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Northern Highland
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Explore Northern Highland Wisconsin for clear lakes, pine forests, Indigenous and logging heritage, paddling, cycling, fishing and winter trails.

Northern Highland is a broad, informal travel region in north-central Wisconsin, part of the state’s Northwoods and centred on the forested lake country around Vilas and Oneida counties. Rather than a single municipality, it is a landscape of small communities, glacial lakes, wetlands and working forests. Minocqua, Woodruff, Arbor Vitae, Manitowish Waters, Boulder Junction, St Germain, Sayner, Eagle River and Rhinelander provide the main bases for exploring it, although each has a different character. Rhinelander is the largest commercial centre, while the communities around the larger lakes are closely associated with boating, fishing and seasonal tourism.
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The region was shaped by glaciation, which left an intricate pattern of sandy uplands, kettle lakes and low wetlands. The Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest protects a substantial part of this environment, including extensive woodland and numerous lakes, while nearby forests and conservation lands create a broad setting for hiking, paddling, cycling, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Water is the defining element: visitors encounter quiet bays, narrow connecting channels, pine-fringed shorelines and lakes large enough for sailing as well as smaller waters suited to canoeing and wildlife observation.
Communities here grew from Indigenous homelands, nineteenth-century logging and the railways that carried timber and settlers into the north. The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is based to the west of the central lake district, and Ojibwe history remains an essential part of the cultural landscape. Logging transformed the region’s economy, but tourism gradually became more important as forests regenerated and visitors arrived for fishing, summer holidays and winter recreation. Local museums, historical societies and surviving commercial buildings interpret this transition without reducing the Northwoods to a simple resort story.
Summer brings boating, swimming, fishing, camping and long walking or cycling routes, while autumn is known for changing woodland colour and quieter roads. Winter is a major season rather than an off-season: snowmobile trails, groomed cross-country ski routes, snowshoeing and ice fishing draw visitors across the frozen lake country when conditions permit. The region’s food scene is informal and practical, with supper clubs, cafés, bakeries, bars and lakeside restaurants serving Wisconsin favourites alongside contemporary dishes. A Northern Highland itinerary works best when it combines a town base with time on the water and in the forest, allowing for the considerable distances between lakes and communities.

Getting to and around Northern Highland

How to get there

Most visitors reach Northern Highland by road from Wisconsin, Illinois or Michigan. U.S. Highway 51 is the principal north-south approach to the Minocqua, Woodruff and Rhinelander area, while Wisconsin highways connect Eagle River, Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters and other communities. Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport is within the region and provides limited scheduled commercial access, while larger airports in Green Bay, Appleton, Madison, Milwaukee or Minneapolis–Saint Paul are outside the region and require a substantial onward drive. There is no passenger rail service serving the main Northern Highland communities, so a car is usually the most practical option for a multi-lake itinerary.

Transportation

A private car is the most flexible way to move between lakes, forests, small towns and dispersed trailheads. Distances can look short on a map but become longer on winding rural roads, and services are widely spaced outside the main communities. Local taxi and shuttle availability is limited, while scheduled public transport is not designed for sightseeing across the entire region. Cycling is popular on quieter roads and trail networks, but riders should plan for limited shoulders and changing terrain. In winter, allow extra time, check road conditions and use only properly marked snowmobile routes; motorised trail access and permits are regulated.

Best attractions in Northern Highland

Northern Highland’s attractions are defined less by one monumental sight than by the range of experiences within its forest-and-lake landscape. The Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest provides public access to woodland, lakes, campgrounds, trails and water-based recreation, while the extensive local lake networks support canoeing, kayaking, sailing, swimming and fishing. Around Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters and St Germain, visitors find routes suited to hiking and cycling, with winter trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when conditions allow. Minocqua and Woodruff combine resort-town services with access to nearby water and forest, while Eagle River is a major base for boating, fishing and snowmobile travel. Rhinelander offers museums, civic attractions and a useful perspective on the area’s timber history. Wildlife watching, autumn woodland colour and quiet paddling routes appeal to visitors seeking a slower pace, while family-oriented activities, campgrounds and boat rentals make the lake district accessible to a wide range of travellers. The Lac du Flambeau area adds an important Indigenous dimension to the region’s cultural understanding, and local historical societies help explain how logging, railways, conservation and tourism reshaped the Northwoods.

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Best landmarks in Northern Highland

The most recognisable landmarks of Northern Highland are closely tied to its environment and working history. The chain of lakes around Eagle River, including the waters associated with the Eagle River–Three Lakes area, represents the interconnected waterways that define the region’s geography and recreational identity. The Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest is a major landscape landmark, with its extensive public woods and numerous lakes demonstrating the scale of the Northwoods beyond individual resort communities. In Rhinelander, the Hodag has become a distinctive civic symbol: the mythical woodland creature is linked to local boosterism and appears in public imagery, although it is folklore rather than wildlife. Minocqua’s Island community, connected to the mainland by a bridge, is another recognisable expression of the region’s lake-town geography. Historic commercial buildings, former railway associations and local museums in Rhinelander and other communities preserve the material memory of logging and settlement. The region’s most powerful visual landmarks remain its shorelines, pine and mixed hardwood forests, glacial lakes and winter ice landscapes, which change markedly with season and weather.

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Best restaurants in Northern Highland

Dining in Northern Highland Wisconsin reflects a rural, seasonal economy and the region’s long tradition of lakeside holidays. Supper clubs, family restaurants, cafés, taverns and resort dining rooms commonly provide hearty Wisconsin fare, including fried fish, burgers, sandwiches, salads and comfort food, while bakeries and coffee shops serve breakfast to visitors setting out on the trails or water. Friday fish fries are part of the wider Wisconsin dining tradition and are widely encountered, though individual menus and schedules vary. Local restaurants also make use of regional produce, meats and cheeses without claiming that every dish is exclusive to the Northwoods. In lake communities, casual waterfront meals and ice-cream stops are especially associated with summer, while Rhinelander offers the broadest choice of everyday dining. Visitors staying in cabins often shop for provisions in larger towns and prepare meals themselves, making farmers’ markets, delis, bakeries and independent food shops useful parts of the regional food experience.

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Best bars in Northern Highland

Evening life in Northern Highland is generally relaxed and community-sized rather than centred on large nightclubs. Traditional taverns, supper-club bars, brewery rooms, resort lounges and casual restaurants provide the main social settings in Minocqua, Woodruff, Rhinelander, Eagle River and the smaller lake communities. Live music, quiz nights and seasonal entertainment may appear at individual establishments, but schedules change and should be checked locally. Rhinelander has the region’s broadest concentration of evening venues, while resort areas often become quieter outside the summer season. Visitors can also find locally produced beer and a growing interest in craft beverages, although the region is not principally a nightlife destination. In rural areas, driving distances and dark roads make planning important: arrange a designated driver or taxi where available rather than assuming that late-night transport will be easy to find.

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Best nightclubs in Northern Highland

Evening life in Northern Highland is generally relaxed and community-sized rather than centred on large nightclubs. Traditional taverns, supper-club bars, brewery rooms, resort lounges and casual restaurants provide the main social settings in Minocqua, Woodruff, Rhinelander, Eagle River and the smaller lake communities. Live music, quiz nights and seasonal entertainment may appear at individual establishments, but schedules change and should be checked locally. Rhinelander has the region’s broadest concentration of evening venues, while resort areas often become quieter outside the summer season. Visitors can also find locally produced beer and a growing interest in craft beverages, although the region is not principally a nightlife destination. In rural areas, driving distances and dark roads make planning important: arrange a designated driver or taxi where available rather than assuming that late-night transport will be easy to find.

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Best shops in Northern Highland

Shopping in Northern Highland is concentrated in small town centres and roadside commercial areas rather than large urban retail districts. Minocqua and Woodruff offer visitor-oriented shops, clothing, outdoor equipment, books, gifts, galleries and Northwoods-themed merchandise, while Eagle River and Rhinelander provide a broader range of practical retail and services. Boulder Junction, St Germain and Manitowish Waters combine independent shops with businesses aimed at paddlers, cyclists, anglers and winter-trail users. Farmers’ markets and seasonal produce stalls are useful places to look for local food, baked goods, preserves and handmade items, although market locations and operating days vary by season. Regional souvenirs commonly include cabin and lake imagery, locally made crafts, artwork, pottery, wood products and outdoor clothing. For a more practical shopping stop, Rhinelander is the strongest choice; for distinctive gifts, the smaller lake communities tend to offer more independent specialist shops. Visitors should not expect metropolitan designer retail, and some businesses operate shorter hours outside the summer season.

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Northern Highland essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the United States dollar (USD), as throughout Wisconsin and the United States. Cards and contactless payments are commonly accepted by hotels, restaurants, petrol stations and larger shops, but smaller businesses, campsites, boat rentals and rural services may have weaker connectivity or prefer cash. Carry some dollars for launch fees, farmers’ markets, informal services and remote stops. Tipping is customary in American table-service restaurants and for several personal services; the expected amount is normally calculated before tax on the bill, with local practice varying according to service.
Safety
Northern Highland is generally a low-density rural destination, but visitors should take practical precautions around water, roads and forests. Wear a properly fitted life jacket when boating or paddling, supervise children near shorelines and check weather before setting out on a lake. Ticks, mosquitoes and other insects are common in woodland and wetland habitats, so use repellent and check clothing and skin after walks. Watch for wildlife without approaching it, and take care on gravel roads and at night, when deer may cross unexpectedly. In winter, cold, ice conditions and snow-covered routes can change quickly.
Emergency Situations
Dial 911 anywhere in Northern Highland for police, fire and ambulance emergencies; this is the nationwide emergency number rather than a regional service. Give the dispatcher the nearest town, road, lake name, campsite or trail location, as rural addresses can be difficult to identify. Cell coverage may be intermittent around remote lakes and forests, so tell someone your route before a long outing and carry navigation equipment. For water or wilderness incidents, emergency services coordinate the appropriate response, which may include local fire and rescue teams, law enforcement or other specialist resources.
Do's and Don'ts
Do respect public-land rules, private property boundaries, posted boating restrictions and designated fire regulations. Do slow down for pedestrians, cyclists, farm vehicles and wildlife on rural roads, and leave lakes, campsites and trails clean. Do ask before entering a private pier or shoreline, since much of the region’s waterfront is privately owned. Do treat Indigenous history and contemporary communities with respect, particularly when visiting places associated with Ojibwe culture. Do not assume that an apparently quiet lake permits unrestricted camping or fires, and do not transport aquatic plants, water or mud between waterways.
Local Tips
Use Rhinelander for a broader range of everyday services, while Minocqua, Woodruff, Eagle River, St Germain, Boulder Junction and Manitowish Waters are convenient bases for different lake and trail areas. Reserve boats, cabins and popular summer activities in advance, especially in July and August. Ask local outfitters about water levels, portages, wind exposure and suitable routes rather than choosing solely from a map. For winter visits, confirm that trails are open and maintained before travelling, as snow conditions vary between districts. Small communities may close earlier in the evening than visitors expect.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHi[Hai]
GoodbyeSee ya[See yah]
YesYep[Yep]
NoNope[Nope]
Please/You're welcomeSure thing[Shur thing]
Thank youThanks[Thanks]
Excuse me/SorryExcuse me[Ex-cuze me]
How are you?How's it going?[How's it goin'?]
Fine. And you?Good. You?[Good. You?]
Do you speak English?Do ya speak English?[Doo yah speak English?]
I don't understandI don't get it[I don't get it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu?[Can I see the menu?]
I don't eat meatI don't eat meat[I don't eat meat]
Cheers!Cheers![Cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseCan I get the check?[Can I get the check?]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![Help!]
Go away!Leave me alone![Leave me alone!]
Call the Police!Call the cops![Call the cops!]
Call a doctor!Get a doctor![Get a doctor!]
I'm lostI'm lost[I'm lost]
I'm illI'm not feeling well[I'm not feelin' well]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I'd like to buy...[I'd like to buy...]
I'm just lookingJust browsing[Just browsing]
How much is it?What’s the price?[What's the price?]
That's too expensiveThat's too pricey[That's too pricey]
Can you lower the price?Can you make it cheaper?[Can you make it cheaper?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time is it?[What time is it?]
It's one o'clockIt's one o'clock[It's one o'clock]
Half past (10)Half past ten[Half past ten]
MorningMorning[Morning]
AfternoonAfternoon[Afternoon]
EveningEvening[Evening]
YesterdayYesterday[Yesterday]
TodayToday[Today]
TomorrowTomorrow[Tomorrow]
1One[One]
2Two[Two]
3Three[Three]
4Four[Four]
5Five[Five]
6Six[Six]
7Seven[Seven]
8Eight[Eight]
9Nine[Nine]
10Ten[Ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the...?[Where's the...?]
What's the address?What’s the address?[What’s the address?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can you show me on the map?[Can you show me on the map?]
When's the next (bus)?When’s the next bus?[When's the next bus?]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket to ...[A ticket to ...]

History of Northern Highland

Ojibwe Homelands and Treaty History

Northern Highland lies within the historic homeland of the Ojibwe, also known as the Anishinaabe, whose communities developed extensive knowledge of the lakes, rivers, wetlands and forests. The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa remains an important Indigenous community in the wider region. Treaties made with the United States in the nineteenth century reshaped land ownership while preserving certain hunting, fishing and gathering rights for Ojibwe nations. These rights and the continuing presence of Indigenous communities are central to understanding the region’s history, rather than treating its story as beginning with logging or resort development.

The Fur Trade and Early American Settlement

Before large-scale American settlement, trade routes connected northern Wisconsin’s waterways with wider networks around Lake Superior and the Great Lakes. French, British and later American traders interacted with Indigenous communities, although the Northwoods remained sparsely settled by newcomers for much of the early nineteenth century. Small trading posts, missions and farms appeared gradually, followed by government surveys and roads. The lakes that now attract holiday visitors were practical routes for travel and exchange, while the forest and wetland environment strongly influenced where permanent settlement was possible.

Logging and the Timber Boom

The nineteenth-century timber boom transformed Northern Highland Wisconsin. White pine and other commercially valuable trees were cut and floated or hauled towards sawmills and markets, while railways made it easier to move timber, workers and supplies. Camps, logging roads and short-lived settlements spread through the forest, and towns such as Rhinelander developed as commercial and transport centres. Logging brought employment and investment but also severe forest clearance, soil disturbance and economic instability. The regenerated woods seen today are therefore not untouched primeval forest; they are part of a landscape shaped by extraction, abandonment, fire, conservation and renewed growth.

Railways and the Growth of Regional Towns

Railway expansion in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries connected the Northwoods to larger Wisconsin markets and encouraged the growth of towns including Rhinelander and communities around the lake districts. Rail transport carried timber out and brought manufactured goods, settlers and visitors in. It also helped establish the region’s later recreational economy by making long summer stays more practical for people from southern Wisconsin and neighbouring states. Although many original rail routes have disappeared or changed function, the pattern of compact town centres, former depots and road corridors still reflects the period when railways determined the region’s commercial geography.

Forest Recovery and Conservation

After intensive logging, parts of northern Wisconsin faced degraded soils, abandoned farms and serious wildfire risk. Public agencies and private owners gradually promoted reforestation, fire control and more systematic forest management. The Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, established in the twentieth century, became one of the region’s important examples of public conservation and recreational planning. Its lakes, woods and trails illustrate a changing relationship with the land: forests remained economically useful, but water quality, wildlife habitat, recreation and long-term management became increasingly important alongside timber production.

The Civilian Conservation Corps

During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps employed young men on conservation projects across the United States, including northern Wisconsin. Crews worked on roads, trails, fire protection, tree planting and recreational facilities, leaving a practical legacy in the development of public forest infrastructure. The programme formed part of the New Deal response to the Great Depression and helped turn conservation into visible public work. In Northern Highland landscapes, the broader effects can still be understood through the planned campsites, access routes and forest-management projects associated with the period.

From Timber Economy to Four-Season Tourism

As the timber industry declined in importance and forests regenerated, the region increasingly promoted its lakes, fishing, boating and woodland setting to visitors. Roads and improved vehicles widened access, while resorts, cabins, campgrounds and marinas created a seasonal tourism economy. Winter recreation later expanded the visitor year through snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and ice fishing. Tourism did not replace forestry completely, and many communities still depend on a mixture of public services, small businesses, construction, forest work and hospitality. The contemporary Northwoods is consequently both a recreational destination and a lived rural region.

Northern Highland in Photos

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