The Northern Edge of the Northwoods
Land O'Lakes and Phelps sit about as far north as Wisconsin goes before you hit the Michigan border. That geography is the whole point -- fewer crowds, more water, and the kind of forest that actually feels remote. Toss in a stop through Three Lakes on the way and you've got a full day that covers breakfast through last call without doubling back.
This guide is organized by time of day and loosely by area. Pick the sections that match your season and appetite.
Morning: Start in Land O'Lakes
Pine Cone Cafe
4187 County Road B, Land O' Lakes, WI | pineconecafelol.com | $
Open every day from 6 AM to 2 PM, this family-owned breakfast spot is the right call before a long day outside. They serve hearty skillets, omelets, and daily specials -- and if you're feeling ambitious, the Ultimate Breakfast Challenge involves a 12-egg skillet. Go early on weekends; it fills up.
The Sawbuck
4270 County Road B, Land O' Lakes, WI | thesawbucklando.com
A micro bakery and cafe in downtown Land O' Lakes serving Colectivo coffee, espresso, and fresh pastries. Open Wednesday through Friday 7 AM -- 2 PM, Saturday 7 AM -- 2 PM, and Sunday 8 AM -- noon. Closed Monday and Tuesday, so plan accordingly. Dog-friendly with outdoor seating if the weather cooperates. Custom cakes and local gifts round out the shop -- good for a quick stop before hitting a trail.
Get on the Water or in the Woods
Land O'Lakes has over 100 lakes according to the Vilas County tourism office, including the Cisco Chain and Lac Vieux Desert -- the latter being the headwaters of the Wisconsin River and known for excellent walleye, musky, and bass fishing.
Lac Vieux Desert
fs.usda.gov/r09/chequamegon-nicolet | Free
This large, clear lake straddles the Wisconsin-Michigan border and stays quiet even in summer. Walk-in access, excellent fishing, and minimal development. Check the forest service website for current access points and conditions.
Land O Lakes Boat Rentals
E23050 South Moon Lake Road, Land O' Lakes, WI | landolakesboatrentals.com | (715) 891-1388
Open 7 AM -- 5 PM every day. The 5.0 Google rating across 28 reviews is about as clean as it gets. Call ahead to confirm availability, especially on summer weekends.
Lindemann Rentals LLC.
5849 West Big Portage Lake Road, Land O' Lakes, WI | (715) 617-5463
Another rental option on Big Portage Lake. Listed as available 24 hours -- call ahead to confirm what they have and when pickup works.
Mallick Adventures
4382 County Highway B, Land O' Lakes, WI | mallickadventures.com | (715) 547-3543
An outdoor adventure outfitter tagged as family-friendly. Good option if you want guided or organized outdoor activities rather than self-directed paddling. Check their website for current offerings and scheduling.
Headwaters Wilderness
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest | fs.usda.gov/cnnf | (715) 479-2827
A 20,000-acre wilderness area in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest with old-growth hemlock and hardwoods, pristine lakes, and backcountry trails. Rated Moderate-Difficult. This is the kind of place where you're genuinely unlikely to see another person on a weekday.
A Quick History Stop
Northern Waters Museum
6490 Chippewa Drive, Land O' Lakes, WI | landolakeshistory.org | (715) 547-6979
Housed in a 1937 ski chalet, this local history museum runs rotating exhibits on the early days of the Land O'Lakes area. Open summers by the historical society -- check their website for current hours before making the trip.
Storybook Garden
Chippewa Drive, Land O' Lakes, WI | (715) 547-3255
Free and open Memorial Day through October 1st, 6 AM -- 9 PM daily. Kids walk through gardens and woodland paths where storybooks come to life through story-inspired displays. Located in Land O' Lakes Memorial Park. Worth 30 minutes if you have young ones.
If you have logistics questions or need maps, the Land O' Lakes Chamber of Commerce on Highway 45 is open weekdays 9 AM -- 2 PM.
Lunch: Land O'Lakes and Conover Options
Bauer's Dam Resort
3597 East Buckatabon Road, Conover, WI | bauersdam.com | $$
Family-owned for over 50 years on Lower Buckatabon Lake. The deck over the lake is the reason to go -- especially on a sunny afternoon. Known for homemade soups, specialty burgers, chicken pot pie, and pizza. Open Wednesday through Sunday starting at 11 AM. Vegetarian options available.
Club 45 Bar & Grill
4800 Old 45 Road, Conover, WI | club45barandgrill.com | $$
Family-owned since 1999, right on the snowmobile trail. Chicago-style deep dish pizza and Italian beef sandwiches are the draw. Over 316 Google reviews at 4.7 stars -- that's a real track record. Open Wednesday through Saturday 11 AM -- 10 PM, Monday 11 AM -- 5 PM, Sunday 11 AM -- 5 PM. Closed Tuesday.
Brew's Pub Inc
4245 County Highway B, Land O' Lakes, WI | $$
Sports bar right on snowmobile trail #6. Hand-pattied burgers, pickle fries, Friday fish fry, and multiple large-screen TVs. Open Monday through Saturday 11 AM -- 2 AM. Closed Sunday. Good option if there's a game you want to catch.
Afternoon: Swing Through Three Lakes
Three Lakes sits on what's claimed to be the world's largest chain of inland freshwater lakes -- 28 lakes connected by navigable waterways. If you're planning to paddle it, block out more than an afternoon.
Three Lakes Chain of Lakes Paddling
threelakes.com | Free
Rated Easy-Moderate, May through October. The chain moves through wide-open water and narrow pine-lined channels. You'll want your own kayak or canoe, or arrange a rental.
The Boat House Three Lakes
6727 U.S. 45, Three Lakes, WI | boathouseh2o.com | (715) 546-3351
Outdoor recreation and boat rental shop. Open Monday through Friday 8 AM -- 5 PM, Saturday 9 AM -- 1 PM, closed Sunday.
Three Eagle Trail
3eagletrail.org
An 8.5-mile rail-trail connecting Eagle River and Three Lakes, open year-round and rated Easy. Good for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing depending on the season.
Three Lakes Winery
6971 Gogebic Street, Three Lakes, WI | tlwinery.com
Wisconsin's second-oldest winery, making award-winning cranberry and fruit wines since 1972. The tasting room is housed in an 1880 Chicago & Northwestern train depot in downtown Three Lakes. Open Monday through Saturday 9 AM -- 5 PM, Sunday 10 AM -- 4:30 PM. If you're in Three Lakes and skip this, you made a scheduling error.
Dinner: Multiple Directions
By evening, you're choosing between staying in Three Lakes, circling back to Land O'Lakes, or pushing into Phelps.
Black Forest Pub & Grille
1765 Superior Street, Three Lakes, WI | blackforest3lakes.com | $$
Established in 1934 and designed after the beer gardens of Germany's Black Forest. Traditional German fare made from scratch alongside steaks, burgers, and pizza. Open Wednesday through Sunday starting at 3:30-4 PM depending on the day. Over 396 Google reviews at 4.6 stars. Reservations make sense here on weekends.
Lindy's Hideaway and Swampwitch In
290 Wesley Road, Three Lakes, WI | $
Described as the best backwoods bar in the area -- hand-pattied burgers, homemade soups, a Reuben sandwich people talk about, and rotating specials. Pool table, outdoor seating, arcade games. Open Thursday and Friday evenings, Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The Saturday crowd is the better scene.
Asana Suka
6366 U.S. 45, Land O' Lakes, WI | asanasuka.com
The top-rated restaurant in Land O'Lakes and a genuine step up in execution. The name means "to sit in happiness" -- creatively twisted Northwoods favorites like Milanese Crusted Walleye and Norwegian Salmon. Open Friday and Saturday only, 4:30 -- 9 PM. Reservations are the smart move. If your trip overlaps with a Friday or Saturday, this is the dinner.
The Twilight Supper Club and Sandman Lounge
5810 U.S. 45, Land O' Lakes, WI | twilightsupperclub.com | $$
A 1940s-era supper club with American fare, a salad bar, and traditional cocktails. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 4 -- 8 PM or 4 -- 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Classic Northwoods supper club experience -- the kind of place the Northwoods Supper Club Trail was built around.
Phelps After Dark (or Anytime)
Great Escape Bar & Resort
2510 Wisconsin 17, Phelps, WI | greatescapephelps.com
Lakeside bar and grill on North Twin Lake with cabin rentals. Homemade pizza, broasted chicken, and Friday fish fry. Snowmobile trail access in winter. Open every day from 11 AM -- midnight, later on Fridays and Saturdays. Good for groups.
Sand Lake Pub
851 Wisconsin 17, Phelps, WI | $
Year-round pub on the snowmobile trail surrounded by three lakes. Known for walleye, cod, and perch fish fry and pork loin sandwiches. Open Wednesday through Sunday, noon -- 7 or 8 PM depending on the day. Closed Monday and Tuesday. The 4.8 Google rating across 137 reviews tells you what you need to know.
Phelps Hillside Restaurant
5751 Hillside Resort Trail, Phelps, WI | (715) 891-3395
Bar and restaurant at Phelps Hillside Resort on Lac Vieux Desert with scenic lake views. Known for prime rib and fish fry. Open Thursday through Sunday, starting at 3 or 4 PM. Takes reservations.
If You're Staying More Than a Day
Golf in Phelps
Big Sand Lake Golf Course is a historic 9-hole course designed by Chick Evans and opened in 1925. Walk-ons welcome, open April through November, 8 AM -- 6 PM daily. The Big Sand Lake Club is the associated club facility.
In Land O'Lakes, Gateway Golf Club & Driving Range is a 9-hole public course built in 1941 that uniquely spans both Wisconsin and Michigan. Open daily 8 AM -- 6 PM.
Winter Activities
Phelps has easy snowmobile and ATV trail access -- all Phelps roads are open as ATV/ORV routes per the Phelps community site. The Phelps Ski Trail offers groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe loops ranging from beginner to advanced through maple-hemlock forest, and converts to hiking trails in summer.
In Land O'Lakes, The Snowflake Ice Rink on Town Hall Road is open daily 9 AM -- 8 PM in season.
Practical Tips
Hours change seasonally. Call ahead or check websites before driving out, especially for smaller spots. The Land O' Lakes Chamber recommends confirming directly with businesses -- that's good advice year-round.
The Chamber is your friend. The Land O' Lakes Chamber of Commerce on U.S. 45 is open weekdays 9 AM -- 2 PM and stocks maps and local info.
Coffee before noon. The Sawbuck closes at 2 PM (noon on Sundays). Deja Brew Coffee & More in Three Lakes (6990 West School Street) runs 7 AM -- 2 PM every day of the week -- reliable if you need a mid-morning stop on the Three Lakes leg.
Fish fry Friday is real. Multiple spots across all three areas run Friday fish fries -- Sand Lake Pub, Club 45, Brew's Pub, Great Escape, and Phelps Hillside among them. Plan accordingly.
Day-tripping vs. staying. If you're considering a full weekend in the area, The Cabin Renter's Guide to the Northwoods covers the practical questions -- lake access, boat slips, resort vs. cabin tradeoffs. For active trip planning across all seasons, Active Living in the Northwoods maps out paddling circuits, skiing, and more.
Know a spot we missed? Let us know.
