Your Winter Northwoods Bucket List
Some people think the Northwoods shuts down after Labor Day. Those people are wrong.
Winter up here is not something you endure — it's something you plan for. The snow comes early, stays late, and creates conditions that make the Northwoods one of the best winter recreation destinations in the Midwest. We're talking 1,700 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. A cross-country ski park that USA Today ranked number one in the country. Fat-tire biking through old-growth forest. An ice skating ribbon that winds through snow-covered pines. And enough frozen lakes to keep an ice angler busy from December through March.
If you haven't done a Northwoods winter, here's your list.
Snowmobiling
1,700 miles of groomed trails, and they take it seriously.
The Northwoods snowmobile trail system is one of the largest and best-maintained in Wisconsin. Local snowmobile clubs and volunteers groom more than 1,700 miles of trails across Vilas, Oneida, and surrounding counties, connecting towns, bars, restaurants, and gas stations along the way. Some of the most scenic trails run through the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area, and along the Bearskin State Trail corridor.
Trail conditions are tracked and updated regularly, and most trailside businesses are set up to handle snowmobile traffic — you can park a sled at the door of a supper club and walk in for a fish fry without anyone blinking.
Rentals are available through several outfitters in the Minocqua and Eagle River areas if you don't own a machine. A Wisconsin snowmobile trail pass is required.
Cross-Country Skiing at Minocqua Winter Park
Eighty-six kilometers of world-class trails.
Minocqua Winter Park was voted the number one cross-country ski resort in America by USA Today, and once you've skied it, you understand why. The park maintains 86 kilometers of trails groomed for both skate and classic skiing, spread across glaciated terrain that provides options for every skill level — from flat, wide beginner loops to expert-level descents that'll test your edges.
The park sits on the largest land-trust conservation easement in Wisconsin, which means the scenery is protected and the forest is deep. It's the kind of place where you ski for an hour and don't see another person.
Beyond daily skiing, Minocqua Winter Park hosts two ski races and four candlelight events (two skiing, two snowshoeing) each season, plus free trailside activities and games throughout the winter. Trail passes and rentals are available at the lodge.
12375 Scotchman Lake Rd, Minocqua. minocquawinterpark.org
Fat-Tire Biking
Snow trails on two wheels.
Fat-tire biking has exploded in the Northwoods over the last several years, and the trail infrastructure has kept up. The oversized tires grip packed snow and frozen ground, turning winter trails into a completely different riding experience than summer mountain biking.
The best trail systems for fat biking in the area:
- Minocqua Winter Park — groomed fat-bike trails alongside the ski trails
- WinMan Trails in Manitowish Waters — a dedicated trail system with groomed fat-bike routes
- MECCA Trails in Mercer — well-maintained trails through rolling forest terrain
- Tara Lila Trails in Eagle River — a newer trail system that's quickly become a local favorite
More than 70 miles of groomed fat-bike trails are maintained in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest alone. Bike rentals are available at several shops in the Minocqua and Eagle River areas.
Ice Fishing
1,300 lakes and a season that lasts all winter.
Vilas County has roughly 1,300 lakes, which means you're never more than a few minutes from a place to drill a hole. Ice fishing season typically runs from mid-December through mid-March, depending on ice conditions, and the fishing is genuinely good — walleye, northern pike, perch, crappie, and bluegill are all active under the ice.
You can go simple — a bucket, an auger, and a tip-up — or you can set up a heated ice shack with a fish finder and make a day of it. Guided trips are available for visitors who want the full setup and local knowledge.
The winter tournament scene is active too. The White Lake Fishing Derby, the Rhinelander Lions Fisheree, and the Winter Fest & Ice Fishing Jamboree in Presque Isle are all worth building a weekend around.
The Glide — Boulder Junction
An ice skating ribbon through the forest.
The Glide is a 0.8-mile ice skating ribbon that loops through the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest at Boulder Junction Winter Park. Inspired by Ontario's Arrowhead Provincial Park, it's the first of its kind in Wisconsin and it's become one of the signature winter experiences in the Northwoods.
The trail is wide enough for families and friends to skate side by side, and solar-powered lights line the path for evening skating. It's free and open to the public from 10 AM to 10 PM while in season. A limited number of skates are available to borrow on-site, and you can rent skates from Coontail in downtown Boulder Junction.
The Glide returned for its second season in December 2025, and the word has gotten out — go on a weeknight if you want it mostly to yourself.
5409 Old K Road, Boulder Junction. boulderjct.org
Pond Hockey
National-caliber tournaments on frozen lakes.
The Northwoods has become a legitimate pond hockey destination. The USA Pond Hockey Championships return to Dollar Lake in Eagle River each January, drawing teams from across the country for a weekend of outdoor hockey on natural ice. The American Pond Hockey Invitational follows in Minocqua in early February.
Even if you're not playing, both events are worth watching. Teams compete on cleared rinks on the frozen lake, surrounded by snow-covered pines, and the atmosphere is equal parts competitive and celebratory.
Snowshoeing
The quiet option.
If cross-country skiing feels too fast and snowmobiling feels too loud, snowshoeing is the Northwoods winter activity that matches the pace of the place. The same trail systems that serve skiers and bikers also accommodate snowshoers, and many of the state forest trails are open for snowshoeing without a groomed track requirement.
Minocqua Winter Park's candlelight snowshoe events — held twice each season — are particularly worth it. You snowshoe a lit trail through the winter forest at night, and it's the kind of experience that makes you forget you're cold.
Snowshoe rentals are widely available.
Candlelight Events
Night skiing and snowshoeing by firelight.
Several parks and trail systems in the Northwoods host candlelight events during the winter, where trails are lined with luminaries or candles for evening skiing and snowshoeing. Minocqua Winter Park is the biggest, but smaller events pop up at parks throughout Vilas and Oneida Counties.
These events usually include bonfires, hot cocoa, and a festive atmosphere. Check local event calendars starting in January — they sell out or fill up faster than you'd expect.
How to Plan a Winter Weekend
A good winter weekend in the Northwoods looks something like this:
- Friday evening: Arrive. Supper club dinner. Early to bed.
- Saturday morning: Cross-country skiing or fat-tire biking at Minocqua Winter Park.
- Saturday afternoon: Ice fishing or snowmobiling.
- Saturday evening: Skate The Glide in Boulder Junction at sunset.
- Sunday morning: Snowshoe through the state forest. Pack up. Drive home slow.
The winter Northwoods rewards people who lean in. Dress warm, bring layers, and accept that your car will be cold when you get in it. The rest is easy.
