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Florence County
Attractions
Located at the
northeast corner of Wisconsin, bordered by the Brule and Menominee
Rivers, Florence County is wild -- full of wild rivers, wildlife,
wilderness, and wildflowers! Almost 254,000 acres of forestland,
carpeted with lush vegetation, hosting delicate, rare and endangered
plants, birds, butterflies and fur-bearing animals, such as black
bears, white-tail deer, bobcats, fishers, raccoons, squirrels,
rabbits and hares. The cries of hawks and eagles, the music of
songbirds by day and owls by night, the rustling of unseen critters
in the underbrush, and the haunting calls of loons echoing from
evening mists over nearby waters, can all be heard while in Florence
County.
Florence County
is known as a natural wonderland. With 110 lakes and 165 miles
of rivers, it includes 65 miles of the Pine and Popple Rivers,
which with their rugged waterfalls and rock walled rapids are
both designated as state Wild Rivers. The Spread Eagle Barrens
in Florence County is one of the last wild, open, ecosystems of
its kind in Wisconsin.
The ups and downs
of the County's lumbering and mining industries, the area's natural
history and the stories of its people are reflected in Florence's
historic buildings, mining sites, photographic collection, the
Florence Natural Resource and Wild Rivers Interpretive Center,
and the Assessors Interpretive Trail.
Outdoor lovers
and naturalists enjoy hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing,
snowshoeing, ATV riding and snowmobiling through Florence County's
year 'round wilderness wonderland. The Blue Ox Trails of Florence
County include 155 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, and ATV's
may be operated on a network of town and county roads designated
for their use.
Florence County
maintains more than 27 miles of hiking trails through a variety
of habitats, ranging in length and difficulty, including a mile-long
path through a variety of woodland vegetation and diverse topography
to the banks of the Pine River for a view of majestic La Salle
Falls. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest features a number
of trails through six distinctly different areas of the forest
including the Whisker Lake Trail, a network of old logging roads
and railroad beds popular with adventurers who like to explore
and use their compasses; and, the Lauterman National Recreation
Trail, a nine-mile hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing
trail with several routes with various levels of difficulty.
From Fisher Creek,
an excellent place for children to learn to catch trout, to the
Brule Backwater, where two-fisted bait casters find trophy-winning
muskies, Florence County's lakes and streams are full of fly-
and bait-loving fish of all kinds; walleyes, northern pike, muskies,
smallmouth and largemouth bass, brown, brook, and rainbow trout,
bluegills, perch and crappie. More than fifty of the County's
fishing hot spots are boat and road accessible. Some of the best
are worth walking a light boat 50 yards or so through the woods
to the water's edge; and, walking in is the only way to get to
parts of some of the best wilderness trout streams.
The abundance
of game and easy public access to the areas lakes and forest hunting
grounds make Florence County the perfect destination for hunters
determined to test their skills at harvesting their quota of deer,
grouse, black bear, ducks, geese, quail, rabbits, and squirrels.
Florence County's
rivers and streams offer 165 miles of kayaking and canoeing variety,
from easy flowing, tranquil passages suitable for the youngest
beginner to rock-strewn rapids and rushing waterfalls traversable
only by the most skilled and experienced whitewater veterans.
Whether you prefer
to pack it in or drive it in, Florence County's 14 public and
private camping areas offer settings and amenities to suit every
camper's needs, from no amenities at all in the 7,500-acre Whisker
Lake Wilderness where you can pitch your tent anywhere, to a private
tent, trailer, RV park resort with everything from water and electricity
to hot showers and horseshoe pits. Indoor accommodations range
from housekeeping cottages and cabins in the woods to full-service
hotel/motels and waterfront bed and breakfast inns.
Visitors looking
for good food cooked. just right and served to please in comfortable
settings are sure to find what they're looking for in one of Florence
County's many fine family restaurants, inns, cafes, supper clubs,
pubs, grills and neighborhood taverns.
Florence County
truly is a natural wonderland and a paradise full of forestland,
fish, bird, game, wildlife and outdoor activities to please everyone!
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Museums and Historic
Sites
Florence County
Jail and Courthouse
501 Lake St., Florence
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Florence
County Jail and Courthouse were constructed in 1889. The picturesque
buildings, with red tile roofs, crenelated towers and elongated,
arched windows, stand as solid reminders of the County's affluent
lumbering and mining era. The courthouse was recently renovated
while preserving its historic character.
Virgin Timber
Forty
Florence County
In this 40-acre forest preserve, 200 year-old northern hardwood
trees stand as magnificent reminders of the old-growth forest
that covered the county long before the logging era began. This
spectacular bit of living history is a must see; a picture of
Wisconsin as it was when the Menominee People welcomed the first
European explorers to their land. The Forty is located on State
Hwy. 70, seven miles west of the junction of State Hwy. 70/101.
St. Paul's
Evangelical Lutheran Church
Tipler
Now more than a half-century-old, St. Paul's Evangelical Church
is one of the few log churches still used for regular services.
This unusually well preserved structure is located in the town
of Tipler, south of State Hwy. 70.
Goodman Grade
Florence
County
Once used to transport logs from the Goodman Timber tract, this
historic railroad grade runs north/south through the entire county
from State Hwy. 70, approximately eight miles west of Florence.
At one time, the Goodman Timber tract was the largest managed
forest in Wisconsin. In 1927 this tract was the first forest entered
into the Industrial Forest Crop Program. The railroad grade is
an impressive remnant of the area's logging era.
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Parks and Nature Centers
Florence Natural
Resource and Wild Rivers Interpretive Center
State
Hwy. 70/101 & U.S. Hwy. 2, Florence
888-889-0049 / 715-528-5377
This 20,000 sq. ft. building houses a 3,000 sq. ft. interpretive
nature center and the offices of all of the natural resource agencies
working in Florence County including the Florence County Forestry
and Parks Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,
USDA Forest Service Florence Ranger District for the Chequamegon-Nicolet
National Forest, Florence County University of Wisconsin Extension,
and Florence County Land Conservation Department. The combined
agency offices offer convenient one-stop visitor services; information
on travel and tourist services, recreation on public lands, maps,
guide books, permits and licenses. The interpretive display area
serves as a focal point for education, discussion and promotion
of balanced resource preservation, development, use and management.
Florence County
Forest
Forest
County
715-528-3207
The 36,000 acre Florence County Forest, managed for timber and
wildlife production, offers a variety of year 'round recreational
opportunities, including tent and trailer camping in two county
and three town campsites, swimming, canoeing, hiking, fishing,
hunting, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.
Chequamegon-Nicolet
National Forest Florence County
Established
in 1933, the 83,000-acre Nicolet Forest covers more than 25% of
Florence County. Reclaimed by the Federal Government from vast
holdings of cutover slashings abandoned by logging and land companies
in the 1920's, the forest has been regenerated into a magnificent
northwoods paradise with new and old growth timberlands, dotted
with lakes, streams, and wetlands, full of wildlife and wilderness
opportunities for the public to enjoy. Within the forest's vastness,
visitors will find two walk-in primitive camping areas and three
drive-in tent/trailer campsites, two with boat landings. The Forest's
waters and trails offer a variety of year 'round recreational
opportunities including hiking, fishing, hunting, canoeing, swimming,
cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, birding, berry and wildflower
picking, photography, and nature study.
Whisker Lake
Wilderness Area
Chequamegon-Nicolet National- Forest Florence County
888-889-0049 / 715-528-5377
Deep within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, the Whisker
Lake Wilderness Area beckons all who seek solitude and true communion
with the grandeur of nature. This area is named for the virgin
pines - uncut by loggers and untouched by the wildfires that raged
through here in the early 20th century - sentinels that rise like
"chin whiskers" along the shoreline of this mystic lake.
Numerous activities are available here, including hiking, hunting,
fishing, skiing, berry picking, nature study and contemplation
of the awesome, primitive beauty of this unique environment. Motorized
use and bicycles are prohibited; maps and compasses are essential;
and primitive camping is permitted throughout. Pack it in, pitch
your tent wherever you like, and pack it out at the end of your
wilderness stay. Before you embark on any trip here, even for
a day, the National Forest Service requires that you fill out
a destination card at the trailhead.
Spread Eagle
Barrens
Spread
Eagle
71.5-528-4400
One of the last remaining pre-settlement ecosystems in the state,
the Spread Eagle Barrens present an undulating mosaic of sun-swept
bracken grasslands, solitary oaks and pines, and occasional large
stands of timber. Few richer experiences can be found than observing
the many species of birds that flock to the Spread Eagle Barrens
in June; thrilling to the multitudes of butterflies that flutter
among the sea prairie flowers that bloom here on warm, still,
hazy August afternoon; or, catching a glimpse of a black bear
foraging for blueberries on a distant slope. The Pine River bisects
the Barrens on an east-west axis while the Menominee River forms
its irregular eastern boundary. Although the Barrens are traversed
by several roads and trails, the area is essentially undeveloped,
as it was thousands of years ago. The primary access road south
of Lake Anna Rd. in section 7, affords a wonderful vista
of the Barrens, hiking trails provide close-up views of its various
plant, bird, insect and animal populations. Maps and additional
information are available from the Florence Office of the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources.
Wild Rivers
Canoe Trails
Florence
County
On the rivers of Florence County, canoeists can follow the paths
of explorers probing the unknown wilderness, trappers paddling
their winter harvest to market, and lumberjacks driving their
logs down melt-freshened rivers to distant sawmills. These rivers
offer different opportunities – you can drift through emerald-canopied
narrows, run along rock-strewn rapids, portage around life-threatening
waterfalls or lazily lounge on tranquil ponds along the way.
Brule River
The Brule River,
which creates the border between northeast Wisconsin and Michigan's
Upper Peninsula, offers trout fishing, wilderness scenery and
solitude. The canoeable length of the Brule is 45 miles, which
can be segmented into four 6 to 14-mile stretches. This waterway
is good for beginners.
Pine River
The Pine River,
one of Florence County's two state-designated wild rivers, has
two different personalities. The playful upper river, above La
Salle Falls alternates between deep, slow meanders, rapids and
falls. The lower last 10 miles of the river offers relaxed paddling
with a steady current and only a few, gentle riffles. Even beginning
canoeists can enjoy the upper Pine by portaging the more difficult
rapids and falls. La Salle Falls has a 22-ft. vertical drop and
requires a challenging half-mile portage that bypasses the falls
and its canyon.
Popple River
Florence County's
other officially designated wild river, the Popple River, is twenty
miles in length before intersecting the Pine River south of State
Hwy. 101. Canoeing on the Popple is less frequent than on the
Pine due to frequent low water levels and the portages around
its four waterfalls. The lower section, downstream of Morgan Lake
Road, is the most difficult on the watershed and is recommended
only for experts with suitable skills and equipment. Upstream
of Morgan Lake Rd., paddlers will find easy, but shallow and rocky
rapids.
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Mountain Bike Trails
Florence County
Mountain bikers can tour Florence County's scenic beauty along
more than fifty miles of trail, ranging from an easy mile of county
trail to an advanced challenge level route in the Chequamegon-Nicolet
National Forest. The Lauterman, Perch Lake and Ridge National
Forest Trails are inter-connected, for a 12-mile, multi-challenge
level tour of the northern forest at its best.
Bass Lake Trail.
This 40
mile intermediate challenge trail is the longest mountain bike
trail in the county.
Keyes Peak
Trail.
For an outstanding view of the surrounding countryside, climb
to the county's highest peak on this 8-mile intermediate level
trail.
Lauterman Trail.
This 9-mile National Forest Trail traverses hilly terrain and
includes three loops ranging from easy to advanced challenge levels.
Perch Lake
Trail.
Short
and easy, this 1.3 mile trail circles picturesque Perch Lake over
gently rolling wooded terrain.
Ridge Trail.
The 3.3-mile, intermediate level Ridge Trail leads through the
forest, beginning at the Chipmunk Rapids Campground.
Florence County
Ski Trails
Florence
County
In winter, Florence County's forest wonderland is traversed by
more than 30 miles of cross-country ski trails, all but
one - an easy, 1.3 mile novice level trail- - are finely groomed.
All are easily accessible. The National Forest's Lauterman and
Perch Lake Trails are interconnected.
Lake Emily.
Conveniently
close to town, this groomed trail covers 6 miles of intermediate
level skiing.
Lauterman.
This groomed,
National- Forest Trail, one of the area's best, traverses hilly
terrain and includes three loops. The trail is 9 miles long and
has novice to advanced level areas, but most of it is in the intermediate
challenge range.
Perch Lake.
This ungroomed, 1.3-mile novice level trail has gently rolling
terrain that encircles picturesque Perch Lake.
Fay Lake Resort.
This groomed
trail traverses 10 miles of private and National Forest land and
is primarily for the novice and intermediate skier, with some
advanced level segments.
Timber Doodle.
This groomed
trail is approximately 3 miles in length and has novice to advanced
trails.
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Special Things To
Do
Florence County
Waterfall Tour
Florence
County
Deep in the forest, the waters of Florence County's wild rivers
cascade, tumble and roar down seven breath-taking waterfalls;
La Salle, Meyers, and Bull Falls on the Pine River and Washburn,
Little Bull, Big Bull and Jennings Falls on the Popple River.
All but one of the falls are accessible by land. Trails to the
fall-s range from 1/4 to a little more than one mile. Trails to
the falls are generally hilly and unimproved and require more
than normal physical effort. Many of the roads leading to the
falls are unimproved and may wash out or become impassable during
spring thaw and wet periods. Little Bull Falls, which lies entirely
within private property, can only be viewed from a canoe. Canoes
may put in at the Morgan Road/Popple River crossing. Little Bull
Falls is one-half mile downstream from the crossing and is surrounded
by rapids both up and downstream. Maps and condition reports may
be obtained from the Florence Natural Resource and Wild Rivers
Interpretive Center, 888-889-0049 / 715-528-5377.
Florence County
Auto Tours
Florence
County
Explore the Florence County's scenic wonders, historic sites and
buildings on one of two delightful north-country road tours. Maps
and information about these tours are available from the Florence
Natural Resource and Wild Rivers Interpretive Center, 888-889-0049
/ 715-528-5377.
Rustic Road
Tour.
In the southwestern corner of Florence County two designated rustic
roads combine to form a picturesque drive among beautiful hardwood
forests. The roads make several crossings over the wild Popple
River, and pass near Morgan Lake Campground, a National Forest
Campground, and former Civilian Conservation Corps' Camp Newald.
Wildlife abounds along the way, with deer and songbirds making
regular appearances, and an occasional black bear, fisher, bald
eagle, or porcupine wandering into sight.
Florence County
Auto Tour
Circling
through the County's spectacular and historic landscape, the Florence
County Auto Tour begins in the town of Florence and moves on to
the Spread Eagle Barrens, the Chain of Lakes, and the Keyes Peak
Scenic Overlook. The tour then journeys into the Nicolet National
Forest and the Whisker Lake Wilderness Area, past the Virgin Timber
Forty, and to log constructed St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran
Church. Then it goes to the Connor-Pine River Sawmill, the Country
Inn (a W.W. II prisoner-of-war facility), with a short foray into
Forest County to view the incredible 148 ft. tall, 17-ft.
circumference MacArthur Pine, back to Forest County's most magnificent
waterfall, La Salle Falls (a one-mile hike from the road), and
back to the town of Florence.
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