Marathon: Nature, Trails and Culture

In Marathon County, nature preserves and larger trail systems shape the choices; Wausau, for example, features river trails, walking tours, and recreational activities. The specific places and their individual features can help you distinguish between your travel interests.

Nature Preserves and Forests

The Dells of the Eau Claire nature preserve protects a scenic, rocky gorge and waterfalls. It has been designated a State Natural Area since 1973. Plover River Woods offers a different natural setting: the area includes northern wet-mesic and northern mesic forest with exceptionally diverse ground flora. Both places highlight distinctive forest and landscape features, but each has its own character.

Big Eau Pleine County Park also offers distinct forest settings. The park encompasses 1,450 acres of second-growth hardwood forest. Big Eau Pleine Woods, within the park, is an old-growth-like northern mesic forest. At Monk Botanical Gardens, meanwhile, notable features include a site of just under 30 acres and two miles of walking trails. These sizes give you an idea of whether you would rather include a park, a forest, or a garden in your travel plans.

Compare Trails and Routes

Dells of the Eau Claire County Park has more than five miles of hiking trails, which connect to the Ice Age Trail. Rib Mountain State Park also has hiking trails, as well as a 60-foot observation tower. The Mountain Bay State Trail offers another point of comparison: it is 83 miles long in total and runs through Marathon, Shawano, and Brown counties. Of that, 18 miles are in Marathon County. These different figures help distinguish individual trails from longer route systems without treating them as the same kind of outing.

In Wausau, the River Edge Parkway follows the Wisconsin River for about 1.25 miles and is used year-round by walkers and cyclists. The Barker-Stewart Island Interpretive Trail offers an interpretive walk about half a mile long. The two miles of trails at Monk Botanical Gardens also differ in length and setting from these Wausau routes. If you plan to use these trails, check the latest information on trail conditions and access before your visit.

Waterways and Seasonal Activities

Wausau Whitewater Park features more than twelve natural and man-made elements along a roughly one-third-mile stretch of the Wisconsin River. The Great Pinery Heritage Waterway is a 108-mile navigable waterway with boat landings in Marathon County. Both descriptions relate to water but reflect different scales: individual features along a stretch of river in one case, and a long waterway with boat landings in the other.

Nine Mile County Forest Recreation Area has 20 miles of bike routes on cross-country ski trails. Since uses and seasonal schedules should be checked again before your trip, factor this information into your plans rather than assuming a particular use is available at any given time. Marathon County is also said to have more than 700 miles of scenic trails in Central Wisconsin and over 28 snowmobile clubs. Trail mileage can change when routes are modified, so check current route information if your choice depends on it.

Culture and Events in Wausau

For cultural activities, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum presents Birds in Art, an annual juried exhibition. Exhibition dates vary from year to year. The Hmong Wausau Festival is also an annual regional event; its cultural program takes place in late July. Dates and venues may vary by year, so check the schedule for your planned travel dates.

In historic downtown Wausau, guided and self-guided walking tours of historic streets are available. As schedules and availability should be confirmed, check the details of the tour you plan to take before your visit.

More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Rothschild, Wausau, Weston, Schofield, Abbotsford, Mosinee, Walworth, St. Croix County.

Return to the main travel overview: Wisconsin.