Outdoor Recreation in Eagle River Wisconsin
Outdoor recreation is abundant in this scenic Wisconsin region, with opportunities ranging from water sports, hiking, biking and wilderness tours to horseback riding and winter activities such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Additionally, Eagle River’s location places it at the heart of the largest concentration of freshwater lakes in the world, with some 3,000 lakes located within an hour’s drive—including the Eagle River Chain of 28 Lakes (the largest in the world).
The 200-plus-acre Lake Forest Recreation Area is a haven for recreational enthusiasts of all kinds. The area sits along the beaches of Voyageur and Eagle Lakes (part of the Chain O’ Lakes) and offers miles of cross-country skiing trails, a modest nine-hole golf course and a modern Health & Fitness Center, which features a pool, whirlpool, sauna and fitness room, as well as an adjacent tennis court. Swimming lessons, aquatic aerobics, water therapy sessions and massage therapy sessions are also available.
The Three Eagle Trail is a safe, family-friendly destination linking the communities of Three Lakes and Eagle River. The Trail, maintained by the Three Eagle Trail Foundation, is open for biking and walking from spring through late fall, as well as snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter.
Approximately 17 miles north of Eagle River, outdoor enthusiasts reach the expansive Afterglow Lake Resort in Phelphs. Surrounded by the great Nicolet National Forest, the resort features a 33-acre spring-fed lake and 240 acres of mixed forest, complete with various hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and showshoeing trails. The Afterglow Lake Resort also offers a host of organized recreational programs in the summertime and additional amenities such as tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, as well as playground equipment, the “Wreck Room”—offering work-out equipment, a pool table, air hockey and more—and a relaxing whirlpool and sauna.
Further nearby outdoor recreation sites include the Nicolet National Forest and the more than 225,000-acre Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest.
Golfers take pleasure in the offerings of the beautiful Eagle River Golf Course. Distinguished by well-maintained greens, narrow tree-lined fairways and testing water hazards, this 18-hole course presents a challenge for golfers of all skill levels. Leagues, special events and golf instruction led by PGA Professional Brad Missling and LPGA Professional Margo Rogers Anderson are available, as is a stocked pro shop and a delicious restaurant. Miniature golf enthusiasts can also enjoy an entertaining game at the 18-hole Eagle Falls Adventure Golf facility, open seasonally.
Active indoor recreation is also a possibility in Eagle River. The Eagle River Recreation Association (ERRA) operates the Eagle River Sports Arena, which houses the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame and two ice rinks that play host to various hockey tournaments and hockey and figure skating classes.
Nearby Rhinelander is home to the YMCA of the Northwoods, a family-oriented facility featuring an aquatic center, gymnasium, wellness and fitness center, an indoor walking/running track, group exercise studios, multi-purpose rooms, a Teen/Family/Older Adult Center and a year-round program list for members of all ages and abilities.