Calumet County: Nature, Trails and History

On the eastern shore of Lake Winnebago, in expansive natural areas and in museums, you’ll encounter different sides of Calumet County. Hiking and biking trails, water activities and historic homes each give your trip a distinct focus. Which places you include depends on whether you mainly want to spend time outdoors or explore regional history.

Water, Trails and Landscapes

Calumet County Park lies on the eastern shore of Lake Winnebago. It has hiking and biking trails as well as a modern boating facility. The Calumet County Parks Department also operates three boat harbors on the lake’s eastern shore. In winter, a snow tubing hill is open on weekends when there is enough snow; operations depend on the weather and the County’s current Parks program.

High Cliff State Park is the only state-owned recreation area on Lake Winnebago. On the self-guided Indian Mound Trail, you’ll see effigy mounds built by Indigenous peoples 1,500 years ago. Another historic destination is the High Cliff General Store: Built in 1855, the building is now a museum.

Several wildlife areas vary in size and landscape. Brillion Wildlife Area covers 4,800 acres of floodplain forest, open prairie, wetlands, fish-rearing ponds, upland hardwood forest and agricultural land. Kiel Marsh Wildlife Area covers 843 acres and lies where Sheboygan, Calumet and Manitowoc counties meet. It offers access to the Sheboygan River for boats, canoes, skiffs and kayaks. Killsnake Wildlife Area extends into southeastern Calumet County and covers about 7,000 acres of prairie grassland, wetlands, forests, marsh, tamarack stands and bog.

Nature centers also offer different trail and landscape experiences. Ledge View Nature Center encompasses forest, dolomite cliffs, open prairie and an abandoned quarry. It has three miles of trails, a 60-foot observation tower and four caves that offer visitors opportunities for caving. Brillion Nature Center has 6.5 miles of trails through marsh, pond, forest and prairie habitats. A notice dated September 5, 2026, reported that the Ledge View Nature Center building was closed; reopening in late summer 2026 was planned, but no official date had been announced at the time. Check the latest status before visiting.

The Ariens Nordic Center lists a five-kilometer illuminated trail network, 3.5 kilometers of paved trails and a 20-position biathlon shooting range. The four-mile Friendship State Trail runs along State Highway 10 between Forest Junction and Brillion and crosses the Fox River State Trail. This trail connects Calumet County to Green Bay.

Homes, Museums and Regional History

Timm House was built in 1873 in the Greek Revival style and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Tours of the first and second floors last about 45 minutes. Seasonal visiting hours may change; visits by appointment are also possible. At the AriensCo Museum, you’ll encounter more than twelve decades of company and industrial history, presented through historic equipment, artifacts and memorabilia.

The Calumet County Historical Society Museum displays historic machinery as well as vintage cars and trucks. Public visiting hours are available from June through September; visits by appointment are also possible. Pioneer Corner Museum features a diorama of early New Holstein, scenic depictions of its streets, the Fenn Button Collection, and memorabilia from the Turnverein and Schutzenverein. Other exhibits include accounts of New Holstein soldiers in the Civil War. Public visiting hours are available from May through October, and visits by appointment are also possible.

The Heritage Museum at St. Martin Heritage Park focuses on the former St. Martin Catholic Church and its founders, Catholic education, and stories of local heroes from the American Civil War and World War I. The Calumet County Fair also has deep roots: it traces its origins to the founding of an agricultural society in 1856.

Local Traditions and Planning Your Visit

The county’s culinary offerings include eight distinctive supper clubs. A typical meal there may include a relish tray, bread, soup, salad, a main course and an ice cream drink for dessert. For the 2026 season, free concerts at Hobart Park were announced for every Thursday from June through mid-August. For trips later in the year, check the latest event dates.

When looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether water and trails, wildlife areas or cultural attractions will be the focus of your stay.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Brillion, Chilton, Taylor, La Crosse, Waupaca County, Racine County, Jefferson County, Portage County.

For the overarching travel overview: Wisconsin.