Shawano County: Rivers, Trails and History

The Navarino Wildlife Area is part of the Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resources Area and extends into the southern part of Shawano County. River access, a variety of trails and local culture give your trip several distinct points of focus. When choosing a hotel, consider which of these interests will shape your daily plans.

Rivers and Trails Through Nature

The Navarino Wildlife Area has developed boat launches and carry-in access points to the Wolf River and connected waterways. The Navarino Nature Center maintains hiking, snowshoeing and groomed cross-country ski trails in the Wildlife Area. The center offers canoe trips at various times of the year; check with them for current availability. It also offers environmental education and programs that build skills for outdoor activities.

For cyclists, the connection at Eland is a useful landmark: the Wiouwash State Trail connects there with the Mountain-Bay State Trail. There are parking areas along the Mountain-Bay State Trail in Eland, Bowler, Shawano and Bonduel. At Sturgeon Park, walking and biking trails connect the park with other local parks; it also borders the Mountain Bay State Trail.

For winter days, Maple Hills offers four levels of difficulty, more than 7 miles of groomed skate and classic cross-country ski trails, and a 2.5-mile trail exclusively for snowshoeing. Along with the snowshoeing and cross-country ski trails maintained by the Navarino Nature Center, these offer a range of options: Maple Hills also lists trail lengths and difficulty levels, while the Nature Center maintains several types of trails.

Parks by the River and Lake

The 54-acre Hayman Falls County Park is on the Embarrass River and has a small footbridge and hiking trails. Voelz Memorial Park offers Wilson Lake, a beach, a fishing pier and a boat launch. The park also has a rustic trail network. Shawano Lake County Park is on the shore of Shawano Lake.

History, Art and Seasonal Events

Heritage Park is located at the site of the first European settlement in Shawano County. Its historic buildings house artifacts from the history of the county and the city of Shawano. Among the museums there is the John Kast House, built at this site in 1871. Sunset Island in Heritage Park was historically known as “Monkey Island” and was the site of Samuel Farnsworth’s sawmill.

Tours of Heritage Park take place on Saturdays from June through August, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Group tours and tours by appointment are also available. Check the current tour schedule before your trip. Another stop for local history is the Zachow Depot Museum: it is a replica of the C&NW Standard No. 3 Depot, built in Zachow in 1906, and contains a diorama of the village of Zachow as it was in 1949.

The Arvid E. Miller Library & Museum archives Mohican history. Its collection includes rare books, maps from the early 17th century, portraits of Mohican people, and government and tribal documents. The murals and Art Park at Walls of Wittenberg can be visited year-round. WOWSPACE hosts art exhibitions, concerts and community events. Mielke Park has a 250-seat theater as well as an outdoor amphitheater.

Seasonal events can also shape your plans: the Shawano Farmers Market takes place at Franklin Park on Saturdays from June through October. The Shawano Ski Sharks put on weekly free water ski shows for visitors in the Shawano area; check current dates when planning a specific trip. Across Shawano County, 409 so-called Barn Quilts are displayed on barns. The total may change as more are added.

Discover more destinations: Shawano, Marion, Tilleda, Bowler, Wittenberg, Rock, Sauk County, Eau Claire.

For the broader travel overview: Wisconsin.