Town of Hazelhurst
A sunny afternoon at a clear Northwoods beach with a wooden dock

Outdoor life

Recreation in Hazelhurst

An 18-mile rail trail, the Willow Flowage, three resident wolf packs, a dozen golf courses within an easy drive, and 1,600+ miles of groomed snowmobile trail in winter. This is a working field guide — not a vendor list.

Field guide

What there is to do, by the season

Each topic below is what the town has historically published. Hours, fees and outfitter contacts change — call ahead, and check the Wisconsin DNR for licenses.

  1. The community pavilion and sports field at Hazelhurst Town Park

    Parks

    Hazelhurst Town Park & Lake Katherine Beach Park

    Two town parks — one on Yawkey Street with a pavilion and ball field, the other a guarded swim beach.

    Hazelhurst Town Park sits along Yawkey Street with a covered pavilion and an open sports field. Lake Katherine Beach Park is on Oneida Street and runs a lifeguard from Memorial Day through Labor Day, making it the place to bring small children for a long afternoon in the water.

    • Two town parks
    • Lifeguard Memorial Day–Labor Day
    • Free public access
  2. Illustrated placeholder for the Bearskin State Trail — 18 miles of crushed red granite winding through a Northwoods pine forest

    Hiking, biking & birding

    The Bearskin State Trail & the trails around it

    The Bearskin runs 18 miles of crushed red granite from Minocqua through the heart of Hazelhurst.

    The Bearskin State Trail follows the old Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western rail bed — a flat, easy ride past lakes, marshes and lift bridges. There are at least ten more trails within a five- to twenty-mile radius for hikers, mountain bikers and birders.

    • 18 miles of red granite
    • Minocqua to Hazelhurst
    • 10+ regional trails nearby
  3. A wooden dock reaching into a quiet lake at sunrise

    Fishing

    Walleye, musky, bass & panfish

    Northern pike, walleye, musky, bass and panfish all live in the lakes inside and around Hazelhurst.

    A current Wisconsin fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older. Buy one online from the DNR before you arrive and you'll be ready at first light. Local resort hosts can usually point you toward the season's most active water.

    • Walleye
    • Musky
    • Bass
    • Panfish
    • WI license required
  4. Calm open water on a wide Northwoods lake, ideal for pontoons and paddling

    Boating, paddling & water-skiing

    Tomahawk River canoes & Lake Katherine pontoons

    Quiet rivers for canoes, big water for pontoons and the rare patch of glass for early-morning skiing.

    The Tomahawk River winds slowly enough for a long canoe day. Lake Katherine — six hundred acres — is the local home for pontoon outings and water-skiing. Many resorts include rowboats with a stay; ask your host before booking a separate rental.

    • Tomahawk River canoeing
    • Lake Katherine pontoons
    • Water-skiing on calm mornings
  5. A wild Northwoods lakeshore framed by tall pines

    Cedar Falls & the Willow Flowage

    7,000 acres of wilderness, three wolf packs

    The Willow Flowage is one of Wisconsin's truly wild waters. Cedar Falls is its dramatic edge.

    The Flowage covers about 7,000 acres and supports both primitive backcountry camping and traditional drive-in sites. Three resident wolf packs roam the surrounding forest. In May, you can paddle quiet bays to watch musky spawn in the shallows — bring binoculars and patience.

    • 7,000 acres
    • Primitive & traditional camping
    • Three wolf packs
    • Spring musky spawn
  6. Illustrated placeholder for Northwoods golf — a green fairway with a flag, framed by pines

    Golf

    A dozen courses within easy reach

    Roughly twelve courses sit within a comfortable drive of Hazelhurst. Timber Ridge is the closest.

    Northwoods golf is forgiving on the eyes — pines on every fairway, lakes in every direction. Timber Ridge Golf Club is the nearest layout to Hazelhurst proper; a handful of resort and public courses round out the rest of a long weekend.

  7. A vivid red, orange and yellow autumn forest reflected in a still Northwoods lake

    Fall colors

    Late September into early October

    Peak color usually lands the last two weeks of September and the first two weeks of October.

    It is the busiest stretch of the year on county roads, and worth every minute. Time your visit around the last week of September or the first week of October if you can. Regional Colorama events run nearby through the same window.

    • Peak: late Sep – early Oct
    • Colorama events nearby
  8. Illustrated placeholder for Hazelhurst hunting — a deer in a Northwoods forest at dusk

    Hunting

    Bear, deer & small game on public land

    County, state and federal lands surround Hazelhurst, with private acreage open for public use as well.

    Both rifle and bow seasons are well established. Grouse, hare, deer and turkey are the headline species; fur-bearers including beaver, otter and fisher round out the list. The Hazelhurst area is known for its bear population.

    • Grouse, hare, deer, turkey
    • Bear hunting
    • Beaver, otter, fisher
    • Rifle & bow seasons
  9. Illustrated placeholder for cross-country skiing — snow-covered Northwoods pines with two ski tracks

    Cross-country skiing & snowshoeing

    65 inches of snow, 75 km of groomed track

    An average 65-inch annual snowfall keeps the regional Nordic system reliably open from December into March.

    Winter Park grooms about 75 kilometers of cross-country track. The Schlecht Lake Trail adds another 10 kilometers, with 3 kilometers lit until 10 p.m. for after-work and after-dinner skiing.

    • 65" annual snowfall
    • Winter Park: 75 km
    • Schlecht Lake: 10 km
    • 3 km lit until 10 p.m.
  10. Illustrated placeholder for snowmobiling — a groomed winter trail through Northwoods pines under a starry sky

    Snowmobiling

    1,600+ miles of groomed Lakeland trail

    The Bearskin State Trail doubles as a winter snowmobile route and connects into one of the largest groomed networks in the Midwest.

    Local clubs maintain over 1,600 miles of groomed trail across the Lakeland area. Many Hazelhurst lodging properties open right onto the trail — drag your sled out the door and ride.

    • Bearskin State Trail
    • 1,600+ miles groomed
    • Lakeland regional network

Pair your activity with a place to stay

Trail-side cottages & lakeside cabins

Many Hazelhurst lodgings are right on the Bearskin Trail or a few feet from the water. Look for "trail-side" or "lakefront" amenities on the lodging page.

See lodging How to get here