Chequamegon has two wildernesses—the Rainbow Lake and Porcupine Lake Wilderness Areas. Outside the forest, Nicolet National Forest and Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest lie in Wisconsin to the east. Superior National Forest and some state forests are just over the eastern border in Minnesota. Ottawa National Forest is in Michigan to the east of Chequamegon.

The forest is a four-and-a-half-hour drive from St. Paul, Minnesota, and some parts of the forest are a four-hour ride from Green Bay.