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Sawyer County
Attractions
An
invitation to get in touch with nature's wonders comes to you
from Sawyer County, with its vast woodlands and pristine waters.
The tranquil beauty and the genuine hospitality touch everyone
who visits Sawyer County!
Sawyer County
has a long and prosperous history of lumberjacks and logging,
a legacy still alive to today as Hayward is the annual host to
the World Lumberjack Championships. Outdoor athletes come from
around the world to challenge each other in this old world competition.
The muskie fishing in the lakes of Sawyer County is also world
famous. Home to the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame,
5 world record muskies have come from Hayward Lakes, including
the All-Tackle World Record Muskie weighing in at 69 pounds and
11 ounces. The lakes of Sawyer County inspire community events
such as the Kids-Fish-O-Rama and Fishing has no Boundaries. Visitors
can find great swimming and boating on the Chippewa River, Namekagon
River, and the Flambeau River. Every year winter enthusiasts flock
to Sawyer County to breathe in the clean crisp winter air and
see the lush forests covered in a blanket of snow. Winter is also
filled with unending events and activities. Snowmobiles race across
the 600 miles of groomed trails during the Winterfest races, while
cross-country skiers have 200 miles of trails just for themselves.
No matter what
the season, Sawyer County greets each visitor with its natural
beauty of untouched wilderness and leaves each visitor with a
sense of community, fun and wonderful memories.
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Museums & Historical
Sites
Sawyer County
Historical Society & Museum
P.O. Box 384, Hayward
715-634-8053
There is something for everyone at the Sawyer County Historical Museum. The
museum guides you through the history and local lore of the Hayward Lakes area
and the surrounding communities. Exhibits
include logging and lumberjacks, the pioneers and their homesteads,
schools, hunting, fishing, and the resort industry. New exhibits
are added each year, so the museum is continuously growing. A
variety of books and brochures of the history of the area, as
well as Victorian and handcrafted items are on sale in the museum
gift shop.
The Hideout,
Al Capone's Northwoods Retreat & Museum of the Roaring 20's
12101
W. Highway CC, Couderay
715-945-2746
Step back into Chicago Gangland history and tour Al Capone's northwoods
retreat. Closed and tightly guarded for years by the gangland
guns, this scenic 500-acre retreat reveals the secrets of Chicago's
most notorious gangster. When taking the guided tour you will
see Capone's main house with its massive hand cut stone fireplace,
the unique spiral staircases custom made in Chicago, and many
of the original furnishings. Also, along the tour, see the Gun
Tower, where guards kept watch while the "Boss" was
home, the Bunk House, and the Jail Cell. The complex's newest
addition is the Museum of the Roaring 20's with exhibits including
a recreation of the 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Eliot Ness
and the Untouchables, and much more. Open May through
December. Call for tour and special event schedules.
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Parks & Nature Centers
Flambeau River
State Forest
County
W, Winter
715-332-5271
The two forks of the Flambeau River create a center point for
the 90,000 acres of wilderness that make up the Flambeau River
State Park. The fork of the river provides visitors with more
than 75 miles of natural beauty combined with the excitement of
Wisconsin's whitewater rapids. The park makes a great wilderness
getaway and features rustic camping, backpack camping, 60 campsites,
shoreline and marked beach areas for swimming. In addition, Flambeau
River State Park offers fantastic canoeing and boating. Nature
adventurists will enjoy the 1.6 mile nature trail, 33 miles of
hiking trails, 114 miles of off road bicycle trails, 55 miles
of snowmobile trails and 22 miles of cross-country skiing.
Lake Chippewa
Flowage
Hayward
Wisconsin's largest wilderness lake was created more than 75 years
ago when the gates of the Winter Dam were closed, thus creating
the Lake Chippewa Flowage. Fed by the waters of nine natural rivers,
and encompassing eleven natural lakes, the flowage contains 17,000
acres of water, 140 islands and over 200 miles of undeveloped
shoreline. It is home to a wide diversity of animals and fish.
Take a relaxing boat ride and share the scenery with the loons,
herons, bald eagles, deer and bears, not mention the plenitude
of walleye, crappies, large and small mouth bass, jumbo perch
and the panfish. Winter enthusiasts will enjoy taking joyrides
along the 500 miles of groomed snowmobile trails that criss-cross
the Chippewa Flowage.
Quiet Lakes
Highway
77, northeast of Hayward
Enjoy the peacefulness of Sawyer County's Quiet Lakes…an
unspoiled wilderness protected from the rush of urban life. A
10 mile-an-hour boating law that also prohibits water-skiing protects
the peacefulness of the three lakes that make up this area. Surrounded
by forests, a leisurely boat ride will allow you to watch as the
wildlife comes down to the lake to drink or hunt. The fishing
of the Quiet Lakes is unparalleled! In fact, half a century of
fishing records show that the chance of catching muskie on these
Class A muskie waters is higher than anywhere else. The Quiet
Lakes offer you a unique vacation experience plus all the comforts
of home with more than 15 lodges and resorts in the area. Call
the Hayward Lakes Chamber of Commerce for lodging information
at 1-800-724-2992.
Spider Lakes
Highway
77, Northeast of Hayward
Nestled among the majestic forests of Sawyer County lies the Spider
Lake Chain of Lakes with more than 65 miles of shoreline and lake
depths of 68 feet. The chain of lakes with its many picnic islands
can be explored by canoe, sailboat, or motor boat…while the
beautiful forest that surrounds the Chain of Lakes provide miles
of hiking trails…creating a nature lover' paradise.
CAMBA Off Road
Bike Trail System
Chaquamegon Area Mountain Bike Association
1-800-533-7454
The CAMBA trail lies in and around Chequamegon National Forest,
Bayfield and Sawyer County Forests - nearly one million acres
of strikingly beautiful wilderness for bikers to appreciate and
enjoy. The CAMBA offers mapped routes of its 300 mile long trail,
that winds through this vast, peaceful and unique area that is
accessible for everyone. The entire system is heavily wooded and
the chance to view local wildlife is great. It's not unusual to
catch a sight of deer, bears, porcupines, eagles, and many other
forest animals. Most of the trails in the system are rideable
from May through November. Call for current trail conditions.
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Special Things to
Do
Fall Musky
Tournament
Hayward
area lakes, Sawyer
715-634-2921
All anglers enjoy this annual fishing catch and release tournament
on 18 area lakes. Participants receive $20,000 in prizes and all
proceeds go for stocking and fish projects. Call for next fall's
tournament dates.
Chequamegon
Fat Tire Festival
Hayward
& Cable
1-800-533-7454
Welcome to one of the nation's favorite off road biking adventures…the
Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival. Since its inception, over 25,000
cycling enthusiasts have come to the Northwoods of Wisconsin to
participate in this festival, traveling along the trails that
take you through the Chequamegon National Forest. Festival events
include the race, bicycle parades and a bicycle rodeo. Call for
next fall's festival dates.
World Lumberjack
Championship
Hayward
Celebrate old world customs with lumberjacks from around the world
at the Hayward annual Lumberjack World Championships. All classic
lumberjack events are part of the competitions including the springboard
chop, logrolling, speed climbs and Jack and Jill contests. Check
our Calendar of Events for next year's dates.
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Points of Interest
Wilderness
Walk Zoo & Recreation Center
Highway
27, Hayward
715-634-2893
Bring the whole family to walk the wilderness. Experience the
beauty of northwoods wildlife as you tour 35 acres of woodlands
and get a chance to feed deer and baby animals, see wild animals
in a natural habitat, visit the farmyard and much more. Naturalist
on staff to give guided tours. Open seven days a week, May though
Labor Day, 10am to 5:30pm. Group rates available.
National Fresh
Water Fishing Hall of Fame
Highway
27 South, Hayward
715-634-4440
Overlooking the Hayward area lakes, a 5 story high Musky houses
the fishing hall of fame and is the gateway to Northern Wisconsin
recreation. See photos and memorabilia of famous record setting
anglers, including photos of the 5 record breaking muskies from
Hayward waters. Call for seasonal hours.
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