Portage County: Discover Nature, Trails and Culture
Accommodation in Portage County
Portage County combines expansive nature experiences with regional history, museums and distinctive places for shared discoveries. Here, you can choose trails through wetlands, explore lakes and rivers, learn about historic buildings or focus your stay on culture and science. When searching for a holiday rental or vacation home, the key question is therefore which combination of nature, activity, water and culture should shape your holiday.
Trails through natural areas and open landscapes
Schmeeckle Reserve offers almost five miles of trails, including extensive boardwalks over wetlands. In daylight, from sunrise to dusk, the trails can be used for hiking, running, leisurely cycling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. This allows a stay to be shaped differently depending on the season and your preferred pace, without having to commit to just one activity.
A longer option is the 28-mile Tomorrow River State Trail, which was created on an abandoned railway line. It begins in the Village of Plover in Portage County and ends in the Village of Manawa in Waupaca County. The section in Portage County has a separate 12-mile equestrian trail alongside the limestone trail. In spring, summer and fall, the trail is open to cyclists, hikers, joggers and horseback riders. Those planning a longer route can make this trail a central focus of their trip.
The Green Circle Trail also shapes the character of the area: it is connected to more than 45 miles of additional trails, and more than 80 percent run through secluded parks and natural areas. There are also various protected areas to choose from for wildlife observation in open landscapes. Buena Vista Wildlife Area covers 12,700 acres in southwestern Portage County and offers numerous birdwatching opportunities year-round. In the northwest lies Paul J. Olson Wildlife Area, with a peatland complex, a black spruce and tamarack swamp, and an open bog. There, you can look out for prairie chickens and other grassland birds.
Lakes, rivers and days by the water
Several parks offer different perspectives on the water. Lake Emily Park borders 96-acre Lake Emily and features a boat ramp, a nature trail and a swimming beach. Jordan Park is home to 85-acre Jordan Pond and the Plover River, which flows through the park. A nature center, a nature trail and a swimming beach complement the facilities. DuBay Park borders 600-acre Lake DuBay; there, you have access to fishing, boating, water skiing and swimming.
History, art and regional identity
Heritage Park contains 11 historic buildings that were relocated there from various parts of Portage County. Immersive exhibits provide further insight into the region’s past. Rising Star Mill was built in 1868 and is one of the last surviving grist mills of its kind in Wisconsin. The Beth Israel Synagogue Museum presents the history of Stevens Point’s once-thriving Jewish community.
For outdoor art, Stevens Point Sculpture Park features more than 30 sculptures across 20 acres along a recreational trail. The park is an accessible outdoor venue for exhibitions on environmental art, activities and educational programs. Other cultural attractions include the Wisconsin Korean War Veterans Memorial on an island in Lake Pacawa and historic Mathias Mitchell Public Square, home to the longest-running farmers’ market in the state of Wisconsin. Stevens Point Brewery has operated continuously from 1857 to the present day.
Discoveries for children and adults
Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum is designed for children and their adult companions, with its STEM Lab. There, visitors can explore various STEM topics together. The Wild Wisconsin exhibit allows children to discover bird nests and learn about animal habitats. At Community Cove, they learn more about roles, places and people in a vibrant community through role-playing and imaginative exploration. Olson Museum of Natural History offers monthly programs for children and families and displays authentic fossils as well as replicas from the Paleozoic through the Holocene.
Choose the right type of accommodation
When searching for a holiday rental in Portage County, you can first decide on your main focus: nature trails and birdwatching, water activities, historic sites, art or things to do for children. For arrival by air, Stevens Point Municipal Airport is located in Portage County and is easily accessible from Interstate 39. The Stevens Point Area is served by Highway 10 running east to west and Interstate 39 running north to south. If you would like to use the local pages as your next point of reference, you can find Stevens Point, Plover and Portage here.
For the main travel overview: Wisconsin.
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