office is located on Highway 27 at the DNR Service Center in Hayward.

• Chippewa Flowage Map [PDF 3.8MB]
• Managed Lands Interactive Web Mapping

Contacts

For questions and comments about the Chippewa Flowage contact:

Property Manager
Department of Natural Resources
10220 State Road 27
Hayward WI 54843
(715) 634-2688

Chequamagon/Nicolet National Forest [exit DNR]
USDA Forest Service
604 Nyman Ave
Hayward WI 54843
(715) 634-4821

Conservation Department
Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe [exit DNR]
13394 W Trepania Road
Hayward WI 54843
(715) 634-0102

More Information

Additional information about the Chippewa Flowage may be obtained from the following:

Publications

The information contained in the following publications is provided in the web site links above under "Features and Activities." If you need a printed copy please contact the property manager listed above.

The Chippewa Flowage [PDF 10MB]
(DNR PUB-LF-019 2009)

Chippewa Flowage Joint Agency Management Plan [PDF 821KB]
(DNR PUB-LF-028 2001)