17 minute read
NORTHCENTRAL REGION
NORTHCENTRAL REGION
Fish On! Time to Wet a Line
Wandering walleye, not to mention marauding muskies, put on the feedbag each fall. For anglers, it’s a perfect time to spend the day on a Northwoods lake. Fishing pressure is down; skiers and tubers are gone; temps are no longer in the sweaty 90s. There are even a few fishing tournaments to whet your appetite for some friendly competition, as well as netting cash if you make it to, or near, the top of the field. Good luck to all the anglers, and enjoy the splendid fall colors while you’re out there! Greater Wisconsin Musky Tournament – The Oct. 3 and 4 muskie tournament takes place on 10 area lakes in the greater St. Germain neighborhood. Fishing hours are Saturday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 6 a.m. to noon. This event is sponsored by the St. Germain Chamber and Rob Manthei’s Guide Service. There will be cash prizes, trophies, and raffle prizes. For more information, call 715-477-2205. Walleye Classic – The Boulder Junction Lions Club invites you and a fishing partner to the fifth annual Walleye Classic the weekend of Oct. 3 and 4. They are spreading out the field on 14 lakes in and near this Vilas County community. Based on a minimum of 10 teams, they will award $300 to the top team, $200 for second place, and $100 for third. Plenty of fishing hours are scheduled: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Sunday’s outing closes with awards, raffle prizes, and a traditional fish fry at Headwaters Restaurant and Tavern in Boulder
Fall 2020 | UpNorthAction.com
Junction. For more information, visit boulderjct.org/events/5thannual-boulder-junction-lions-walleye-classic/2020-10-03/or contact tournament director Bob Bertch at macooa@centurytel. net or 715-892-2366.
Midwest Musky Classic – Last year, Terry Ederer nailed a 49.5- inch muskie to take first place at the Midwest Musky Classic at Phelps. This year, maybe it’s your turn! The Oct. 2–4 tournament will be headquartered at the sponsoring Phelps Chamber, with fishing on North and South Twin Lakes, Big Sand Lake, and Lac Vieux Desert. Fishing hours are Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 7–11 a.m. Raffles and prizes will be awarded at lunch at noon on Sunday. For more information, call 715-545-3800. Mercer Muskie Madness – This two-day team tournament takes places Oct. 16–17 on 10 lakes within the Turtle Flambeau Flowage River that have legal access. Those lakes are Fisher Lake, Spider Lake, Oxbow Lake, Echo Lake, Grand Portage Lake, Pike Lake, Mercer Lake, Lake of the Falls, Trude Lake, and the Turtle Flambeau Flowage. Friday fishing hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prizes for first, second, and third place along with many other prizes, raffles, awards, and food. Awards ceremony will take place Saturday night at Gateway Lodge. For more information, call 715-476-7878.
Spanning over 259 acres within Minocqua, WI is
Wildwood Wildlife Park Zoo & Safari and all of its residents! The Giraffes and Penguins are the most popular, while visitors flock to partake in the giraffe encounter. Another must visit includes the Safari Tram ride populated by Eland, Ostrich, Kudu, Nyala, Beisa Oryx, Nilgai, Scimitar Horned Oryx, Wildebeest, Bongos, Emu, and much more!
Wildwood Wildlife Park is all about providing special experiences that last a lifetime with every visit no matter your age!
OFFERING EXTRAORDINARY ANIMAL EXPERIENCES
Hand Feeding: Goat, sheep, pig, aoudad, and camel. Whitetail deer are strolling leisurely throughout the park and visitors can feed them out of their hand.
Giraffe Encounter: Get nose to nose with the tallest animals in the world during the giraffe feeding. You will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with these astonishing and fascinating giraffes. Guests will even get to meet the newest giraffe, Taji. We can’t wait for you to meet our baby giraffe. Parakeet Encounter: Enjoy the parakeet encounter, a wonderful experience for the entire family. Hear the children’s laughter and excitement as they hand-feed hundreds of brightly colored parakeets.
Penguin Cove: This new, immersive exhibit is home to a cozy colony of African penguins.
Siamang:
A performance and sound that guests will never forget! You will have the opportunity to hear these silly monkeys as they fill up their air sack to call out, which can be heard over 2 miles away!
White-Handed Gibbon:
Our white-handed Gibbon couple named Maddie and Teddie welcomed a healthy baby to their monkey family. Come check it out!
Koi and Trout Feed
ing: Buy trout pellets from the feed machines and toss into the pond and see the entire surface come alive with a frenzy of trout or koi. Guests can just sit and relax in this peaceful and tranquil area.
2nd LARGEST ZOO in WISCONSIN!
Amphitheater: Learn about your favorite animals during our Zoo Chats and meet our animal ambassadors.
Safari Tram Ride: Jump on the tram and enjoy a narrated journey winding through the sprawling woods. Spot Zebra grazing near a spring fed pond. Watch Eland studding across an open field. Search for the camouflaged Scimitar Horned Oryx concealed in the thickets or the Wildebeest sunning on the savannah. There is nothing like this in the state of Wisconsin.
Wildwood Wildlife Park Zoo & Safari is home to over 2000 animals and acres of fun. You will find a million reasons to smile. Come spend the day with us. We can’t wait to show you around.
Over 60 Years
An Unforgettable Family Adventure
FUN FOR ALL! • Hundreds of Mammals, • Explore & Learn Programs
Birds, Reptiles & Primates • Safari TRAM Ride • Giraffe Feeding • Paddle Boat Ride • Parakeet Feeding • Safari Kiddie Train Ride • Whitetail Deer Feeding • Dino Dig • Bear Juice Feedng • Aviary-Flamingos • Goat-Sheep-Camel-Pig • Educational Center
Feeding • Living History Center • Petting Area/Animal • Hungry Bear Ice Cream
Encounters & Sweet Shoppe • Trout Feeding • Jambo Food Stand • Koi Feeding • Wild Bananas Snack Stand NEW PENGUINS Open 7 days a week, May 1st - mid October NEW Safari
& GIBBONS Tram Ride & SIAMANG
www.wildwoodwildlifepark.com E-mail: nature@wildwoodwildlifepark.com 715-356-5588 / 10094 Hwy 70 W, Minocqua, WI
Best Bets for a Fall Outing
Colorama is synonymous with autumn’s outdoor beauty. The change in the color of leaves makes for a breathtaking view almost anywhere you go from mid/late September to the second week of October. Photographers of all abilities are primed to capture these iconic scenes, many taken from overlooks and near rivers and lakes. Here’s a sampling of our favorite spots for Colorama awe:
Timm’s Hill – An excellent place to take in nature’s fall canopy of color is from Timm’s Hill, the highest point in Wisconsin, with an elevation of 1,952 feet above sea level. It is located in the Timm’s Hill County Park in Price County at 45 degrees 27’04” north latitude, 90 degrees 11’42” west longitude. The park gate is open 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. approximately May through October. The entire area is heavily forested with northern hardwoods and is spectacular during the fall color season. From the summit, you can also see Bass Lake and Timm’s Lake. Timm’s Hill is located less than a mile south of Highway 86, midway between the towns of Ogema and Spirit, approximately 23 miles west of Tomahawk. Smith Rapids Covered Bridge – The Smith Rapids Covered Bridge is located at N14900 Smith Rapids Road, which is 14 miles east of Fifield on State Highway 70 and then north 2 miles on Forest Road 148. The bridge is located on Wisconsin’s Rustic Road 105 in the heart of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and spans the South Fork of the Flambeau River. Constructed in 1991, the bridge uses an attractive diamond-shaped truss pattern, called the Town Lattice. The 90-foot-wide Smith Rapids Covered Bridge is the only glue-laminated Town Lattice covered bridge in Wisconsin. There is a nearby campground, and riders can access the ATV/UTV trail there.
Saxon Falls Overlook – You can’t go home without seeing at least one beautiful waterfall! (And aren’t they all beautiful?) Directions to the Saxon Falls Overlook: From Hurley: travel about 11 miles west on US 2 to the intersection with CTH B; head north on CTH B for roughly 2.7 miles at which point CTH B will curve to the west. Do not follow the curve, but rather continue north on Saxon Falls Road (unpaved) down the hill approximately 0.5 miles to the unpaved parking area, which is located at 46.535797, -90.380255. On foot, follow the short, wooded hiking trail to the east of the parking area, which leads to the overlook location. The best way to visit the falls is to drive to the dam. From here, there is a trail that leads to the falls. Most of the trail is a boardwalk built on top of the diversion pipes. It crosses the river to the Michigan side.
LETSMINOCQUA.COM
800-44NORTH
Saddle Up for the Ironbull Red Granite Grinder
WAUSAU – True Grit was one of our all-time favorite Westerns. John Wayne was fond of riding, which is to say he probably would have traded his horse for a mountain bike and joined racers at this year’s Ironbull Red Granite Grinder Bike Race in Wausau on Saturday, Oct. 17. Racers will explore the grit in the western portion of Marathon County, including several gems not normally open to bikers. They will drink in the sights and sounds of a bucolic world populated by ginseng fields, dairy farm pasture, barns, and farm fields.
Ride options are 50-, 85-, and 140-mile routes. Be forewarned: the 140-mile course is designed to find out who is the toughest of the tough. Riders get an immediate taste of what’s in store with climbing 800 feet to the top of Rib Mountain, setting the tone for the day. For those not prone to spending hours in the saddle, they might consider the 12-mile recreational ride, a family-friendly, non-competitive (but timed) event in downtown Wausau. Each race starts (with a police escort for 7 a.m. races) and finishes in the heart of downtown Wausau on the 400 Block.
The well-deserved post-race party will be held on the 400 Block upon your finish. Family, friends, food, music, and, most importantly, beer (including local craft brews) and drink are there to congratulate you, an Ironbull finisher. All racers will receive a free meal from the Urban Street Bistro food truck.
For more information, call 715-848-5949 or visit ironbull.org/ red-granite-grinder-details.
Trail Riders Unite for a Good Cause
ANTIGO – Recreational riders are invited to help make a child’s wish come true by taking part in the 12th annual ATV/UTV Charity Ride for Make-A-Wish Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 10. The ride through the countryside and forest will be memorable, and all proceeds will benefit the charity. Participants can ride on their own, or the Antigo Area ATV/UTV Club will provide leaders for riders not familiar with the area. The ride is $25 per person or $50 per family (or pledges), which includes dinner. For more information, call 262-689-3242. Riders will meet at 8:45 a.m. at NorthStar Lanes for a short meeting and group photo. The local club will lead the main group. UP CLOSE & PERSONAL! MoDanaZu!
There are frequent stops, a nice pace, and a lunch break midday. All are due back at 3:30 p.m. to prepare for the evening activities, which include dinner at 5 p.m., silent auctions, Star raffle, three tables of raffles, and games. Kids and adults alike can take a walk down nostalgia lane with the games such as Plinko and toilet paper toss. Everyone who plays will get a trinket. Non-riders are also invited to enjoy the fun beginning at 6 p.m., as dinner is not available. Antigo is ATV friendly. Park at your hotel, unload and drive your ATV/UTV from the Super 8, America’s Best, and Holiday Inn to NorthStar Lanes. However, you cannot ride on State Highway 45.
2nd LARGEST ZOO in WISCONSIN! 2020 Zoo Boo is CANCELED
See you in 2021!
Saxon Harbor Marina and Campground Now Both Open
SAXON – Campers and lovers of Lake Superior have reason to rejoice now that Saxon Harbor sports a new marina and campgrounds, the latter being recently reopened. Visitors can access the lakeshore, and the ATV/UTV trail runs nearby. The harbor and its facilities, including the campground, were destroyed in the July 2016 storm. The new marina has 81 boat slips, 10 fewer than before the storm. Slips can be rented; there are three boat ramps and a kayak launch. It cost $14.2 million to rebuild the entire marina, but it’s a beauty! The new campground is located across County A from the Harbor Lights Bar and Restaurant. They built it on higher ground, away from the floodplain where the former campgrounds were located. There are 26 RV sites and five tent sites open, with the RV sites going for $38 a night and the tent sites costing $23 a night. Weekly rates are also offered. Reservations are required and can be made through the Iron County Forestry Department’s website, ironcountyforest.org. There are daily and seasonal county park fees. A pavilion can be rented also. For more information, call the Saxon Harbor office at 715-893-2370.
Dog-Powered Races Bring Excitement to Pearson
PEARSON – You don’t have to wait until snow covers the ground to enjoy fast-paced sled dog racing in northern Wisconsin. The 15th Annual Dirty Dog Dryland Derby at the MaKaJaWan Boy Scout Reservation outside Pearson will bring together mushers and their canine racers for a weekend of racing action on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7 and 8. Races start at 9 a.m. both days. Between 80 and 100 sled dog racing teams, including those from Canada and Alaska, are expected. Each event offers three groupings: professional, registered breed, and sportsmen. You’ll see teams with mountain bikes (“bikejoring”), two-wheeled scooters, carts, and dogs partnered with running mushers (“canicross”), in addition to the standard teams. In canicross, runners are harnessed to a single or pair of dogs with the goal of gently pulling the runner without toppling him or her over!
Spectators, especially families, are welcomed to this autumn event. They can visit with drivers and smooze with their dogs at their trucks, too! Parking and admission are free for spectators. Home-cooked food service will be available at the race site. The Boy Scout Reservation is north of Antigo. Take Highway 45 north and turn on County Road T toward Pearson. Stay on County Road T through Pearson and look for the signs, taking a left off “T” to the race site.
Up North Good For Your Soul
Up North Good For Your Soul
Up North Good For Your Soul
Up North Good For Your Soul
Up North Good For Your Soul
Up North Good For Your Soul
Up North UPNORTHACTION.COM Good For Your Soul
IRON COUNTY – The annual Pumpkin Run ATV/UTV Rally in Iron County kicks off with a four-day poker run on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 3 p.m. The big rally, which attracts hundreds of riders, runs through Sunday, Oct. 11. You are encouraged to register in advance online, but there is also on-site registration at either the Mercer or Hurley chamber office. The $20 fee includes one poker sheet (two for $30), a commemorative bandana, and the opportunity to win cash prizes as well as door prizes. The poker run includes stops at businesses throughout Iron County, with lots of great riding along the way. There will be an ATV, UTV, and Lawn Tractor Pull from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at Liberty Way Tap House. There are multiple classes for ATVs and UTVs and one class for lawn tractors. Test your skills against the Z Force ATV Sled from the Tuscobia Trails ATV Association. The Mercer Dusty Loons ATV Club and the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce are the sponsors. The Great Pumpkin ATV/UTV Parade will start at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, through downtown Mercer. Decorations or costumes aren’t required, but prizes will be awarded for best
decorated Halloween-themed vehicles. The wrap-up party at Eunica’s Beaver Lodge directly follows the parade with music, food, drinks, door prizes, and raffles.
But why stop Saturday? Get in some more riding on Sunday; enjoy breakfast and lunch before heading home. The poker run ends at 6 p.m. Sunday.
Your Area Northwoods Real Estate Specialists, Ed & Chris Raasch
303 N. 4th Street Tomahawk, WI 54487 Office: 715-224-3800 Make us your “home” page
