by Sarah Peterson
Adventure Awaits in Wisconsin’s Northwoods
Going “Up North” in Wisconsin is not only a tradition — it’s an adventure, a date with nature, and an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Though there may be some debate as to how far north “Up North” truly is — geographically, Wisconsin is split in half along Highway 10, west of Stevens Point — my advice is to follow the scenery. As the breeze becomes pure, the forest thickens with towering spruce and pines, and monarchs flutter against a wide, deep blue sky, you will know you have reached the Northwoods.
Whether you’re looking to hit some trails, sleep under the stars, hook a fish, or just take a cool dip in one of the thousands of lakes, we have plenty of ideas for your itinerary. Let’s go Up North and explore some of the counties that offer the best in camping, lodging, recreation, dining, and entertainment.
Oneida County (Minocqua, Three Lakes, Rhinelander, Woodruff)
Welcome to Oneida County, the heart of the Northwoods. Discover a wealth of fun with various resorts, cabins, restaurants, and family attractions. This county is the area’s water playground, with more than 3,200 bodies of water near Minocqua and a 20-lake chain in Three Lakes that spans more than 7,000 acres of water and 106 miles of shoreline.
Outdoor Escapes
Reserve a site at Clear Lake Campground in Woodruff. The campsites are located on the southwest corner of Clear Lake. With unbelievably crystal-clear waters, the lake boasts excellent boating and fishing, and the campground is complete with toilet buildings, showers, and clean drinking water. We also hear the chipmunks are friendly! Visit wisconsin.goingtocamp.com to make reservations.
Three Lakes Campground is a 49-acre campground right on Big Stone Lake, part of a 28-lake chain, complete with a sandy swimming beach, a boat launch, a playground, a golf course, and a marina. threelakescampground.com
Patricia Lake Campground is a top-rated destination in Minocqua with a family feel. There are many beautiful units to choose from, including RV rentals. Enjoy pickleball, fishing, swimming, kayak rentals, and campground events. patricialakecampground.com
Prime Lodging
For a dose of the Northwoods with the option of indoor plumbing, check out the cottages at Indian Shores Resort in Woodruff or a lodge room at the relaxing Holiday Acres Resort in Rhinelander.
The Waters of Minocqua is another great lodging choice featuring the largest waterpark in the Northwoods, complimentary for hotel guests.
Dining Hotspots
The Thirsty Whale is a lively dining experience located right on the water in Minocqua. They’ve got good food, cocktails, and games to play while you wait for your meal. thethirstywhaleofminocquawi.com
Ol’ Pine Isle is a hearty community-driven bar in Three Lakes with classic Wisconsin cocktails, beer-battered fish, and waterfront views. opistl.com
Hoggie Doggies in Woodruff serves Chicago-style hot dogs and ice cream treats, including puppy cones for furry family members. hoggiedoggies.com
Exciting Excursions
Walk, or fly, up in the trees with Northwoods Zipline Adventures of Minocqua, where you can join a guided canopy tour or glide across a zipline. northwoodszipline.com
Visit Wildwood Wildlife Park, where you can see animals in and outside the exhibits. Get up close while deer and goats roam free, looking for a treat. wildwoodwildlifepark.com
While you’re in town, catch a free show with the Min-Aqua Bats, the longest-running amateur water ski show across the globe. They run all summer long on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. minaquabats.org
Vilas County (Manitowish Waters, Eagle River, Boulder Junction, Lac du Flambeau)
If you’re itching to hit some trails, add Vilas County to your Up North bucket list.
Vilas County houses thousands of acres of land open to the public as well as almost 90 recreational trails that accommodate UTVs, ATVs, bikes, and hikers. Don’t forget to renew your fishing license before you go, because you can also find some of the best fishing in the country for smallmouth bass, walleye, and musky.
Outdoor Escapes
Hi-Pines Campground in Eagle River is popular with families, featuring 145 campsites, an Aqua Play Zone, a sandy beach, and lots of fun games to choose from. hipines.net
Camp Holiday Campground in Boulder Junction offers just about everything you could need, including rental campers, a game room, a playground, a sandy beach with a water trampoline and rowboats, and canoes and kayaks rentals. camp-holiday.com
Torch Lake Campground and RV Park in Conover offers a sweet spot for nature lovers with campsites just a short walk from the beach and front row for some good old Northwoods sunsets. Reserve ahead at vilascountyrec.com/torch-lake
Prime Lodging
Choose your cabin at Pitlik’s Sand Beach Resort, located just 9 miles southwest of Eagle River. There are so many nearby activities, including a classic Northwoods golf course and paved trails for biking and horseback riding. pitliksresort.com
Dillman’s Bay Resort offers an array of lodging options to fit your family’s needs. Located in Lac du Flambeau, this resort offers cabins, lake houses, townhouses, and motel rooms. dillmans.com
Those looking for a more home-away-from-home experience can rent a house with Hiller Vacation Homes. This small community of rentals sits in the quaint town of St. Germain, known well for its quality fishing. hillervacationhomes.com
Dining Hotspots
J.J.’s House of Dogs is a cute little diner with indoor and outdoor seating. As the name suggests, their menu offers a variety of dogs, burgers, pizza, and a bunch of yummy sides. houseofdogsdiner.com
It’s not just a grub stop; it’s a must-see exhibit in Manitowish Waters, complete with original bullet holes. Little Bohemia Lodge and Restaurant has a rich history featuring an FBI raid on the John Dillinger Gang. littlebohemialodge.com
Make a reservation for some fine dining at Clearview Supper Club’s nostalgic lodge overlooking Big St. Germain Lake. clearviewsupperclub.com
Exciting Excursions
Stop by Coontail Adventures or River’s Edge Outfitters to rent a bicycle that fits your style and download the Map It Vilas County App to choose from 61 different biking and hiking trails nearby. coontail.com, riversedgemw.com
Take the kids to spend an afternoon at Elmer’s Fun Park in Saint Germain for some go-karting, bumper boats, mini-golf, and batting cages. elmersfunpark.com
Wildwood Outdoor Adventures offers fun self-guided canoe and kayak trips for active paddlers, as well as tube floating for the laid-back type. wildwoodoutdooradventures.com
Forest County (Crandon, Wabeno, Laona, Mole Lake)
“The Forest of Wisconsin” has over 680,000 acres of woodlands.
With much of the county accessible in some way, whether by road or water route, there are opportunities for great hiking, fishing, biking, and hunting. Plus, an honorable mention for Crandon, the home of Crandon International Raceway.
Outdoor Escapes
Welcome to Hollywood — Holly Wood Hill Camping and RV in Crandon, that is! A family-owned campground with an onsite camp store, live music, food trucks, and an outdoor bar. hollywoodhillcampgroundrv.com
Settle in for the night with Richardson Lake Campground in Wabeno, with campsites surrounded by the beautiful greenery of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Bring your poles as Richardson Lake is known for bass, northern pike, and panfish. fs.usda.gov/r09/chequamegon-nicolet/recreation
Prime Lodging
Bunk up at Mole Lake Casino & Lodge and end your long day of outdoor adventure with a little bit of luck on the slots. molelakecasino.com
Camp 20 Cabins offers a cozy, rustic retreat with several styles to choose from. Each cabin is fully handcrafted with wood right off the Camp 20 Farm in Laona. camp20cabins.com
Wolf River Rendezvous in Crandon offers RV sites, cottages, an on-site bar, an event hall, and direct access to the Wolf River.
wolfriverrendezvous.com
Dining Hotspots
Veeser’s Wild Rose Pub & Grill, just a few minutes from Richardson Lake Campground, sits on Robert’s Lake and serves up warm comfort food, homemade soups, and delectable desserts.
Follow Veeser’s Wild Rose on Facebook.
Palubicki’s Eats & Treats is a fun, old-fashioned drive-in restaurant serving burgers, sides, and ice cream. The prices are pretty old-fashioned, too. They can’t be beat! facebook.com/palubickiseatsntreats
Friday nights in Wisconsin mean fish frys and old-fashioned cocktails. Water’s Edge Lodge has all you need for that authentic Up North dining experience. The restaurant sits right on Lake Lucerne and sometimes offers fun water shows.
Follow Water’s Edge Lodge on Facebook.
Exciting Excursions
Crandon International Raceway has provided three generations of fans with dirt-covered entertainment. The track welcomes more than 60,000 fans and is host to the world’s largest off-road races. More than 2,300 grass camping sites are offered in Camp Crandon. Check out the 57th Polaris Crandon World Championship from Sept. 4-6. crandonoffroad.com
Hop aboard the Lumberjack Steam Train in Laona for a scenic ride along the rails to the Museum of Logging History. See the original Cracker Barrel store, eat at the Choo-Choo Café, and then head back to the station. lumberjacksteamtrain.com
Rent an ATV or UTV from Northwoods PowerSports Adventures and hit the Forest County Public ATV Trail located on old logging roads. northwoodsatv-utv.com
Langlade County (Antigo, White Lake, Langlade)
Besides being known for brats and cheese, Langlade County is also known as the “County of Trails” as it manages more than 130,000 acres of forest for public recreation. Many travel here for quality ATV riding and snowmobiling. In the summer, one of the primary pastimes is heading to nearby White Lake for rafting on the Wolf River.
Outdoor Escapes
Jack Lake Campground, just north of Antigo, offers numerous options for single-unit campsites or larger group sites. Campground perks include a large beach, sand volleyball courts, grills near the lake, and a nearby disc golf course. langladeforestryandparks.com
Boulder Lake Campground rests on the shores of Boulder Lake near White Lake. It’s the largest campground in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest area and features clear water and a clean beach. Sites fill up fast — visit recreation.gov to reserve.
Prime Lodging
Enjoy all Post Lake has to offer by renting a cozy cabin at Sunset View Lakeside Resort & Tavern. Amenities include a private beach area, sand volleyball, a lakeside tavern, and yard games. sunsetviewpostlake.com
Langlade Inn of White Lake is a riverside inn, small and simple, but right in the midst of the Northwoods. N4530 Highway 55, White Lake
Dining Hotspots
Sit down for a hearty meal at the only supper club in Antigo, Swartzendruber’s, known for its prime rib, seafood, and Friday night fish fry. Located on the south side of town, just west of Hwy 45. swartzendrubers.com
Timber Haven Bar and Grill, formerly known as the Polar Country Club, lives on as a local legend. Stop in for food and drink specials every day of the week. W6962 Highway 64, Polar
Exciting Excursions
Check out Shotgun Eddy near White Lake for whitewater rafting on the Wolf River. Various trip lengths and difficulty levels are available. shotguneddy.com
Float down the Wolf River on an inflatable tube for a relaxing two- to three-hour adventure — perfect for enjoying the scenery while sharing laughs. Wolf River Tubing Co. in White Lake provides rentals for the full trip. wolfrivertubingco.com
Fishing in the Northwoods
There’s nothing quite like it. Northern Wisconsin is home to more than 2,500 lakes across six counties and thousands more streams, providing an unparalleled environment of serenity and natural beauty. The only stress you will find here is choosing where to cast your line. Whether you take to the lake in a boat, make the trek on a kayak, or decide to fish inland, the options are virtually endless.
Visit dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing to learn more about seasons, species, and dates.
Fishing Seasons
Wisconsin has many fishing seasons that determine which species you can target, so it’s important to identify which seasons you are traveling in.
General Inland Trout (inland lakes and ponds): May 2, 2026 (5 a.m.) – Oct. 15, 2026
Musky Harvest (statewide inland): May 2, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026
Northern Pike: May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027
Largemouth Bass Northern Zone Harvest: May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027
Smallmouth Bass Northern Zone Harvest: June 20, 2026 – March 7, 2027
Fly Fishing for Trout
Northern Wisconsin is overflowing with rivers and streams that are ideal for fishing. Brook trout streams are especially common in the Northwoods. The Wolf River, which begins near Forest County and runs south for 240 miles to Winnebago County, also has an abundance of brook, brown, and rainbow trout.
National Forest lakes in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest are said to provide spectacular fishing opportunities for anglers looking to hook trout, among other species. Visit dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/trout/streammaps for current maps of more than 2,900 trout streams by county.
Musky Capital of the World
Boulder Junction is the self-proclaimed Musky Capital of the World. After a long battle, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued the registered trademark in 1971 for “Boulder Junction, The Musky Capital of the World®.” The justification is clear; there are 194 lakes within just 9 miles of the town that the DNR has classified as Class-A musky lakes.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, Wisconsin’s Northwoods offers something for everyone — adventure, relaxation, good food, and a healthy connection with nature. From tranquil lakes and lush forests to charming towns with local traditions, the spirit of “Up North” lives in the memories you make there. Pack your bags, follow the call of the pines, and experience the wonder of Wisconsin’s Northwoods for yourself.
This article was originally published in the August 2026 issue of Appleton Monthly Magazine.
