Shawano County: Nature, Trails, and History
Accommodation in Shawano County
Shawano County combines river landscapes, nature experiences, and traces of regional history. The Navarino Wildlife Area is located in the southern part of the county as part of the Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resources Area. Those seeking a mix of activity, scenery, and culture for their trip will find a variety of options here for planning each day.
Nature along the Wolf River and trails for active days
The Navarino Wildlife Area provides improved access points to the Wolf River and connected waterways that are intended for carrying boats. The Navarino Nature Center maintains hiking, snowshoeing, and groomed cross-country ski trails there. In addition, the Nature Center offers canoe trips at various times of the year, as well as environmental education and programs for developing skills for outdoor activities. Depending on your preferred pace of travel, your stay can therefore be focused on walks, water activities, or winter outings.
Maple Hills also has a clear focus on winter sports: it offers four levels of difficulty, more than 7 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails for skating and freestyle, and a 2.5-mile trail intended exclusively for snowshoeing. Those who prefer cycling or want to combine different trails can include the Mountain-Bay State Trail in their plans. Parking is available along the trail in Eland, Bowler, Shawano, and Bonduel; in Eland, the Wiouwash State Trail connects with the Mountain-Bay State Trail.
For wildlife observation, Sturgeon Park offers a special attraction: there, visitors can observe the annual spawning run of lake sturgeon. The park also has walking and cycling trails that connect with other local parks. At Hayman Falls County Park, trails cross a 54-hectare area along the Embarrass River, which also includes a small pedestrian bridge. Voelz Memorial Park encompasses Wilson Lake, a beach, a fishing pier, a boat launch, and a rustic trail network.
History, art, and regional character
Heritage Park includes historic buildings with memorabilia from the history of Shawano County and the city of Shawano. The park is located at the site of the first European settlement in Shawano County. Its museums include the John Kast House, which was built at this location in 1871. Tours of Heritage Park take place on Saturdays from June through August, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; group tours and tours by appointment are also available for the museums of the Shawano County Historical Society.
In the wider region, the Gresham Depot Museum expands the historical perspective with a 1907 Wisconsin Northern depot, railroad artifacts, telegraph equipment, lanterns, timetables, and a freight car. Tours take place there on Saturdays from June through August, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. In Wittenberg, murals that can be viewed year-round and an art park offer a different approach to art. WOWSPACE hosts art exhibitions, concerts, and community events. In addition, 409 barn quilts are displayed on barns throughout the county.
Smaller discoveries also contribute to the local character: the Shawano Farmers Market takes place at Franklin Park on Saturdays from June through October. An Amish community lives in the Bonduel area and offers, among other things, homemade baked goods.
Which base suits your trip?
When choosing a vacation rental, it is worth first deciding on your preferred focus. For nature and water experiences, the Navarino Wildlife Area, the Wolf River, and the connected waterways are the main attractions. For cycling and walking trails, the parks and trail offerings mentioned above provide useful points of reference. Those who prefer history and art can include Heritage Park, Wittenberg, and the regional depot museum in their plans.
Places in the county for further planning
As additional places, you can compare Marion, Shawano, Tilleda, Bowler, and Wittenberg before choosing your trip and the right vacation rental in Shawano County.
For the higher-level travel overview: Wisconsin.
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