Lincoln County: Rivers, Forests and Trails
Accommodation in Lincoln County
Lincoln County combines the landscape of the Wisconsin River with lakes, forests, trails and unusual historic sites. Those planning a trip with nature experiences, outdoor activity and local history will find a variety of options for active and more leisurely days. When choosing a vacation rental or vacation home, it is therefore worth first organizing the experiences you want: Should the focus be on hiking and wildlife observation, water activities, or museums and bridges?
Rivers, Lakes and Varied Trails
Council Grounds State Park is a distinctive starting point on the Wisconsin River, near the site of former Native American camps. A boat launch provides access to Lake Alexander and the Wisconsin River. The park also has an accessible fishing pier. The River Bend Trail complements this river experience with five miles of paved trails running from the east side of Merrill to Council Grounds State Park. The trail is suitable for walking, running and cycling and accommodates strollers, wheelchairs and pets.
Those who want to combine longer distances with several outdoor activities will find more than 20 miles of marked trails in the Underdown Recreation Area. Activities available there include horseback riding, hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. Ten campsites for vehicles with trailers are available; the area is also considered a popular destination for horseback riders. For a shorter hike, the Otter Lake Nature Trail is a good option: The 1.3-mile loop leads through a scenic deciduous forest. Otter Lake Recreation Area also has a beach, picnic area, boat launch and nature trails for day use. Only nonmotorized boats are permitted on Otter Lake.
Routes for Different Travel Interests
For planning hiking days, it is useful to know that no trail pass is required for the designated Ice Age Trail or other trails on Lincoln County properties. As part of the Northwoods Navigators, hikers can follow the Ice Age Trail between Harrison Hills and Timberland Wilderness, including the connecting trails, and visit Merrill. Those traveling by ATV will find a 47.8-mile, two-way trail network through heavily forested, hilly terrain with numerous lakes and marshes on the Harrison Hills ATV Trail. Three parking areas provide direct access to the trail network.
Wildlife observation also takes different forms in Lincoln County. New Wood State Wildlife Area encompasses 1,600 acres of cedar swamp and wooded uplands. It is suitable for hiking and birdwatching; the New Wood River attracts diverse wildlife and numerous bird species there. Prairie Dells Scenic Area, meanwhile, encompasses a river gorge with large boulders and picturesque rock outcrops along the riverbanks. Three observation platforms open up the scenery, one of which is accessible. A diverse range of wildlife can also be observed there.
Bridges, Museums and Local History
Among the notable structures is the Three Stone Arch Bridge over the Prairie River. It is the only surviving three-arch stone bridge in Wisconsin and was built in 1904 as a National Historic Landmark. Tomahawk’s Trestle Bridge was built in 1894 by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. It enables cyclists and pedestrians to use the Hiawatha Trail northward across the Wisconsin River from SARA Park. The Hiawatha Trail runs 6.6 miles north to Heafford Junction and the border between Lincoln and Oneida County. There it connects with the 18-mile Bearskin State Park Trail, which is connected to Minocqua.
Several different themes are available for a cultural day trip. The Log Cabin Museum in Tomahawk presents exhibits on agriculture, logging and the history of the local railway. Tomahawk’s First School Museum has permanent exhibits featuring a kitchen from around 1900, military memorabilia from veterans, a one-room schoolhouse and objects from early businesses. The Merrill Historical Museum addresses the period when Merrill was called Jenny Bull Falls, as well as the city’s changes. The Lincoln County Courthouse is a Beaux-Arts-style building; its formal dedication took place on September 23, 1903.
Water Experiences and the Right Base
Families planning a day by the water can put SARA Park on their list. The park has a family-friendly beach and a public boat launch on the Wisconsin River. Camp New Wood County Park is located 10 miles northwest of Merrill on the Wisconsin River along State Highway 107. It occupies the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp that was active in the 1930s and has a boat launch on the Wisconsin River as well as hiking trails.
Your choice of accommodation can therefore be guided by your preferred pace of travel: Several short excursions can be divided thematically between water, trails and history, while longer tours on the Hiawatha Trail, in the Underdown Recreation Area or on the Harrison Hills ATV Trail establish a clear focus. For further location planning, you can also include Tomahawk and Merrill in your plans.
For the broader travel overview: Wisconsin.
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