Manito Lake Conservation Area
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Manito Lake Conservation Area is a 1,618-acre nature preserve located in the state of Wisconsin.
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Summary
The area is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and offers visitors a variety of outdoor activities.
One of the main reasons to visit Manito Lake Conservation Area is to experience the beauty of nature. The area has several hiking trails that wind through forests, wetlands, and prairies. Visitors can also go fishing, boating, or wildlife viewing on the lake.
One of the most popular points of interest in the area is the Manito Artisan Well. This well has been flowing for over 100 years and is believed to have healing properties. Visitors can fill up their water bottles with the clear, cold water and try it for themselves.
Another interesting fact about Manito Lake Conservation Area is that it is home to several rare and endangered species. The area is known for its diverse plant life, including several orchid species.
The best time to visit Manito Lake Conservation Area depends on what activities you are interested in. Spring and summer are good times for hiking, boating, and wildlife viewing. Fall is a great time to see the changing colors of the leaves. Winter offers opportunities for ice fishing and snowshoeing.
Overall, Manito Lake Conservation Area is a beautiful nature preserve with plenty of outdoor activities and interesting points of interest.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Tipton City Park
Lamine River Conservation Area
Hite Prairie Conservation Area