Vilas County Visitor Guide - 2021

ADVENTURE: FALL
Scenic fall drives
There’s no shortage of gorgeous scenery to discover in Vilas
County. Here are some road routes you can follow to experience
the beauty yourself—they offer brilliant fall color but are worth
exploring in any season.
• NICOLET-WOLF RIVER SCENIC BYWAY
This scenic 147-mile route will take you through the beauty
of Vilas, Oneida, Forest and Langlade Counties. Experience
the amazing diversity of wildlife, trails and outdoor activities
amidst breathtaking fall color in the Chequamegon-Nicolet
National Forest.
• RUSTIC ROAD 60
Take this tranquil 12-mile route through the heart of the
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. It runs from
Cty. Rd. K south of Boulder Junction to Cty. Rd. M in Sayner-
Star Lake. You’ll drive past former logging camps, hiking trails
and an old sawmill.
• PRESQUE ISLE TO LAND O’ LAKES
The drive is about 30 miles, and it passes through some
beautiful fall scenery that’s largely devoid of power lines. It’s
an easy route to follow; just stay on Cty. Hwy. B. Heading east
out of Presque Isle, you’ll pass the turnoff for the Catherine
Wolter Wilderness Area, a 2,189-acre site that’s a great place
for a fall hike.
Every fall, Vilas County’s dense forests explode with
breathtaking color displays, making it an incredible time to
visit. This is the season of fall color drives, scenic hikes,
rides through the leaves and evenings by the fire with
friends and family. The season passes quickly—peak colors
arrive in late September/early October, but travel outside of
peak time rewards visitors with late season serenity and a
great opportunity to view birds and wildlife.
Here are some options for your fall adventure.
• Tour a CRANBERRY MARSH—this colorful (and
photogenic!) activity can be enjoyed from July to early
October in Manitowish Waters and Eagle River.
• Pedal through the leaves—the WLT-LAND O’ LAKES
BIKE TRAIL 10 will take you past some wild forests and
the incredibly clear BLACK OAK LAKE.
• Experience fall colors from the seat of a canoe. One
scenic route is the MANITOWISH RIVER near Boulder
Junction—you’ll travel through some gorgeous stretches
of state forest.
• Book a colorful tee time—Vilas County’s scenic GOLF
COURSES are spectacular as the leaves turn.
• CRANBERRY COUNTRY TOUR
To see some of Vilas County’s famous cranberry marshes,
take a drive on Alder Lake Road. There’s a market and marsh
you can visit on the route; others are not open to the public
but can be seen from the road. South Townline Road or
Powell Road will get you back to U.S. Hwy. 51.
• LAND O’ LAKES TO EAGLE RIVER (VIA PHELPS)
A nice fall driving route will take you through eastern Vilas
County. Take U.S. Hwy. 45 until you hit Cty. Hwy. E, where
you’ll head east to Phelps. From Phelps, meander southwest
on Hwy. 17 past North Twin Lake and continue south on U.S.
Hwy. 45 into Eagle River.
SUNSET PADDLE ON STAR LAKE
Jeanne B. | Star Lake
Photo taken while on vacation at Star Lake.
18 ADVENTURES
VILAS.ORG