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Ashland County
Attractions
From
the wild 15-mile rapids of the Flambeau River near Butternut at
the southeastern edge of the county, to Lake Superior on the north,
Ashland County offers outdoor excitement, spectacular scenery,
tranquil lakes and lively streams surrounded by luxurious forests,
skyscraping rocks, mystical waterfalls, abundant wildlife, vast
stretches of peaceful, undeveloped wilderness, rugged shoreline,
sandy beaches, and access to the largest of the Great Lakes.
Ashland County
is anchored by the City of Ashland, on the southern shore of Lake
Superior's Chequamegon Bay. Ashland's harbor, nestled in protected
Chequamegon Bay, boasts a full service marina; the perfect place
to put in from sailing, cruising or fishing Lake Superior, two
short blocks from the city's historic downtown. Ashland's city
parks offer swimming, sandy beaches, fishing piers, campsites,
playgrounds, old forest trails, deer yards, campsites, launching
ramps, lakeside picnic areas and unobstructed views of the breakwater
lighthouse and Chequamegon Bay.
Much of inland
Ashland County is covered by the gently rolling terrain of the
Chequamegon National Forest. With 411 lakes, 632 miles of rivers
and streams, 200 miles of hiking trails, 200 miles of motorized
trails, over 800 wetlands, nearly 11,000 acres of wilderness areas,
50 miles of cross-country ski trails and more than 300 miles of
snowmobile trails, recreational activities and scenic landscapes
are virtually unlimited year-round. In Summer, forest activities
include sightseeing from highland overlooks, fishing, hiking,
ATVing, horseback riding and wilderness camping. In winter, forest
lakes and trails host cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice-fishing
and snowshoeing.
With almost 900
square miles of woodland, 157 lakes, and 548 miles of rivers and
streams, including 257 miles of trout streams, Ashland county
is one of Wisconsin's most productive hunting and fishing grounds;
regularly yielding trophy size musky, trout, walleye, northern
and panfish, whitetail deer, and black bear. The world record
10'7" black bear, taken nearby in the county, is proudly
displayed in Gladden.
Visitors can buy
or rent boats, motors, canoes, mountain bikes, skis, snowmobiles,
bait, tackle, tents, stoves, ATV's; almost everything they need
for outdoor fun, at Ashland County resorts, marinas, outfitters,
bait, tackle and sports centers.
Ashland County
hotels and restaurants offer great variety, from Lake Superior
Fish Boils to award-winning gourmet delights featuring fresh,
locally grown produce and genuine catch-of-today specials. Lodging
accommodations range from luxury lakeside resort hotels, country
cottages and log cabins to economy motels and rugged wilderness
campsites.
For the perfect
outdoor adventure and getaway any time of the year, Ashland County
has it all!
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Museums and Historical Sites
Ashland Historical
Museum
509 West Main Street, Ashland
715-682-4911
Located in the heart of the Ashland's Historic Shopping district, this museum features
displays of industrial, retail, medical and life styles reflecting
Ashland's history from beginning to the present.
Mellen Area
Historical Museum
City Hall, Mellen
715-685-9983
The Mellen Area Historical Museum is located on the second floor
of the 1896 City Hall in a space that was originally built as
a community recreation center. The restored stage hosts theatrical
productions that continue the facility's century-old community
gathering tradition. Exhibits include logging and farm equipment,
weaving looms, vintage clothing, period home and business items,
military artifacts, historical maps and more. Open June 1 - September
1 during library hours, Monday - Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.,
Wednesday & Friday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. -
noon. Not open holidays.
Northern Great
Lakes Visitor Center
US Hwy. 2 and Cty. Hwy. G, West of Ashland
715-685-9983
Operated by multiple agencies and organizations, the Visitor Center
provides cultural exhibits of the history of the Northern Great
Lakes Region: Northern Wisconsin, Northeastern Minnesota and the
Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The region's heritage is told from
the time of the glaciers to the present. A musical historical
house show "Up Under the Upper Lake" provides an entertaining
presentation of Northern Wisconsin's farming, logging, shipping
and mining history. Open 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. daily in summer;
and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily in winter.
Ashland Historic
District
Downtown Ashland
715-682-2500
Ashland's downtown historic district has an old-fashioned mix
of retail shops, restaurants and other businesses located in 19th
and early 20th century buildings including the once bustling Soo
Line Depot that now houses two restaurants, offices, a micro-brewery
and one of the world's largest collections of railroad art; and
the old Northwestern Depot, now a fitness center. (The Soo Line Depot Building
is currently under re-construction after a tragic fire almost two years ago. The
restaurant and micro-brewery are now housed in one of the Historic beautifully
renovated Wilmarth Buildings at 808 West Main Street.)
Marion Park
Pavilion
Marion Park, Glidden
715-264-4304
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the architecturally
unique Marion Park Pavilion was built during the depression by
the WPA. This octagon-shaped structure, 45 feet high and 90 feet
wide, was constructed of virgin hemlock and pine, with a hardwood
floor and hundreds of windowpanes.
Glidden Area
Historical Museum
Marion Park, Glidden
715-264-6004
View artifacts and memorabilia of Glidden's logging, lumbering
and dairy farming heritage dating back to the early 1800's. Call
for hours.
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Parks and Nature Centers
Copper Falls
State Park
Mellen
715-274-5123
Canyons, streams, beautiful waterfalls, swimming beach, picnic area with
log shelter, miles of trails, a family campground plus walk-in
and backpack campsites are available for visitors at this beautiful
Wisconsin State Park. Copper Falls, located just northeast of
the City of Mellen, is a 29-foot falls which marks the first drop
of the Bad River as it flows through steep-walled gorges of rugged
and awesome splendor. Hikers will enjoy self-guided nature trails
and observation points overlooking spectacular vistas.
Morgan Falls/St.
Peter's Dome
Chequamegon National Forest, Sanborn
715-373-2667
This scenic area is located about 13 miles west of Mellen and
6 miles south of Sanborn in the Penokee Range. The 1600-ft. red
granite dome is the highest point in the Chequamegon National
Forest. On a clear day, you can see Lake Superior 20 miles to
the north. At the south fork of Morgan Creek, a small stream cascades
70 feet down the face of a rock cliff, forming a spectacular waterfall to a small shaded pool.
It is a one-half mile hike from the parking lot to Morgan Falls,
and beyond the falls, about one-mile to the top of St. Peter's
Dome.
Ashland City
Parks
Ashland
715-682-7061
Ashland is a city of parks. One of the most impressive is Prentice
Park with 100 acres of old forest, walking trails, artesian wells,
a deer yard and boardwalk along Fish Creek Slough. Prentice Park
facilities include campsites, a pavilion and a playground. Bayview
Park on Ashland's east end features a spectacular view of the
old lighthouse at the end of the Ashland breakwater. Facilities
at Bayview Park include a playground, swimming beach, fishing
pier, picnic areas and a re-creation of a historic stockade. Kreher
Park has RV campsites, a swimming beach, pavilion, playground
and a boat ramp. Ashland is also
proud of their new
"Waterfront Trail" that takes you through a scenic walking tour of
Ashland and the Chequamegon Bay from the East side of town to the West side of
town.
Chequamegon
National Forest
Bayfield County
715-373-2667/715-264-2511
The Chequamegon National Forest has 850,000 acres of rolling terrain
dotted with crystal clear lakes, rushing rivers and meandering
streams, a variety of scenic landscapes, rock formations, highland
outlooks, varied forest environments, hundreds of wildlife species;
and hundreds of miles of easy-going to rugged hiking, mountain
biking, cycling and snowmobile trails, five public and four private
campgrounds.
Backcountry camping
is permitted throughout the forest on public land located at least
30 feet from any trail or waters' edge. The Rainbow Lake and Porcupine
Lake Wilderness areas offer backpackers and hikers 11,000 rugged
acres of nature at its quiet best; no wheeled or motorized vehicles
are allowed.
Families with
young children, and others looking for short and easy paths through
the forest will find several trails with interpretive stations.
All are easily accessible and can be enjoyed in as little as half
an hour. The Forest Lodge Nature Trail, maintained by the Cable
Natural History Museum, is a family favorite.
Skyscraping towers,
cliff-lined gorges and seventy foot waterfalls are found along
the forest's more challenging trails, including the North Country
National Scenic Trail, part of a 3200 mile trail linking the Appalachian
Trail in Vermont with the Lewis and Clark Trail in North Dakota.
Mountain bike
enthusiasts will find more than 300 miles of mapped and marked
trails stretching from Hayward to Iron River. Developed and maintained
by the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike association, CAMBA trails
are well-marked, "impossible to get lost on," and follow
a variety of paths including logging roads, firelanes, snowmobile
trails, ski trails and single tracks.
Hundreds of miles
of excellent trail systems allow snowmobilers to travel the uncrowded
solitude of the forest, over well-groomed logging roads, firelanes
and converted railbeds with 200 to 585 footbridges from Hayward
to Mason, Iron River and Port Wing.
In the heart of
the forest, the Forest Service maintains an extensive network
of trails that are open for horseback riding. The 12-mile Horseshoe
Lake Saddle Trail, suitable for riders of all abilities, has two
adjoining loops of varying lengths to explore.
The U.S. Forest
Service also maintains a number of cross-country ski trail systems
in the forest, including Rock Lake, Namakogon, Drummond, Penokee
Mountain, West Torch and Mukwonago trails. All are groomed for
classical skiing except Mukwonago, which provides for both classical
and skate skiing.
Forest lakes and
streams provide angling thrills for novice and expert alike. Lake
Namakagon is one of three Wisconsin lakes managed for trophy musky
production; regularly yielding 40+ inchers. Altogether there are
more than a dozen large lakes in the Ashland Country portion of
the Forest, offering a variety of good catches including walleye,
bass, and northern. Forest streams yield brook trout, rainbows
and browns. Crappies and other panfish are plentiful in all of
the forests waters, including the many wilderness lakes that are
only accessible by foot and best fished by belly boat. In winter,
of course, the fish are available through the ice. Ice fishing
equipment is available for rent in nearby boat, bait and tackle
shops.
Forest woodlands
offer great hunting with little competition from others. In season,
whitetail deer, black bear, ruffed grouse, and waterfowl are most
commonly hunted. But, the forest also yields woodcock, gray squirrel,
snowshoe hare, fox and coyote.
Private campgrounds
located on the shores of the Forest's lakes offer boat ramps,
sandy beaches, boat, motor and canoe rentals, electrical hookups,
water, showers and flush toilets.
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Points of Interest
Bad River Chippewa
Reservation
Bad River
715-682-7111
A visit to the Bad River Chippewa Reservation is an exciting and
enlightening experience for young and old alike. More than 95%
of the reservation's 124,234 acres remain wild and undeveloped.
The Kakagon and Bad River Sloughs, 16,000 acres of high-quality
Lake Superior wetlands on the reservation's shoreline have supplied
wild rice to generations of Chippewa. The Bad River Chippewa operate
a fish hatchery, annually stocking more than 15 million walleye
into reservation waters and area lakes and streams.
Northland College
1411 Ellis Ave.
715-682-1224
Northland College, an environmental liberal arts college, located
in Ashland, is nationally recognized for it's special focus on
environmental studies. Here visitors will discover the new McLean
Environmental Living and Learning Center and the Sigurd Olson
Environmental Institute. Call for tour and special event information.
Northern Continental
Divide
Glidden
715-264-4304
The Northern Continental Divide separates the southern third from
the northern portion of Ashland County. Rivers originating north
of the Divide flow north to Lake Superior, and to the Gulf of
St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean; rivers originating south
of the Divide flow south, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico.
The Divide is located a few miles north of Glidden and is marked
with a clear sign along State Highway 13/77.
World's Record
Black Bear
Glidden
715-264-4304
The Town of Glidden boasts the title of "Black Bear Capital
of the World. The world record, 10':7", 665-pound black bear
taken in this area in 1963 is on display here.
Penokee Mountain
Overlook
Clam Lake/Mellen
715-373-2667
This area offers a breathtaking view of the Penokee Mountain Range
and the Chequamegon National Forest. Located on Cty. Hwy. GG between
Mellen and Clam Lake, this overlook has a platform area for viewing
with benches and interpretive signage. Stairs lead from the parking
lot to the overlook, less than one-fourth mile away.
Black Granite
Quarries
Mellen Area
715-682-7111
Aside from the deposits found in the Penokee Range, Black Gabbro
(Black Granite) is known only to exist in the Swiss Alps. There
are two black granite quarries in the Mellen area; it is shipped
to all points of the world from here.
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Special Things To Do
Whitewater
Rafting
Flambeau River, Butternut
715-682-2500
The north fork of the Flambeau River is known for its 15-mile
stretch of rapids for whitewater rafting. Professional guides
and skilled boaters guide visitors through the rapids and superb
river scenery. Rafting on the Flambeau is not recommended without
a guide. For information contact the Flambeau Area Sportsman Club
in Butternut.
Ashland Bay
Days
Ashland
715-682-2500
There's plenty to see and do at the Ashland Bay Days celebration.
This annual July weekend event features an off-road bike race,
the City View 10K Run, the Ashland Cup Sailboat Race, a 3x3 Basketball
Tourney, a sock hop, food, arts and crafts galore.
Whistlestop
Festival
Ashland
715-682-2500
In October, Ashland hosts the annual Whistlestop Festival. A classic
Lake Superior Fish Boil and Prediction Run lead-off the fun, followed
by the Whistlestop Marathon, Half-Marathon and Relays, topped
off with a Post Marathon Party and a Blues and Brews Fest.
Chequamegon
Fat Tire Festival
Cable
715-798-3594
Come to Cable for three days of fat tire racing and fat tire fun
at the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival held on the second weekend
after Labor Day. This is the nation's largest off-road bicycle
event, drawing mountain bikers from around the world. Entries
are limited to 2500, but participation in the fun is entirely
unlimited.
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