Marathon County
North Central Wisconsin's Vacationland

Located in the heart of North Central Wisconsin, Marathon County features rolling hills, plush  forests and scenic beauty. In every community of Marathon County - Wausau, Rib Mountain, Schofield, Rothschild, Mosinee and Weston - there are a wide range of recreational, cultural and educational opportunities that can be enjoyed by everyone in every season.

Community

The area is a thriving art and entertainment center for central  Wisconsin with art museums and galleries, theater, concerts and entertainment for the entire family. Marathon County hosts dozens of special events year-round including the Badger State Winter Games, Classic Bike Races, Dog Sled and Snowmobile Races, Car Shows, Wisconsin Valley Fair, The Big Bull Falls Blues Festival and more!

Outdoor Recreation

In every season Marathon County offers exceptional recreation opportunities. For winter sports enthusiasts, the excellent facilities of Granite Peak Ski Resort at Rib Mountain have made it one of the most famous winter-fun areas of the Midwest. The county features  five cross-country ski trails totaling 48 miles of trail. The best known is the nine-mile county forest recreation area which has 18 miles of trail, including 3 miles of lighted trail. In addition to the fine skiing facilities, Marathon County is known for ice hockey, ice fishing, ice skating, curling, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. 

In the spring, fishing enthusiasts turn to trout waters in the Plover and Prairie Rivers. There are also many fine hunting areas in the county. In the summer water and boating enthusiasts can enjoy Lake Wausau and many other area clear and clean lakes and rivers. In the fall the colors are spectacular throughout the forested county.

Year round bikers and hikers can enjoy hundreds of miles of trails. Marathon County is recognized as having one of the finest park systems in the state with 18 County Parks, totaling 4,050 acres of recreational, historical, scenic and wildlife attractions for all.  Rib Mountain State Park is the most spectacular park in the county. With an elevation of 1,941 feet, Rib Mountain  provides an awe-inspiring view and features hiking trails and camping throughout the park. In addition, 18 miles of the Mountain-Bay State Park Trail meander through the Marathon County countryside. The 83 mile trail running from the Village of Weston to Howard near Green Bay is open to hiking and biking in the summer and snowmobiles and ATVs during the winter. 

In Marathon County, the Rietbrock Geographical Marker locates the exact center of the northern half of the Western Hemisphere. It is here that the 90th Meridian of Longitude bisects the 45th Parallel of Latitude, meaning it is exactly halfway between the North Pole and the Equator, and is a quarter of the way around the earth from Greenwich, England. 

Shopping, Dining &  Lodging

From quaint small town specialty shops to large shopping malls featuring department stores, shoppers can find it all in Marathon County. In addition to antiques, art, unique gifts, specialty items and everything to fulfill all your needs, area stores offer small town friendliness and helpfulness. Dining choices are many in Marathon County, from home-cooked meals in family restaurants to gourmet dining served in elegant, award-wining restaurants ranked among the nation's best by national magazines. After enjoying busy fun days in Marathon County, visitors can enjoy a full range of lodging choices, from campsites and economy motels to log-built mountain villas and elegant luxury hotels.