Whatever corner of Oneida County you visit, you’re sure to find friendly people, beautiful Northwoods scenery, and great places to play, eat, and stay. Here’s a closer look at the communities that make up Oneida County.
Hazelhurst
Hazelhurst, a small town nestled in the heart of the Northwoods, is a hidden gem that boasts a serene and peaceful atmosphere and picturesque natural beauty.
The community is well-known for its waterways and woods like Upper and Lower Kaubashine Lakes, the Yawkey Forest Preserve, and the Willow Flowage. The flowage is one of the state’s most pristine natural areas and provides a true wilderness experience to anglers, paddlers, and boaters.
The famous Bearskin State Trail passes through Hazelhurst on its 20-mile route from downtown Minocqua to Tomahawk and is a popular spot for walkers, runners, and bikers.
Visitors can choose from family-run resorts, campgrounds, vacation homes, and many other lodging properties that are ready to welcome Northwoods explorers.
Lake Tomahawk
The small town of Lake Tomahawk (population 1,110) sits in the heart of the Northwoods in the middle of the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest and is a great home base for Northwoods adventures like paddling, hiking, fishing, and snowmobiling.
The 3,100-acre Rainbow Flowage, located just northeast of Lake Tomahawk, is a popular destination for paddling and fishing, boasting an impressive population of panfish, pike, and walleye. Other popular recreational lakes nearby include Tomahawk Lake, and Horsehead Lake.
Lake Tomahawk is also home to a unique summer tradition: snowshoe baseball games, which are played on Monday nights in June, July, and August with both teams wearing snowshoes. The game is played with a 16-inch ball and no gloves, and concessions include delicious homemade pies for sale.
Learn more about Lake Tomahawk.
Minocqua
The Minocqua Area consists of the town of Minocqua as well as the neighboring communities of Woodruff, and Hazelhurst. The Minocqua Area is a classic Northwoods vacation destination, offering hundreds of nearby lakes to explore, as well as great places for shopping, dining, and unique attractions.
You’ll find unique attractions and events in the Minocqua Area year-round, from ski shows by the Min-Aqua Bats ski team in the summer to Beef-A-Rama in the fall.
The Bearskin State Trail, which takes its name from the local Bearskin Creek, is a flat, crushed-granite trail that follows the route of a former railroad line south from downtown Minocqua to Tomahawk. It’s a popular destination for walkers and bikers, and part of the trail is also open to snowmobilers in the winter.
Get out on the water in the Minocqua Area to fish for musky, walleye, crappie, bass, and northern pike on great fisheries like Lake Minocqua, Kawaguesaga Lake, and Clear Lake.
Learn more about the Minocqua Area.
Pelican Lake/Schoepke
The Pelican Lake Area is home to popular lodging properties and restaurants, and is a great place to explore the lakes of northern Wisconsin.
At 3,585 acres and a maximum depth of 39 feet, Pelican Lake is one of the largest lakes in the county, and it’s well-known for a sizeable population of northern pike, musky, and walleye. Other popular fishing lakes in the area include Enterprise Lake, Summit Lake, and Upper and Lower Post Lakes.
Public swimming beaches are available on Monico and Summit lakes. These beaches are open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Visitors can choose from several different restaurants, ranging from friendly taverns serving burgers to restaurants specializing in juicy steaks. Lodging in the Pelican Lake Area includes resorts, campgrounds, cottages and cabins.
Learn more about Pelican Lake/Schoepke.
Rhinelander
When you visit Rhinelander in central Oneida County, you’re heading into the heart of Hodag Country. Rhinelander is the proud home of the Hodag, a mythical beast that was first “discovered” here in the late 19th century and can now be seen everywhere around the city, from the giant statue outside the chamber of commerce to murals, signs, and store names throughout Rhinelander.
Rhinelander is also home to great recreational trails, whether you’re interested in hiking, mountain biking, or winter sports. A hidden gem is the Holmboe Nature Preserve, located just south of Highway 17, which offers a short but scenic walking trail along the Pelican River.
You can fill your calendar with fun events in Rhinelander, too, including the long-running Art Fair on the Courthouse Lawn, Hodag Country Festival, and Lights of the Northwoods.
Sugar Camp
This small town between Rhinelander and Eagle River in northeastern Oneida County has a sweet history—the area has been known as Sugar Camp since members of the Flambeau Tribe of the Ojibwe Nation built a settlement around Sugar Camp Lake and Indian Lake hundreds of years ago. The tribe gathered wild rice around the lakes and harvested sap from the area’s plentiful maple trees, giving the area its name.
Today, Sugar Camp is home to bars, restaurants, and places to stay, as well as local recreation options like the Tara Lila Trails (Ripco Road Unit) and the Rice Lake State Natural Area.
Three Lakes
Don’t let the name fool you—there are a lot more than three lakes near this charming town in northeastern Oneida County. In fact, the Three Lakes Chain of Lakes, which connects with the Eagle River Chain to the north, boasts an impressive 28 lakes and is the largest freshwater chain of lakes in the world.
But it’s not just lakes here, either, as Three Lakes boasts an impressive selection of trails for hiking, biking, skiing, and other recreational pursuits. The Three Eagle Trail connects north to Eagle River and is a great scenic spot for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.
In historic downtown Three Lakes, you’ll find lots of great shops and restaurants, from supper clubs to specialty food stores and everything in between.
Woodruff
Woodruff, located just north of Minocqua in northern Oneida County, takes its name from George Woodruff of the Woodruff-Macguire Lumber Company, which logged the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Today, Woodruff’s abundant lakes and forests provide visitors with exciting recreational opportunities all year long. Arrowhead Lake and Brandy Lake are popular spots for fishing and boating, and the Raven Trail offers 11 miles of hiking and mountain biking east of town.
The World’s Largest Penny, located at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Hemlock Street, commemorates a 1953 fundraiser where local teachers and students collected a million pennies to help build the area’s first hospital. The effort was inspired by Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb, whose work is commemorated at the Dr. Kate Museum, where visitors can learn more about the “Million Penny March”.
Woodruff’s downtown district, situated around the intersection of U.S. Highway 51 and Wisconsin Highway 47, features several dining options, including a craft brewery, a cafe, taverns, and ethnic restaurants.
