& PARKS TRAILS

Bowersox Park 11E

Brainards Bridge 10C Picturesque Bridges Criss-Crossing the Waupaca River

City Square 11D Historic Band Stand

Columbia Lake Boat Landing 4G Also known as “Snug Harbor”

Dake Lake Boat Landing 4H

Hartman Creek State Park 1G

Ice Age Trail 1G

This 1,500-acre quiet and friendly natural gem is located near the beautiful spring-fed Chain O’Lakes. Facilities include camping, recreational opportunities, the Hellestad House Log Cabin, Whispering Pines day use area, and seven lakes.

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a long-distance footpath located within the state of Wisconsin following the southern most extent of Wisconsin’s most recent glaciers. The trail is suitable for walking, hiking, backpacking and snowshoeing. For a map of the trail through Waupaca County go to www.IceAgeTrail.org or contact the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB or Hartman Creek State Park.

Indian Crossing Park 4G On either side of the bridge along Highway Q along Lime Kiln Lake

Jim Boyer Park

Nelson Park 9H Along the Crystal River near the Red Mill

Oakwood Park 4G Located in the heart of the Chain O’ Lakes

Rasmussen Park 11C

River Ridge Trail

The River Ridge Trail is part of a plan to preserve urban natural areas or “greenspace” in a non-motorized trail system that winds throughout the Waupaca Area. The first trail segment, a scenic loop of 1.6 miles, opened in fall of 1996. Since then, over 22 miles of trails have been designated. Bikes are allowed only on limestone or blacktopped surfaces. The trail lies in the tension zone between Wisconsin’s northern and southern eco-regions, an area of unique biological diversity. By linking parks and other public and private lands, the community and its visitors will be able to enjoy the wealth of natural features for years to come.

Riverside Park 13E

Rotary Riverview Park 11D

Schwenn Lions Park

Shambeau Park 12C

South Park 11E Public Beach

Swan Park 9C Baseball/Softball Fields, Basketball Court, Skate Park, Sledding Hill

Taylor Lake Boat Landing 6E Most popular boat landing on the Chain O’ Lakes

Tails & Trails – Waupaca’s

Off-Leash Dog Park

Tomorrow River State Trail

Wau-King Trail

E1578 County Road Q, Waupaca. Tails & Trails provides a safe, 30-acre enclosed, off-leash environment where people and dogs can hike and play without the worry of traffic or a beloved pet running away. Many dogs have no yard to play in and owners may be working all day. Now, after a long day, dogs can run free, play fetch, swim in the pond and commune with nature. Tails & Trails provides peace of mind in a healthy environment. Located on County Road Q just west of County Road QQ. Hours: Sunrise - Sunset. Rules, fees and more information can be found at www. WaupacaDogPark.com

30 mile trail from the Village of Plover to Manawa developed along an abandoned railroad grade with a crush limestone surface. Bicyclists and horseback riders 16 years of age and older are required to have either an annual or daily trail pass in order to use the trail. Daily trail passes are available along the trail at self registration stations and annual passes can be purchased at the Waupaca or Portage County Parks Departments. The trail is open to bicyclists, hikers, joggers, and horseback riders year round. Snowmobiles, skiers, and dog sledders may use the trail during the winter. No ATV’s or other motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail, and dogs must be leashed at all times.

This 4 mile trail runs from Waupaca to King. It is a paved trail that allows foot and bicycle traffic along with roller blade and other non-motorized transportation. The trail is well used as it provides a safe path to travel from Waupaca to the high school and the Wisconsin Veterans Home as well as many other Chain O’ Lakes destinations. There are benches and garbage cans located along the trail as well as gates to ensure there is no vehicular traffic. Runs from South Main Street in Waupaca to Highway QQ in King. Map available online at www.VisitWaupacaChainOLakes.com or at the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB at 315 S. Main Street, Waupaca or by calling (715)258-7343.

Waupaca County Dog Park 10E

Waupaca County Snowmobile Trails 403 miles of groomed trails connecting all points within the county. Maps available at www.WaupacaCountyParks.com or at the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB office at 315 S. Main Street, Waupaca or by calling (715) 258-7343. Waupaca Recreation Center 12D Indoor Gymnasium w/ Basketball Courts

Boating & Paddling

There are so many beautiful places in the Waupaca Chain O' Lakes Area for boating and kayaking (see map for access points) Pick a starting point, put in, and start paddling!

Chain O’ Lakes – There are several public boat landings located throughout the beautiful Chain O’ Lakes. They can be found on the map on page 24. For the Upper Chain put in at Knight’s Landing or Marl Lake where you will find non-motorized lakes offering you the perfect place to paddle at your own pace.

Crystal River – For canoeing, kayaking, or tubing the Crystal River is where you will want to be. You can find access at the mouth of the river on the South end of Long Lake, Crystal River Canoe Kayak Launch, at Nelson Park by the Red Mill in Little Hope and at Shadow Lake in the City of Waupaca.

Waupaca River – This is a beautiful river that navigates through some beautiful parks. Enter at the intersection of Cobb Town Road and Highway Q with take-outs and parking available at the covered bridge on Covered Bridge Road and Brainard’s Bridge Park on Brainard Road. Or, for a quick trip through the City of Waupaca, enter at Rotary Riverview Park in Downtown Waupaca on Cooper Street, with take-outs on Royalton Street and at the River Ridge Trail Natural Area at the intersection of State Roads 22/54 and Godfrey Drive. New kayak and canoe launch located in Weyauwega. Exit at Waupaca County Gills Landing.

Several marinas and outfitters with rentals and guide service available. See page 43 Services for a complete listing.

Rustic Roads

Experience the Waupaca countryside on our state designated rustic roads, beautiful in every season.

R-17: This scenic route south of Amherst travels Otto Road from US 10 west to Morgan Road, then south on Morgan Road to County T, passing through hilly, rugged terrain, forests and fields, offering glimpses of native wildlife and a boulder-strewn section of the Tomorrow River.

R-23: Scenic Rural Road begins in the historical Yankee town of Rural travelling west crossing the Crystal River three times over picturesque stone bridges and through Hartman Creek State Park ending at Hartman Road.

R-24: Extending west from Rural Road to the county line, Emmons Creek Road crosses a spring fed trout stream and passes through several stands of native pines and hardwoods.

R-57: Travelling South Foley Road and Town Line Road between US 10 and WIS 54 just West of Waupaca. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail follows this route. Enjoy scenic beauty and the Waupaca River.

18 holes of old school mini golf fun for all Customer boat parking on Bass Lake

Snack Shack with treats & refreshments www.tomthumbminigolf.com

Attractions

There are so many activities in the Waupaca Chain O' Lakes Area you will be sure to enjoy your time here. Pace yourself, enjoy and have fun!

Adventure Outfitters, LLC 

106 South Main Street, Waupaca. Your one-stop resource for outdoor fun and activity. Outdoor gear sales, service and rentals. Visit our lakeside location next to Clear Water Harbor. N2757 Hwy. QQ. See page 28. (715) 258-0775 | www.AdventureOutfittersLLC.com

Clear Water Harbor Cruises 

N2757 County Highway QQ, Waupaca. Clear Water Harbor provides private & public boat cruises. Celebrate life’s milestones & cruise around the scenic Chain O’ Lakes with us! See page 2.

(715) 258-2866 | www.ClearWaterHarbor.com

Gill’s Landing Bar & Grille 

E6870 County Road F, Weyauwega. Kayak the Waupaca River, large sandlot for kids, pontoon rentals, daily and weekly 2-4-6 bedroom

See page 13.

(920) 867-2844 | www.GillsOnRiver.com

Indian Crossing Casino 

E1171 County Rd Q, Waupaca. The ICC opened in July 1925 and is located on beautiful Columbia Lake. Since then, the Indian Crossing Casino has become known as a great entertainment venue hosting bands, weddings and events. Stop by car or boat for a cool beverage and a tasty meal while enjoying the view of the open water. See page 21.

(715) 258-3332 | www.ICCWaupaca.com

Iola Historical Society 

210 Depot Street, Iola. Hundreds of historic relics from Iola’s Swiss and Norwegian heritages are preserved and captured at the Historic Village and Museum complex. See page 35.

(715) 445 - IOLA (4652) | www.IolaHistoricalSociety.org

The Red Mill, LLC 

N2190 County K, Waupaca. The Red Mill, an 1855 grist mill on the beautiful Crystal River south of Waupaca. Picturesque covered bridge and chapel. Gift shop, ice cream, coffee, soup or sandwiches. See page 20.

(715) 258-7385 | www.RedMillWaupaca.com

Attractions

Waupaca Area Triathlon 

315 S. Main Street, Waupaca. The Triathlon is an annual event the 3rd Saturday in August with a kids triathlon on Friday evening. See page 7.

(715) 258-7343 | www.WaupacaAreaTriathlon.com

Wild West Campground & Corral 

9495 Highway 54, Amherst. A quiet, family owned campground offering generous wooded sites and four cabins. Campground cookouts, weekend hayrides, daily horseback riding and summer girls horse camps. See page 14.

(715) 824-5112 | www.WildWestCampground.com

Wolf River Trips & Campground 

E8041 County Road X, New London. Planning a day of tubing or a week of camping & fishing, Wolf River Trips & Campgrounds has everything you need for a fun-filled and relaxing vacation for the whole family. See page 29.

(920) 982-2458 | www.WolfRiverTrips.com

Turner's Fresh Market 

E208 Hwy. 54, Waupaca. Seasonal produce, flowering plants, honey, maple syrup and more, including some of the earliest sweet corn in the area and pick-your-own strawberries. Family fun! See page 41.

(715) 258-3355 | www.TurnersFreshMarket.com

BOAT SALES & RENTALS

Becker Marine 

E1208 Co Hwy Q, Waupaca. Sales, service, rentals, storage and dock fuel conveniently located on Lime Kiln Lake in the heart of Waupaca Chain O’ Lakes. See page 43.

(715) 258-9015 | www.BeckerMarine.com

Adventure Outfitters, LLC 

N2757 HWY QQ, Waupaca. Visit us at our lakeside water rental location! Next to the Clear Water Harbor. See page 28.

(715) 258-8840 | www.AdventureOutfittersLLC.com

Golf Courses

FoxFire Golf Club @ Par 4 Resort 

199 Foxfire Drive, Waupaca. 125 acres of serene Golf resort to make memories. Stay, Play, Celebrate or Dine & Wine at Par 4 Resort! See page 17.

(715) 256-9000 | www.Par4Resort.com/golf

Glacier Wood Golf Club 

604 Water Street, Iola. 18-hole championship course carved magically by ice and earth cited as “an awe inspiring golf experience”. Voted best muny in Wisconsin, 2009. See page 30.

(715) 445-3831 | www.GlacierWoodIola.com

Hidden Waters Golf Course 

E4480 State Road 22-54, Waupaca. Beautiful 9-hole course, driving range, drive-up beverage window, banquet facility and year round bar & grill on snowmobile trail. See page 30.

(715) 258-5054 | www.GolfHiddenWaters.com

Tom Thumb Miniature Golf 

N2494 Whispering Pines Road, Waupaca. Old school mini golf fun for the entire family. "A Chain O'Lakes Tradition Since 1959". Located on Bass Lake. See page 28.

(715) 258-8737 | www.TomThumbMiniGolf.com

Community Favorites

Hidden Studios

• Art Along the Ice Age Trail Tour – Nine working art studios open their doors once a year, the first weekend in October, for a three-day, self-guided tour. While the fall foliage in Central Wisconsin is usually ablaze, visitors can find one-of-a-kind art pieces, and meet personally with the artists.

Waupaca Area Public Library

• The Exhibit Room showcases a revolving display of art, cultural & historical artifacts, and educational displays free to the general public.

Waupaca Farmers Market

• The market runs every Saturday, June-October downtown Waupaca. You will find a great variety of produce, meat, eggs, maple syrup, fresh flowers, baked goods, annual and perennial plants, herbal products, soap, children’s toys and games, and local artisans. Special events are held throughout the summer.

(715) 467-7238 | www.WaupacaFarmersMarket.com

Waupaca Story Project

• The Waupaca community is rich in art, nature, and history. Waupaca Story Project is designed to help share personal stories in a live, storytelling format. Our vision is to create connections through sharing experiences by hosting regular storytelling events in and around Waupaca.

Badgers Den Homebrew Club

• Founded to bring together people interested in, or actively brewing their own beer or wine. Meetings cover various aspects of the craft of brewing. Badger's Den encourages members to bring in examples of their recent brews. Meeting once a month to discuss homebrewing and winemaking. Plus, hosting educational events and tastings throughout the year.

Waupaca Danes Hall

• Beautifully restored National Landmark at the end of North Main Street, where you can experience beautiful music, art, and a variety of community arts events.

For more information on any of these events, please visit us online for facebook http://waupacaarts.org/ or www.VisitWaupacaChainOLakes.com

Arts and Culture along the Tomorrow River Trail

The Waupaca Area is known for its thriving arts community, where artists of all types are drawn to our peaceful waters and serene landscapes for inspiration. In 2019, we were excited that the state of Wisconsin honored Waupaca’s collaborative arts efforts with the 2019 Arts in Community Award! The Waupaca Cultural Plan — created by local Waupaca organizations and government groups — provides our community and our visitors with a large, ever-evolving variety of arts events. In all seasons, make sure to take advantage of our multiple arts festivals, live music of every stripe, art exhibits, events that showcase regional art galleries and studios, and our exciting interactive community arts events! We create community together.

Waupaca Area Arts and Culture Network

• Make Music Day – June. An international celebration of music on the date of the summer solstice.

• Waupaca Yuletide Trail – December. All-Day downtown holiday event featuring a Main Street Cookie Walk with commemorative Waupaca cookie tin, community caroling, ornament making, crafts, storytelling, Santa, and our own Waupaca Town Crier!

Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB

• Live Music in the Waupaca Area – happens year-round, with special emphasis during the summer, at a large variety of locations and venues on the Chain ‘O Lakes, as well as on Main Street, and many locales in between! Check the Waupaca Area CVB Community Calendar for more info year-round!

• Annual Strawberry Fest – mid June. This family festival features a downtown art/craft fair with more than 100 vendors from across the Midwest, strawberry shortcake, live entertainment, great food and more.

• Chain O’ Lakes Blues Festival – The history of the Indian Crossing Casino comes alive every fall during this annual music festival. The Friday/Saturday event is held on the shores of the beautiful Waupaca Chain O’ Lakes. Seven great blues bands from Wisconsin and Chicagoland bring high quality Blues to Waupaca.

Waupaca’s Park and Rec Department

• Fall-O-Rama at South Park – Free Admission and Parking

Enjoy shopping, food, demonstrations, and entertainment! Upcycled, recycled, jewelry, pet items, furniture, wood crafts, health, bath & body, clothing, tea, baby items, home & holiday décor, hand-made items, metal art, farm markets and more!

• Halloween on Main – October 27, 2023. Save the Date! Free Event!

Evening

Waupaca Fine Arts Festival

Holiday Entertainment

Winchester Academy 

• Located in Waupaca, the Academy is a center for lifelong learning, inspired by the tradition of the Scandinavian Folk Academy. The Winchester Academy brings free programs to the community to stimulate participants to want to learn more about the topics. The Academy usually offers around 20 free public lectures each year, in three series - fall, winter-spring, and summer.

The Waupaca Community Theatre began its long association with the Waupaca Fine Arts Festival in 1979 and has been providing large-scale musical theatre productions with a full orchestra to Central Wisconsin for the past 44 years. Six performances take place in late July at the Waupaca High School's Performing Arts Center. Auditions are held each spring and WCT welcomes anyone interested in assisting with set construction, art work, costuming, choreography, stage crew or tech.

• Web Page: www.fineartsfestival.org

• FB Page: Waupaca Community Theatre

Waupaca Community Children's Theatre

The Waupaca Community Children’s Theatre began in 2006. Performances take place in the Waupaca Middle School's Knoepfel Auditorium. The Waupaca Community Children's Theatre, in conjunction with the Waupaca School District's Summer School Program, is under the direction of the Waupaca Community Theatre and is supported by the Waupaca Fine Arts Festival.

• Web Page: www.fineartsfestival.org

• FB Page: Waupaca Community Children's Theatre