Are you the type that appreciates the subtle adventure of a winter’s day outdoors? Bundle up and let’s head out.
Winter Camping
With the right equipment and warm clothes, winter is a great time for camping. There are no crowds and no bugs, and there's plenty to do: cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, animal tracking, bird watching and ice fishing. Many state parks and forests are open for winter camping and most areas do not require reservations. Some sites are plowed, and, for the adventurous, other sites are accessible by backpacking or walking in.
GREAT OUTDOORS > CAMPING
ATV Trails
When conditions aren't ideal for snowmobiling, All Terrain Vehicles are a popular choice for trail riding. The hundreds of miles of ATV trails in Wisconsin include those in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest: the Dead Horse Run ATV Trail, Flambeau ATV Trail System and the Perkinstown ATV Trail. Douglas, Iron, Jackson, Marinette, Oconto and Price counties are also home to extensive ATV trail systems that allow riders to explore picturesque wooded terrain.
GREAT OUTDOORS > ATV-ING
Ice Fishing
Just because the water is frozen doesn't mean the fish aren't biting in Wisconsin. Whether you're new to ice fishing or have spent years creating the shanty of your dreams, it’s easy to see why sportsmen find a day on the ice a surprisingly rewarding experience. Crappies, perch, walleye and other native species are always looking for bites below the frozen surface of lakes statewide. In February, the popular sturgeon-spearing season begins on Lake Winnebago. Thousands of shanties spring up across the lake's 200 square miles of ice during this brief season, the only one of its kind nationwide.
GREAT OUTDOORS > FISHING
Eagle Watching
While many animals take a long winter rest, bald eagles take to the skies. Wildlife watchers flock to Wisconsin to spy North America’s largest population of wintering eagles. The greatest concentration of the majestic birds is found at locks, dams and power plants along the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. Top watching spots are Sauk City and Prairie du Sac, where the waters of the Wisconsin River flowing below the Prairie du Sac dam seldom freeze, making fish available as food for the birds. Head to Cassville and the Mississippi River for Bald Eagle Days. Visitors can enjoy guided bus tours to prime sighting locations and other programs and exhibits devoted to the birds.
GREAT OUTDOORS > BIRDING