Washburn County: Rivers, Trails and Heritage

The Washburn County Forest covers 149,000 acres, including publicly accessible areas. Rivers, lakes, trails and cultural sites complement the nature-focused destinations in Washburn County. When planning your trip, you can focus on water, trails, winter activities or history.

Rivers, Lakes and Natural Areas

The Totogatic Wild River area covers 2,113 acres, most of which lies in northwestern Washburn County. Fishing, paddling, hunting and wildlife watching are possible along the Totogatic Wild River. Nearly 50 miles of the Namekagon River flow through the county. The Namekagon River Fishery Area has an unimproved boat landing that anglers can use to access the river.

The Sawmill Lake Primitive Canoe Route is another option for a trip focused on water: it connects nine different lakes, and most portages are less than 100 yards long. At Hunt Hill Nature Center, the Bear Trail crosses the forest over two footbridges and offers views of four glacial lakes. Much of the center’s western area is designated State Natural Area #116.

Trails and Winter Activities

Washburn County manages 116 miles of ATV trails, most of which run through County Forest lands. The trail network consists of several loops with connections to the regional Wild Rivers and Tuscobia State Trails. These connections may change with seasonal conditions and trail management. The county has 240 miles of state-funded snowmobile trails; their availability depends on snow and seasonal conditions.

The Nordic Woods Ski Trail covers 12.6 kilometers and has several loops. In winter, one side is groomed and tracked for classic cross-country skiing and the other for skating; grooming depends on snow conditions. The Totogatic Ski Trail is 11.1 kilometers long and has several shortcuts and connectors; grooming also varies seasonally. In terms of length, Nordic Woods is the longer of the two trails. Their described layouts also differ: Nordic Woods has several loops, while Totogatic has shortcuts and connectors.

The Wild Rivers State Trail extends for 104 miles through Washburn County and the neighboring Wisconsin counties of Douglas and Barron. The ATV connections mentioned above and this longer trail route offer different points of reference for trip planning: you can consider the trail network, length and seasonal conditions without treating the individual trails as equivalent.

History, Museums and Special Places

The Governor Tommy G. Thompson State Fish Hatchery is the world’s largest musky hatchery. The original Spooner Hatchery was built in 1913. A footpath from the hatchery’s visitor parking lot leads south over the dam to Memorial Park. The Spooner Railroad Memories Museum is housed in the original 1902 Omaha depot.

The Stone Lake Area Historical Society Museum complex includes the original Stone Lake Soo Line Depot, a restored red Soo Line caboose and the original Stone Lake Town Hall, built in 1926. The Washburn County Historical Museum tells the story of the county’s past 150 years; its complex also includes St. John’s Lutheran Church, built in 1888. Two special designations meet at the Spooner Agriculture Research Station Teaching and Display Garden: it is an official All-America Selections winner garden, and part of it is recognized as an official Monarch Waystation.

The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad operates on a 15-mile section of the more than 100-year-old Chicago & Northwestern line between Spooner and Springbrook. It also offers scenic train rides along the Namekagon River. The Namekagon River is part of the St. Croix National Park System. Available experiences include sightseeing rides, family pizza rides, elegant dinner rides and a moving bed-and-breakfast train. Offerings and schedules may vary.

Programs and Local Cuisine

The Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum’s Canoe Shop operates year-round. It has been used for classes in canoe building, restoration, paddle making, chair caning, canoe covering and snowshoe making. Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Day is held every year on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend in Spooner. Shell Lake Arts Center offers summer camps and workshops; programs vary from year to year.

Fish fries are also one of the culinary themes to consider on a trip through Washburn County: nearly 40 restaurants in the county serve various fish dishes in the fish-fry style. Participation by individual restaurants may change. If you’re looking for a hotel in Washburn County, the rivers, trails and cultural sites can help you organize your trip plans by theme. For time-specific offerings such as train rides or programs, check the relevant dates.

Discover more destinations: Shell Lake, Door County, Clark County, Pierce, Dunn County, Dane, Racine County, Columbia.

For the broader travel overview: Wisconsin.