Get ready for adventure as you explore the exciting, welcoming communities of Vilas County in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, which offer a unique mix of trails, lakes, and other attractions you won’t find anywhere else. Today, we’ll learn more about the Arbor Vitae, Phelps, Presque Isle, Sayner-Star Lake, St. Germain, and Winchester.
Arbor Vitae
Arbor Vitae, located in far southern Vilas County, is one of the oldest communities in the county and is home to one of the highest concentrations of fresh water on the planet, meaning it’s an ideal spot for fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and other aquatic activities. In addition to lakes and trails, Arbor Vitae is also home to several restaurants, resorts, campgrounds, and other lodging properties.
Lakes: Big Arbor Vitae Lake (1,070 acres) and Little Arbor Vitae Lake (480 acres) offer great opportunities for fishing, paddling, and boating and are also home to several resorts that welcome visitors throughout the year.
Trails: The Madeline Trail, located in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, offer beautiful routes for hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing around three scenic Northwoods lakes.
Attractions: The Bittersweet Lakes State Natural Area offers no-motor paddling, fishing, and remote camping among four small (30 to 104 acres) lakes. Brandy Park on Brandy Lake features a swimming beach, ballfields, a disc golf course, and more.
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Phelps
Head to Phelps in northeastern Vilas County to find outstanding opportunities for outdoor recreation all year long. Phelps sits in the middle of the 661,000-acre Nicolet National Forest and is a great spot for hiking, snowmobiling, boating, fishing, and much more.
Lakes: The sprawling Lac Vieux Desert (4,017 acres) spans the border of Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and is the source of the Wisconsin River. Phelps sits on the eastern shore of 2,800-acre North Twin Lake, a popular boating and fishing lake.
Trails: The Conover-Phelps Trail connects its two namesake communities via a former railroad bed and offers great views of woodlands and wetlands for hikers and bikers. The Spectacle Lake-Kentuck Lake Trail is an easy 2.5-mile route between two campgrounds that’s a good spot for birdwatching or wildflower viewing.
Attractions: The Phelps Historical Museum educates visitors about the logging industry that shaped Phelps and northern Wisconsin. Cabins, resorts, lodges, and restaurants on North Twin Lake are great places to catch a Northwoods sunset.
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Presque Isle
Located in far northern Wisconsin near the border of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Presque Isle is home to glacial hills and crystal-clear waters, making it the perfect place for outdoor adventures. The 77-square-mile township boasts more than 80 lakes and welcomes guests year-round for hiking, fishing, snowmobiling, and more.
Lakes: Presque Isle Lake is known for its clarity and connects to Averill Lake and Van Vliet Lake via a channel that’s navigable by most boats. Big Lake is a good spot for smallmouth bass fishing.
Trails: In the Van Vliet Hemlocks, hikers can explore 400 acres of Northwoods wilderness in an old-growth forest on the north shore of Van Vliet Lake. The 1.5-mile Presque Isle Trail is open to hikers and bikers.
Attractions: The nearby Sylvania Wilderness, located in the Ottawa National Forest in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, consists of more than 18,000 acres of untouched land for camping, canoeing, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
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Sayner-Star Lake-Cloverland
Sayner, Star Lake and Cloverland are three friendly Northwoods communities located in the heart of Vilas County that offer a great mix of outdoor recreation, great places to stay, excellent dining options, and engaging attractions. Visitors can explore miles of silent-sports trails and snowmobile routes, cast for trophy fish in crystal-clear lakes, or simply take in the stunning northern Wisconsin scenery.
Lakes: Plum Lake, located between the communities of Sayner and Star Lake, covers more than 1,000 acres and is home to several lodging properties, a public fishing pier, and the weekly Plum Ski-ters Water Ski Show in the summer. Horseshoe-shaped Star Lake (260 acres) offers good fishing for musky and walleye.
Trails: The scenic Razorback Ridges trails offer great terrain for hikers and mountain bikers and are groomed for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. The 1-mile Star Lake Nature Trail traces the edges of a peninsula that juts out in between the north and south basins of Star Lake, providing stunning views.
Attractions: Sayner-Star Lake-Cloverland is one stop on the 52-mile Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail passes through as it spans the Northwoods—riders can connect to Boulder Junction and St. Germain from here. Rustic Road 60 (Vilas County’s only Rustic Road) follows County Highway K west from Star Lake and passes under canopies of coniferous and other hardwood trees.
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St. Germain
Situated on the southern border of Vilas County, St. Germain boasts thousands of acres of lakes, hundreds of miles of trails for snowmobiling, charming restaurants and shops, and much more. Ride the Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail, hike the Fern Ridge Trail, or set out on one of the area’s many lakes and experience everything the Northwoods has to offer.
Lakes: Explore 1,600-acre Big St. Germain Lake northwest of St. Germain to find great opportunities for boating, fishing, and paddling (canoers and kayakers can access Lost Creek from the waterway). And yes, there’s a Little St. Germain Lake, too—it’s 972 acres and home to several cabins, vacation homes, and other lodging properties.
Trails: The 7-mile Shannon Trail is part of the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest and is a popular spot for fat-tire biking. Bikers can also enjoy the Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail, which passes through St. Germain.
Attractions: The Snowmobile Hall of Fame & Museum highlights this popular sport with historically significant snowmobiles, prototypes, memorabilia, photographs, and more. The Awassa Nature Preserve and Hiking Trail is open year-round and is suitable for everyone.
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Winchester
Winchester puts “woods” in the Northwoods of Wisconsin—75 percent of the land that makes up this northwestern Vilas County town is covered in woods, and there are several nearby natural areas and preserves to explore. There are also more than 60 lakes in Winchester, making it a great spot for adventures on water or land.
Lakes: North and South Turtle Lakes are good spots for fishing, boating, and paddling, and there are several lodging properties along the shores of these neighboring lakes. Head to Lake Helen to fish for largemouth bass.
Trails: The WinMan Trails, located halfway between Manitowish Waters and Winchester, are one of the region’s most popular mountain biking destinations, offering more than 23 miles of trails. The Heart of Vilas County Trail also passes through Winchester.
Attractions: More than 6,000 acres of public land in and around Winchester is part of the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, a vast tract that covers several counties in the Northwoods. Massive 250-year-old trees and rare plants and birds can be found at the Catherine Lake Hemlock-Hardwoods State Natural Area.
