Discover Oneida County

Oneida County is located in Wisconsin’s Northwoods and combines vast forests, numerous lakes and the region’s logging tradition. More than 60 inches of snow fall here on average each year; the winters are considered suitable for outdoor activities. This gives the county a variety of travel experiences: days on the water, quiet forest landscapes, cultural discoveries and seasonal activities can all be incorporated into your personal plans.

Lakes, Rivers and Special Natural Areas

The scale of the waterways is remarkable: Oneida County has 68,096 acres of open water, 406 named lakes and 830 miles of streams and rivers. Of these, 192 miles are classified as trout waters.

The Willow Flowage covers 6,392 acres and is accessible via public boat launches. Seven launches managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provide access for motorboats, canoes and kayaks. The Tomahawk River is also accessible to canoes and kayaks, including via Willow Dam Road, Running Bear Lane, Swamp Lake Road, Prairie Lake Road and Peaceful Lane.

On the southern shore of the Pelican River, the Holmboe Conifer Forest showcases various old-growth northern forest types on very steep terrain shaped by moraines. The area was designated a State Natural Area in 1983. Access is via Boyce Drive; the parking area is south of the bridge over the Pelican River, and trail maps are available at the property sign.

Additional natural landscapes complement this profile: Big Swamp encompasses extensive muskeg areas, open bog, nutrient-poor fens and sedge meadows. Enterprise Hemlocks features a mature mesic forest dominated by eastern hemlocks; four trees there have been classified as more than 200 years old. Gobler Lake encompasses a 20-acre bog lake with a muddy bottom and a geologically significant esker. Birdlife includes rare breeding birds such as Black-and-white, Canada and Connecticut warblers, as well as Lincoln’s sparrows.

Active Days and Quiet Discoveries

Lower Tomahawk River Pines preserves mature stands of a dry to mesic pine forest and is accessible by boat. Canoeists can put in where the Bearskin Trail meets County Highway L and paddle approximately 3 miles downstream. The Bearskin State Trail itself is a 21.5-mile recreational corridor surfaced with compacted granite between Minocqua and Tomahawk. As a former railroad corridor, it offers another way to experience Wisconsin’s Northwoods.

The Oneida County Forestry Department maintains county parks, picnic areas, swimming beaches, boat launches, fishing bridges and scientific areas. Depending on your travel plans, you can therefore combine days on the water, nature observation, a paddling trip or a visit to a forest area. For families with different interests, it is helpful to decide before booking a vacation rental or vacation home whether the focus should be more on water, forests, culture or a seasonal activity.

Culture and Orientation for Travel Planning

Pioneer Park is home to the Rhinelander Railroad Museum, with an authentic Soo Line depot and a model railway layout depicting Rhinelander in the 1950s. This complements the landscape experiences with an insight into the region’s railroad history. For arrival by air, Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport (RHI) serves a large area encompassing northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

When choosing your accommodation, you can use your planned experiences as a starting point: water enthusiasts can consider their preferred boat launches or river sections, nature lovers can orient themselves toward forest, bog and birdwatching areas, and those interested in culture can include the museum in their travel plans. Specific distances or driving times between your accommodation and excursion destinations should be checked individually in each case.

Additional Destinations for Orientation

For your further planning, you can also visit Minocqua, Rhinelander, Three Lakes and Hazelhurst. Additional destinations for orientation include Monroe, Crawford County, Shawano County and St. Croix County.

For the higher-level travel overview: Wisconsin.